There are a lot of things to notice when people are in a situation where they must interact with other people. A big one is eye contact. Others include the degree of receptiveness among a given number of people, the comfort level between people and peer pressure.
A large portion of my attention is usually directed at the presence of alcohol in a given situation. I generally look for some of the aforementioned characteristics of interaction and then see what the effects of alcohol are.
Of course, most of us know what happens when people drink. Ultimately it depends upon the individual but most are aware of the categories of drunken behavior. There’s the loud drunk, the quiet drunk, the emotional drunk, the obnoxious drunk and of course the “popular” drunk who can’t hold his or her liquor.
In any case, people drink to have a good time by “loosening up.” At least, this is what people generally believe themselves to be doing when drinking. It is a valid argument from their perspective because after all, who doesn’t want to have a good time.
Many people, however, overlook another valid and somewhat pertinent perspective about drinking: People drink to enjoy themselves. But people tend not to perceive the fact that they are reliant on a substance to have a good time. Eventually alcohol can become so important to an individual’s fun that it becomes a disappointment when alcohol is not available.
There are many people who are perfectly capable of having a great time without alcohol yet still drink. But alcohol isn’t only used to have a good time , it is also used to reduce the awkwardness of some social situations like, say, dating.
We have all seen the dating shows and have probably noticed that a lot of them have a segment taking place in a bar at some point. Shortly after we see the two (or more) daters enjoying a very “comfortable” first date.
Of course there is the issue of self-control when one has been drinking. I have heard friends argue, on more than one occasion, that it takes them more than just one beer (or even five) to feel a buzz. This of course may be true, but it does not mean that one is not under the influence. Even a beer will impair a person’s reaction time.
It is frustrating to hear that people are still driving around after having a few drinks. People are so confident that they can make it home driving under the influence they are willing to risk not only their own lives but the lives of others as well.
Everyone who drinks alcohol, however, drinks alcohol for a reason. If there were no reasons to drink then no one would drink. Whether the reason is to help someone enjoy his or herself more, to make an awkward situation more comfortable or to help someone relax after a rough day, there is a reason for drinking.
This is not to say that everyone who drinks should simply stop and certainly is not an argument to reinstate prohibition, which would violate a citizen’s constitutional rights. That would be unrealistic. I am simply arguing that when people drink they should be aware of the actual reasons they are drinking, even if it is simply to get that feel-good buzz.
There is always a reason for drinking, but there are probably better ways to solve issues of awkwardness and better ways to feel good and have fun than imbibing a substance that is legitimately classified as a drug.
Adam Omernik, a sophomore journalsim major, is photography editor of the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at niteyet@yahoo.com.
