Drinking consciously

Drinking and consuming substances should be fun. Do it if you’re comfortable doing it. Do it around people you trust. Don’t pressure other folks into doing it. Don’t overdo it (seriously, one edible will send you on a wild ride in one to two hours, don’t be fooled into taking another one because “yOu dOn’T fEeL iT”). Don’t push your limits to the point of blacking out or greening out. Drink/use substances responsibly. Also remember to stay hydrated!

— EMMANUEL CANTILLER

As we are sure you already know, the drinking age in BC is 19. This means that for most UBC students, the days of relying on older siblings and chill cousins to obtain a precious six-pack of mango White Claws are over. So long as you have two pieces of ID, the liquor store is your oyster. Reaching this milestone of early adulthood is undoubtedly exciting, however, it doesn’t come without risk.

Alcohol consumption is deeply ingrained in our culture — to the point where those who choose to abstain are considered anomalies. It could be argued that there’s nowhere more representative of this trend than a university campus. Although university has the potential to be one of the most fun and fulfilling times of a person’s life, it also presents some unique challenges. In the face of unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety, alcohol can be an enticing way for students to decompress, and this method of coping can quickly become problematic. But alcohol doesn’t have to play a negative role in your life. As long as you drink mindfully, alcohol can be a way to enhance life experiences rather than diminish them.

WHAT IS MINDFUL DRINKING? Mindful drinking is essentially the antidote to the culture of binge drinking that’s prevalent on university campuses. It encourages individuals to think before, during and after they drink, rather than just doing so on autopilot.

As a first-year university student, I never counted drinks. If alcohol was offered, I’d take it, and if my friends were ordering another round, so would I. My only concern was reaching an unclear level of drunkenness that I assumed was necessary in order to have fun. I never stopped to ask myself questions such as ‘How do I feel right now? Do I really want another drink?’ or ‘How will another drink impact the rest of my night, or my day tomorrow?’

Incorporating critical thinking into happy hour may seem buzzkill-ish, but asking myself these questions has actually made drinking far more enjoyable. Drinking isn’t a one-size-fits-all activity, and remaining mindful of how much, how often and why you drink is essential to having a good time.

SIGNS THAT YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH ALCOHOL MAY BE PROBLEMATIC • If you feel uninterested in activities that don’t involve alcohol, drinking should feel like a garnish to social events — it adds a bit of flair, but you could take it or leave it. • If you feel dependent on alcohol to ease social anxiety. • If your first response to stress or emotional distress is to reach for a drink. • If drinking starts to impact your relationships, job or academic success.

If you notice that any of these signs apply to you, it may be time to reevaluate your relationship with alcohol. You can take steps to drink more mindfully, such as checking in with yourself after each drink, or limiting drinking to one or two days a week. However, if you still find yourself unable to change your habits, reaching out to a medical professional is the next step. U