Drinking Culture Problems

[Mariposa36]

I recently started a new job and I love everything about it except the people I work with. Everyone is in their early twenties and most of them are also wrapped around the hardcore drinking culture. Even our boss is a big drinker, kind of stuck up, and snobby. They brag about how drunk they got and think it's funny to challenge themselves to go to as many bars as possible without passing out, or chugging X amount of drinks. They have parties, as well and invite myself and fellow coworkers. While I have no problem with drinking, I'm too young to drink and the youngest out of the whole group (the rest are 21 or 22 -- I don't turn 21 until next year), don't weigh enough to drink more than 1 serving of alcohol per hour, and I just hate the whole "let's get wasted" mentality. It disgusts me and I get so annoyed over it. I won't hang out with them outside of work. While I really, really like my job and the pay I get (it's more than most part-time jobs for students), I just feel like an outcast from my boss and coworkers. They're so hard to get along with since I decline their party offers and have no drunk stories to share. They won't even talk to me unless I talk to them and when I do, I always get a snarky retort or one-word response. :o It's been terribly frustrating.

Where I live, alcohol abuse is absolutely horrid. You cannot even go out to a bar or any store or restaurant near the bars on some weekends (especially after dusk.) People will be passed out in weird places, driving super drunk, major injuries and death are all too common, and there's a lot of alcohol-related violence and vandalism.

Is the negative drinking culture prevalent where you live? What do you typically do about it or in response to the challenges it brings?

 

[Andres88]

Yes, there's a lot of young people participating in binge drinking where I live. Even teenagers; go figure.

 

[mina]

I hate the drinking culture too and the "let's get wasted" mentality . I never found it appealing. it was a big thing at my high school and in jobs I worked . I've stayed away from it and my liver thanks me. I have no problem with social drinking and knowing your limits, but to drink in order to get drunk and act stupid is ignorant.

 

[Sketcher]

Fortunately, most of the people I spend time with are past that stage in their lives. I'll have a couple of drinks, a meal, and a conversation with people. A lot of people drink more than I choose to, but I'm not judged for my choice. Also, if people know that you're driving, in my experience they won't push you to drink too much.

During my early 20's though, I didn't drink as a general rule. I was involved in a campus ministry, and we got together all the time, had a lot of fun, and never drank. Which set us apart from most of the campus, because lots of students there get trashed all the time. So I had my shelter from that culture, you could say.

 

[Mariposa36]

Today, one of my coworkers came to work completely wasted. She couldn't even do her job properly and made everyone else look really bad. I had to work with her the entire time and was sooooo annoyed. Our boss is really soft about these sort of problems which is really annoying (the girl should have been fired.)

It's really sad to see the lack of work ethic and budding alcoholism in many teens and 20-somethings, these days. Getting wasted is one terrible thing, but going to work or class wasted is absolutely absurd! Dear God, please help these people.

 

[nomoredeath]

Yes, I am a student at a large public university in the South, so drinking is big in my environment too. I think people will respect you if you show them that you don't have to get wasted and act stupid! I will drink sometimes but don't like to get drunk because, as you've correctly identified, it is a very negative mentality. But I don't let people make me feel uncool at all if I don't want to drink (not that I care much about being cool anyway). In fact, I think it makes a positive impression on people if I am able to moderate myself the times I do drink and not get throwing-up sick. They might poke fun at you, but I guarantee that when they're hungover and feeling terrible, they will envy you for making more responsible and healthy choices than they did. Thus, you have a chance to help them learn from their mistakes!

 

[SavedbyGrace85]

I am also annoyed with the culture of binge drinking. I was never really part of the scene but about a week ago I was invited to attend one of cousins Bday party. It was at a local restaurant/cantina. There was about 20 of us. Of course I was the only one who did not have a drop of alcohol but boy was it annoying.

I babysat my cousin the whole night. The guy could not even walk out of the place. Yet his friends were just there laughing and getting "wasted." I took him home early and watched over him until about 3am. His buddies came in around 1am and were laughing at him and mocking him. I was a bit angered or disgusted with the whole situation but just let it go.

The next day you would think they would be embarrassed or resentful but nope. They were just laughing that they could not remember anything. It is just really sad. I do not think drinking alcohol socially is bad but I have my one beliefs why I do not drink.