As you may know, I have been sober for four years. I come from a family with alcoholism on both sides, and I hit a point when alcohol was something that I had to "control." And once I let myself start drinking, there was no control. There was just more and more until I didn't recognize myself anymore. It took a few tries, but a few years ago I decided that this one night would be my last night.
Since then I have still gone to bars with friends, and instead ordered a Shirley Temple. My close friends even would stock their parties with "Non-Alcoholic But Equally Fun Beverages." It is not a struggle when I am comfortable.
But now that I am making friends from the beginning again, I am reminded of how much alcohol is part of our culture. We are surrounded by advertisements for alcoholic drinks, and being the only one at an event without a wine glass is judged.
I'm not going to get on my soap box and talk about how dangerous drinking can be or how our culture as a whole needs to change. (If you're interested, the book Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol shares an interesting perspective.) This is just a PSA/ request to the universe. The next time you're hosting an event, offer nonalcoholic beverages. The next time you're getting to know someone, consider coffee instead of a drink. The next time you're with a friend, have a real conversation instead of a superficial chat about their drink preferences. Let me know if it makes a difference!