The Booze

Hi there! I'm back in no time. :)
Actually, it is something that has bugged and frustrated me a lot and I desperately need to puke it out. Before proceeding further, here's a disclaimer:

"All incidents, people and places mentioned in this post are real and any derived similarity with anyone or anything, living or dead is totally upto the readers' discretion."

What has been bugging me? Well, the title must have given you a hint. My conscience and self-concept has been under immense pressure and facing a number of challenges in the past 1-2 years. Yet, I'm trying really hard to retain and evolve my beliefs and pass this test. So far so good. One such challenge is "ALCOHOL". I have been a die hard antialcoholist all my life (and I presume that I will stay so forever, but who knows what the future holds). Neither do I like having alcohol nor do I like others having it (Don't know why). Well, but what can I do? I can't stop others from doing what they wish to do. I can just contain myself. In what context am I saying this? It's all about the Great Hostel Booze that I recently encountered.

Yes, it happened this week, one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. I had just came back from home after an extended weekend, had a dining extravaganza (But the quality of food turned it into a Paisa Waste Party) and there was more in store- a maniacal liquor spree, and that washed down all my jovial mood. Earlier, there were a few of them who used to drink, but this time the alcohol span was too wide. Guys who had never even tasted liquor were taking neat shots. People whom I used to trust with alcohol, betrayed me. Those who used to go big words against drinking also submitted themselves into the madness. But still, there were some (an absolute minority) who could refrain from joining in. It is really hard for me to understand what pleasures can one derive from these filth-tasting beverages. It's not the taste I'm sure. Probably, it's their cowardice of using alcohol as a device to evade the conscious or whatever.

One more question that bugs me- "What makes people who have family values against alcoholism fell into this habit?" I have tried finding answers and here are some that I have understood:
1. The stereotypical notion of machismo. "Kab tak bachche rahoge, daaru piyo, mard bano!" But contrary to this, alcoholism is a major cause of male impotency (I googled it! [:)]).
2. In this age, one of the chief motivators towards alcohol is peer pressure. You're tempted to have a sip because your friends do so quite often. You want to fit in, you look upto them, you want to be COOL like them and so on and so forth. Well, I've just got one thing to say to them, "Dikhawe pe mat jaao apni akal ladayo!"
3. Girls like it!! Duh! One of the silliest things to hear. I mean how can anybosy claim that is true in general, maybe some of them like it, but believe me, most do not. Besides, which girl will want to kiss you when you stink worse than urine.
4. Status symbol: This is for all those wannabes who think that drinking will make them HIGH SOCIETY. The cliche of SOCIAL DRINKING is courtesy- these guys. Drinking seldom brings social acceptance, but it can bring about social alienation.
There may be more such reasons that I have not mentioned here.

I have tried to advise (rather preach) my friends against the use of alcohol and will continue to do so. There are better things in life. But that is the best I can do. I can't command or dictate anybody. I'll be happy for those who don't fall for it and will lament for those who give in. After all, they all are my dear friends whom I love the most.
Statutory Warning: Consumption of liquor is injurious to health.