Article December 31, 1990 Issue

The struggle that satisfies

When we feel close to God, we don't need to drink to feel accepted.

Joan Sieber Ware

"One taste can't hurt you!"
"Everyone drinks."
"You'll feel free to be yourself."
"Why not?"

Over and over again I heard these aggressive temptations to drink. I just transferred from a college where I'd had many close friends who didn't drink. Now drinking seemed to be at the center of every weekend activity I went to. I was feeling different and alone.

I didn't want to drink, but the fear of being excluded and unaccepted was undermining my confidence and joy. Fitting in with the group and yet living by an unpopular standard seemed to be incompatible. In spite of changing attitudes regarding the whole issue of drinking, there's still a great deal of pressure to do it.

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SECOND THOUGHT
December 31, 1990
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