College is supposed to be the best four years of your life.
You get to meet a lot of new people, discover your interests, find a career path, and make great memories all at the same time.
But for most college students, the most exciting part of college is the new sense of freedom that comes with it. After eighteen years of living under the wing of adult authorities, students are able to fill their time with whatever activities they please. They can do homework when they want, sleep when they want, and most exciting of all, party when they want.
But although parties and night life are a big part of college, that doesn’t mean that it is for everybody.
Don’t get me wrong: there is absolutely nothing wrong with letting loose (responsibly, of course) with a few drinks after a stressful week, but it is important to consider that some people may not be interested in partying. This doesn’t mean that they “think they’re too good for alcohol,” nor do they think they are better than anybody else. In actuality, people choose to abstain from alcohol for many different reasons.
1.) Health Reasons
They don’t call it “the freshman 15” for no reason. Alcohol is packed with empty calories and fruity drinks are especially full of sugar. Some are turned off by these nutritional realities and for this reason choose not to booze.
2.) Alcoholism In The Family
Many psychological studies have found that alcoholism is genetic. That is, people with parents or grandparents who have abused alcohol are more susceptible to doing the same. For this reason, people may avoid alcohol in order to prevent themselves from going down the dangerous path of addiction.
3.) Intolerance
Feeling nauseous or having a raised body temperature immediately after consuming alcohol are often signs of an alcohol intolerance, another reason why some people may choose not to drink it. Another common allergy that prevents people from drinking is gluten intolerance. An emerging allergy that has become very common, gluten intolerance makes it especially difficult to drink beer, as gluten is one of its prime ingredients. This may steer people away from consuming alcohol.
4.) Simple Disinterest
It isn’t necessary to provide a complicated or scientific reason why – some people simply do not want to drink. I can’t stress enough that it doesn’t make them arrogant and it does not mean that they think they are better than those who do drink. It just means that they prefer doing other things in their spare time.
All in all, whether you love letting loose with a few drinks at the bar or a few movies on the couch, it is important to respect each side’s decision.
College is not only a time to find your path, but also yourself – and whatever type of lifestyle you choose, make sure it’s enjoyable for you!