<p>Actually, I think people at college will respect your decision not to drink because of religious reasons more so than a student who does it because he or she fears the negative consequences.</p>
<p>Actually, people who drink will respect both as long as they aren't preachy. Being told you shouldn't drink because it's dangerous from someone who has never tried it and never witnessed your handling of alcohol can get on anyone's nerves. As long as you're responsible about drinking it can be fun and safe. Anyway, a lot of the people with this opinion (the "danger" advocates, not your religious situation) end up drinking after turning 21, which makes me wonder if all the terrible, horrible possibilities they worry over disappear at that age or if they're not scared to try it anymore.</p>
<p>I agree with chris07 on this one. I've known people who have refused alcohol only to try it once they are of legal age. There might be some nervousness with drinking underage by some students so they are willing to wait 2.5 to 3 years into college before trying it.</p>
<p>dontno, you and I are in complete agreement. But I sure as hell won't try to argue about it with my Muslim friends :).</p>
<p>Dontno:</p>
<p>I am a Christian, and my decision to not drink alcohol is a combination of religion/personal choices, but is really not an orthodox mandate from my religion or church. </p>
<p>As a Christian, I have been taught to maintain my body as a "living sacrifice." That does not mean shedding my blood or taking my life!!! Rather, it means keeping my body in top physical, emotional, and mental state in order to honor the God that created me and gave his life for my salvation. It has been my upbringing and personal belief that drinking alcohol can tamper with that level of fitness, as well as infuse something into the body that is not healthy. So, in a sense, the decision to not drink alcohol has its roots in a health decision, as well as religious. </p>
<p>I hope this doesn't sound like a preachy lecture: that is not my intention. I just thought I would share my insight on the subject with you so you wouldn't think of me as some idiot that says at 17 yrs. old he is not going to drink - ever!! Also, since religion came into this topic, I wanted to add some subjective content.</p>
<p>No, that doesn't sound preachy at all. We all have our beliefs; as long as you aren't pushing them on someone else I think they should be respected.</p>
<p>Also, some people here have been saying you won't be able to do much if you don't drink. I disagree. You can still attend parties with friends, nobody forces you to drink at those (at least at that's how it is at the ones I go to). Just hold a cup in your hand and I guarantee nobody will bother you. </p>
<p>And I've got to admit, although I like getting wasted as much as the next college student, there's something fun about being the only sober person humoring a group of drunks. ;)</p>
<p>And above and beyond all that religious and health stuff, I hate big social events like parties. I am by no means a social invert, but I would take a three-hour intellectual conversation with a few smart individuals over a drunken party/night any day...that's just me. I can't stand loud music and having to scream over people to talk, and I just feel uncomfortable in similar situations. I have never been a party goer and I guess I never will be...I just hate everything about loud groups of high strung people. (I'm going to be extremely popular in college, can't you tell!!!!!!!!)</p>
<p>Hey, ivyleaguewannabe! You remind me a lot of myself three years ago, back when I was applying to college. I was religious and thought drunkenness was bad because it destroyed your God-given mental clarity; I thought parties were loud, annoying, and pointless; I thought I'd much rather have a good conversation than a wild night out. </p>
<p>How much has changed!</p>
<p>I'm not saying that to imply that you will change, but I do suggest that you be open to it. When I first started at Princeton I doggedly avoided the party scene, hung out with my party-crazy friends during the day and got in with a crowd of other abstainers to hang out with at nights and on weekends. We played sober games and went for walks and had long talks. It was great! I started dating someone, and we kept each other company on nights when our friends were at parties. We went to this cafe in Murray-Dodge that's open every night during party hours for free cookies and tea. And then, after a year or so, I started getting restless. I went to a few quiet room parties with a close girlfriend, and found that a few glasses of wine and some cheese were kind of fun. I decided to go out to the street after some of these parties and found that the pounding music, cheap beer, and drunkenly running into random friends you haven't seen since last semester was ... really fun. The most enjoyable part is often the long and serious conversations you can have when one or all of the participants are drunk. I have had conversations about course choices, career plans, relationships, sociological patterns, and even philosophy while drunk or with those who are drunk. Finally, my boyfriend started joining in on occasion. We both have a great time whenever we go out, drinking or not, and I'm really happy with where I am socially.</p>
<p>The thing is, though, I was happy socially before and after I started drinking. There are things to do and people to hang out with that won't present drinking as an option to you. Even better, you can go to parties and not imbibe and have a great time. One of the girls in my new club revealed that she isn't drinking until 21 - she just keeps coming to the parties and laughing at us! I always said parties were not my thing - not at all! - and they may not be, in the end. However, I wish I'd given myself a chance at liking them a bit earlier. Give yourself chances to like them (even without drinking!), and if you don't, you'll still have plenty of things to do. Sorry this is rambling; your words hit close to home for me.</p>