Article September 20, 1999 Issue

FUN WITHOUT DRINKING

Anjuli Graunke

A common thought at my school is that in order to have fun you should partake in weekly drinking parties. This thought has always perplexed me, because I look at all of the fun things my friends and I do without using alcohol. I often wonder why people feel that way. Why do people think that alcohol provides such a fun time? Why do people get such a thrill out of regaling others on Monday about the party over the weekend where so-and-so was so drunk? Are those who don't drink missing out on something good?

It doesn't look that way to me. Joy is a quality of God, and I have seen that people who drink at these parties are trying to find joy in material things. But drinking alcohol is not imperative in order to be happy. In fact, instead of providing joy, drinking takes it away by removing clarity of thought. It clouds and hampers judgment and wisdom. Realizing this has inspired me to reach out and love these individuals who seem to be dependent on that kind of weekend partying. I know they are all inherently good individuals, children of God.

At one party I went to, some of the people started playing all sorts of drinking games. I was able to feel clear and be at peace. No one pressured me to drink, but soon I felt strongly that I needed to leave. I left and felt, again, a sense of tremendous calm and peace. I knew that God was my guide, and that I didn't have to feel sorry for myself or dumb because I didn't want to drink.

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