Booze-Loving Culture and Me!

In a world increasingly glamorized by the clink of glasses and the glow of bar lights, choosing sobriety feels less like a lifestyle and more like a quiet act of rebellion. I’ve walked this path — a non-drinker surrounded by colleagues for whom alcohol is not just an occasional indulgence but a ritual, a bonding mechanism, even a personality trait. It’s a struggle not rooted in envy or moral superiority, but in the dissonance between values, in the discomfort of isolation, and in the pursuit of a life guided by inner clarity rather than external chaos.

Just a few years ago, society collectively acknowledged alcohol for what it truly is — an addictive substance that often leads people astray, damages health, and destroys families. It was seen as a vice, not a virtue. There was at least a faint echo of moral consensus. But today, that collective voice has grown quieter. Alcohol is no longer just accepted; it’s celebrated. It’s a symbol of status, of freedom, of being "fun." The idea of drinking in moderation has become a convenient veil, often masking dependency with terms like “social drinking” or “controlled consumption.”

The workplace, unfortunately, is no exception. My colleagues, many of whom I genuinely respect for their professional acumen, often define camaraderie through shared drinks and weekend hangouts revolving around alcohol. For them, it’s a culture, a lifestyle — sometimes, even a badge of honor. While they make plans over pints and discuss spirits with the same enthusiasm as some discuss books or travel, I often find myself politely declining invitations, staying on the periphery of these tight-knit social groups. And no matter how respectfully you bow out, abstinence often feels like exclusion.

Being someone who finds joy in the simple pleasures — a walk in the morning sun, a meaningful conversation, reading something thought-provoking, or just sitting in silence — I sometimes wonder if I belong to a disappearing tribe. I refrain from all addictions, not just for discipline’s sake, but because I seek clarity, purpose, and a life of conscious intention. I aspire to be a cultivator — someone who is constantly tending to the garden of their inner life, removing weeds, planting seeds of good habit, and striving for a higher standard.

It’s not easy, though. At times, maintaining relationships with people who don’t share your values can feel like walking through a storm while trying to keep a flame alive. The path is lonely, and the world often mistakes solitude for arrogance or aloofness. But what concerns me more than personal isolation is the broader shift in societal values. When addiction is normalized, when overindulgence becomes a joke, and when “fun” is defined by substances that dull the senses, we as a society must pause and reflect.

The deeper issue is not alcohol itself, but the erosion of universal values — health, discipline, clarity, and integrity. Friendship today often hinges on similarity in habits, not on shared principles. “He’s fun” or “She’s chill” have become more important than “He uplifts me” or “She brings out the best in me.” But what is fun if it doesn’t enrich the soul? What is friendship if it doesn’t help us grow?

They say a man is known by the company he keeps. But I believe a true cultivator is known by what he is willing to leave behind in the pursuit of higher truths. The road to self-improvement demands courage — the courage to be different, to be misunderstood, and at times, to stand alone. It’s about rising up, filtering out the distractions, and staying true to your path, even when the world calls you strange.

In the end, life is not about how many friends you have or how many parties you attend. It’s about how many lives you’ve touched, how many minds you’ve awakened, and how deeply you’ve inspired others to look within. That, to me, is the real celebration. That is joy in its purest form.

So while my world may never revolve around the clink of a glass, it will always revolve around the clarity of purpose — and that, I believe, is worth raising a toast to.