1. When you’re home during breaks for school, you have to sneak into your parents’ house all turnt up after the bars.
Your roommates don’t judge you when you throw a jar of queso in the microwave at 3 a.m., but your parents might. You kind of feel like you should be hiding it, but you’re legally allowed to get drunk now.
2. Drinking during the day isn’t necessarily frowned upon.
It’s just called brunch, now.
3. Even though you’re 21, you might still look like you’re 18, and bouncers might still give you a hard time.
A bouncer once stared at me and then literally told me, “I know it says you’re 21, but I just don’t believe it.” K.
4. You still feel nervous when a cashier or bouncer is looking at your ID.
Even though you’re totally allowed to purchase and consume alcohol, you still get a little pit in your stomach that tells you you’re doing something wrong.
5. You’ve actually considered using your fake ID for the night when you couldn’t find your actual ID.
I mean, you’ve dyed your hair since you took your license picture when you were 16, so Samantha Whatshername kind of looks more like you anyway?
6. It kind of feels like your Freshman Fifteen is relapsing.
Remember when you were still in high school and the older girl you were friends with on your field hockey team gained a ton of weight when she went to college? You were like, “that totally won’t happen to me when I get to college.” Then, you were legitimately surprised when you gained a billion pounds. Well, why did you think this time was going to be any different?
7. You feel like you’ve gotten so old.
But realistically, you still spend your free time dreaming about being a Disney princess and drinking $6 bottles of wine, so you’re probably not actually old yet. (IDK, not an expert though.)
8. You forget that everyone else in the world isn’t 21.
Your 19 and 20-year-old friends didn’t turn 21 with you, which really sucks.
9. You use the phrase “21” to describe anyone who is 21 or older.
Not 21 is any age that is 20 or younger. 21 is anything that’s 21 plus. We all have just pretty much agreed on this. “Is she 21?” doesn’t mean you’re asking if someone is literally 21 years old. It just means you’re asking if they’re old enough to go out.
10. Your skin gets bad.
Shape Magazine reported on a study that found that 45 percent of women between the ages of 21 and 26 have adult acne. This is super annoying, because when you were in high schoa ol you were counting down the days until your acne would calm TF down. However, when you were in high school, you probably weren’t staying out until 3 a.m., taking a calzone to the face and then falling asleep with your makeup still on at least three nights a week. (Sorry, skin.)
11. You get extremely annoyed when you get to a bar and realize its 18+.
A year ago, you would have been so pumped to be able to get into the bar while you’re underage. This year, you’re like “ew, why are there babies in here?”
12. Celebrating your friends’ 21st birthdays is actually a billion times more energy-draining than celebrating your own birthday was.
THIS IS YOUR BIRTHDAY, NOT MINE. Why am I the one with the pounding headache? Are you lying? Are you actually hungover and hiding it because you think it’s funny? Wait, no, you’re not serious… we are not day drinking right now. I can’t even tell you I hate you because it’s your birthday. This is the worst.
13. You feel like every bar you walk into contains at least two girls wearing “birthday b*tch” sashes and tiaras.
Does it stress you out to think that someone’s 21st birthday is constantly being celebrated? I actually have a headache just thinking about it.
14. Your life is currently the biggest mess it’s ever been, but you have like… less than a year to get your ish together.
Just when you’ve finally turned 21 and your entire life has turned into a hot mess, the world’s like “hey, time for you to get a real job!” Can we re-assess this timeline, please?
15. You’re pretty confused about how to address alcohol on social media.
The dessert martini you just ordered is SO PRETTY and you need to Instagram it. Is that like… okay?
16. Casual drinking is something you’re trying to ease yourself into.
In the argument for lowering the drinking age, everyone’s always like “kids in other countries can drink responsibly because they’ve been drinking longer.” And we’re always like “hey, we aren’t that bad!” Then, we realize that we can’t even go to Girls’ Night at Margaritas without getting hammered, and agree that maybe it’s time to reel it in a bit.
17. You definitely engage in more illegal activity than you did when you were underage.
Providing alcohol to minors. Furnishing. Public intoxication. We just can’t win.
18. Going out starts to feel like a task.
UGH, it’s Saturday. Guess I have to shave my legs, or something.
19. Going out is expensive, but you’re so tired of house parties.
Is there a happy medium? Why does it suddenly feel awkward to wear heels and a pretty dress in a dirty, college house? We used to live for this.
20. Some of your friends are seriously adulting and it’s freaking you out.
Last names you don’t recognize keep popping up on your Facebook newsfeed because people are starting to get married. WHAT EVEN?!
21. You have to turn 22 soon.
Let’s just not talk about it.