According to recent data, Generation Z drinks the least alcohol of any generation. At first, I thought that couldn’t possibly be right. We exist in a bubble at the University of Massachusetts, where going out every weekend is an accepted part of the culture. But what about those who aren’t in college?
At first glance, this statistic might seem like a positive. In a way, it certainly is. Less people drinking means less addiction and generally less health problems down the line. That being said, the more I thought about it, the more concerning this trend became.
Traditionally, alcohol is a celebratory indulgence. For the most part, college students over 21 historically never drink alone. Whether it’s the sticky-floored college bar, a stranger’s living room or a friend’s moldy basement, most situations in college where drinks are consumed are inherently social. Drinking and partying are interlinked; less people consuming alcohol means less friend groups traveling in hordes through town, giggling and chatting exuberantly.
When compared with less social substances like marijuana, which is gaining in popularity, social functions that include alcohol are a fun and relatively common way to celebrate anything big or small, as long as said partiers are 21 and in good health.
In the long run, which seems healthier? Having a few espresso martinis at the bar with the people you love or spending those nights alone, pondering life on your bed?
Really, it’s not about the alcohol. Plenty of people choose not to drink due to health issues or simply being underage. It’s about the atmosphere of the bar, the club, the pregame. It’s about leaving your room, meeting that friend of a friend of a friend and singing along to “Doses and Mimosas” in the Uber. It’s about breakfast with your friends the next morning and sifting through the infinite quantity of pictures. It’s about those classic dialogues recapping the night’s exuberance.
Despite the stigma, partying is far from evil. Nevertheless, we live in an era where everyone’s judgement is ubiquitous. The world seems especially concerned with what others choose to do with their bodies. This shame culture tends to disproportionately affect women, but men are not exempt. Amid the constant crush of alpha male ideology, men on social media are more likely to adopt values associated with toxic masculinity
When we let trends dictate how we behave and what we believe — when we let influencers suffocate us beneath this blanket of shame and judgement — we lose an essential part of our identities and, frankly, miss out on a lot of fun.
Amidst this cancerous toxicity of social media, the anti-partying movement is rising. Homestead creators like Nara Smith and Ballerina Farm are subtly being lifted to the top of your algorithm. Their content, which revolves around their nuclear families, receives thousands of comments praising their traditional values and soft-spoken nature. In the same breath, these commenters are slamming twenty-something women who simply post videos dancing beneath the strobe lights of a club. For example, “someone’s future wife” is a disturbing comment on the rise.
Meanwhile, shirtless men on Instagram Reels show off their poorly cooked steak topped with mysterious vegetables, boasting that their banal lifestyles are better than yours. Conservative creators vlog their Saturday nights, which compose of red-light therapy and 20 step skincare routines washed down with an anti-inflammatory mocktail. Shame in the name of wellness.
The more conservative our country becomes, the more that toxicity leaks into our media and infiltrates our culture. Think of the 2000s and early 2010s, the heyday of Millennial optimism and celebrity scandal. Kesha, Lindsay Lohan, the Obama administration and HBO’s “Girls”. Compare this energy to today. Our generation is screen addicted, isolated and intensely polarized.
So, approach the person in class you’ve been friend-crushing on. Hit up that friend you haven’t seen in a while; ask them to go out Friday night whether it’s to a grubby bar or a burlesque show. Pour a drink (alcoholic or otherwise) and toast to being fortunate enough to have these people in your life. Have the kind of night you’ll remember when college is a distant memory. And of course, please drink responsibly.
Elena Pavlik can be reached at [email protected].
