In reality, it doesn’t matter if you are a young adult or a middle-aged parent. It is still taboo if that one person doesn’t drink alcohol at a party.

There are many reasons for why people don’t drink: “I’m driving,” “I don’t like the taste of alcohol,” or “I had a bad experience.” Overall, there is still that one person who raises their eyebrows and tilts their head as if you had sprouted horns. Can you blame them? People today who do not drink are like a diamond in the rough, not needing to be under the influence of alcohol to have fun. It is okay to not drink at parties and it should not make a difference.

There have been times where, in a personal experience, the name “Goody-Two-Shoes” has come up. The feeling of a slight burn of any nickname, including that one, can bring on the peer pressure to be like everyone else. Besides from the party goers and their drunken sneers, the pressure comes down harder when close friends are begging you to take a shot with them, even though you have said no more times than you can count, or when they want you to participate in a party drinking game.

When you are young, you want to seem cool and hip and not care about your responsibilities. Sometimes as a young person, to drink is to show that you can act like an “adult” by showing you can hold your liquor. There is always something about proving to the crowd that you can handle anything.

The perks of not drinking include not making a fool out of yourself and not being remembered as that one person who made a lasting negative impression in a social gathering.
The person who upchucks in Granny’s urn. Yikes. Although there is the title of “the responsible one,” being sober can have its downsides.

The biggest one is being the caretaker of your friends when they are vomiting their McDonald’s value meal. Of course, just because someone drinks does not mean they are an alcoholic. There are those responsible adults who can handle their alcohol and still be fine.

A note for those who find themselves wanting to comment on someone’s choice to not drink: Just reply, “That’s cool, how’s your week so far?”

Choosing not to drink should not label those as “Goody-Two-Shoes,” or a “Debby-Downer.” Respect is key. Being an adult does not mean there has to be vodka or champagne in everyone’s hand as soon as they get to the party. It should be a choice, wanting to drink alcohol or not. It’s okay to not drink.