my conflicted view on alcohol as a university student

image credit: blogger, "The Pantsuit Enthusiast"

        Or, in other words, how a ridiculous hangover made me question my currents views on why I even drink (excessively) at all.

         This all kind of began Saturday past. I had finished up my gig as an opening act for a show in my hometown's summer music series. And, well, they always have roaring after parties in the bar/lounge area that's attached to the theatre. Admittedly, one of the perks of being a performer is that people just lovee to buy you alcohol as a thank you. Several cocktails, cosmos, and glasses of wine later we were dancing and chanting along to the house band and then all swarmed across the the street to the local pub for more dancing and music. Me and my friends and boyfriend (who had just gotten home from a 4-month work stint that was largely alcohol free) were going hard at it.
Cut to the next morning. J (the boyfriend) and I flaked out, heads pounding, dehydrated and thoroughly tired and in need of a pick me up. Which is what got me questioning. Sure, alochol is a great social lubricant and does have it's moments where it's helped with a lot of bonding. However, I'm starting to notice it's got a flip side that I was all to happy to ignore.
            Now, I'm not a hard-core partier, despite the typical college girl stereotype. But I grew up in Newfoundland, so hellooo shed parties and the like, and, of course, high school graduation, back to school bashes for uni, house parties, and my enthusiastic consumption of wine with cooking and meal times, so no, I'm not exactly a stranger to alcohol. And perhaps, when I'm throwing back gin and tonics with gusto and I start not feeling my teeth (honest to god, that's my sign I'm in the tank), it seems like a good idea, my wallet and liver always regret it in the morning. Bar covers, over priced mixed drinks, cab rides, the inevitable splurge out on 3am pizza or poutine: it adds up. And thankfully my hangovers don't leave me draped over a toilet, rather exhausted and off for the rest of the day, but they still suck the life out of me.
        I know I'd never be able to quit cold turkey and leave alcohol alone forever. I love wine paired with a good meal too much, but do I really need to drink to the point of nausea? Really? It has made for some good stories but thinking about it I know I'd rather put that drinking money towards clothes, art supplies or books, or better yet, my herbal tea addiction. (David's Tea anyone?!) As well as save my liver and skin the chore of purging the stuff from my system. But on the flip side there is the unspoken pressure in university to use those as your party years & I kind of don't feel like bowing to that. The fact of the matter is I will probably meet good friends either way and the house parties I throw or attend with people I'm already close with won't be any less entertaining if I remain at least fairly close to sober.

          I have a lot of conflict towards this, if its not already apparent (hence the post title). To clarify I'm not the type of bird who is putting myself on a magical pedestal as 'better' than those who do chose to spend their time and money on parties and jaunts to downtown bars, not all. None of my business. I'm merely coming to this debate as an individual. I do feel I should point out that the university connection does tend to hinge on alcohol. At least in the case of my campus, to a certain degree. All those back to school bashes, faculty formals and parties, themed nights at the campus bars and such. I mean clearly no one is forcing me to go to these things and I don't have a problem with them but there is a certain hoo-rah emphasis on alcohol being the be all and end all for university students. Or at least a stereotype that drinking excessively on our free time something every one of us is super engaged in.

         Conflicted though I may be, and though this post did nothing to resolve that (typical Rachel) I think my general rule of thumb for this coming year will be to dial back my alcohol consumption. Keep it to wine with dinner and the occasional "wow-this-was-an-absolute-shit-day-I-need-a-G&T" drink. It'll totally happen.

Opinions on alcohol consumption in college/university, or just drinking at all?

xx.

r