WHY I DON'T DRINK

​Whenever I go out to parties, I often get the question, “Why don’t you drink?”
 
Whether people drink or not is a personal decision.  I thought I would share the reasons why I don’t drink because I get asked this question frequently.
 
Here’s why:
 
FAITH
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”
 
The main reason I don’t drink is because my body is not my own. This verse is a great reminder to me to treat and respect my body in the same way that I would treat something that I borrowed. 

HEALTH
My immune system is already weak due to the lack of sleep from studying late at night. Drinking would worsen my case since it’s known to weaken the immune system.
 
I believe that you’re never too young to slow down the physical signs of aging. Alcohol speeds up aging on both the inside and outside of the body. Dehydration weakens the organs as well as the supply of collagen that works to keep your skin looking youthful. 
 
Alcohol is just a bunch of empty calories. Our metabolism slows as we age so personally I would rather spend my calories drinking a milk shake (which at least has some protein!) than empty calories that can lead to more consequences than just gaining weight.
 
I love waking up feeling physically fit and healthy, and if I woke up with a hangover I wouldn’t feel that satisfaction. 

CONTROL
I like to be in control of my thoughts and actions. By not drinking, I avoid making drunken mistakes, texts, or calls, which can create unnecessary drama or problems I’d have to try and resolve the next morning. I also want to remember the memories my friends and I share when we go out together. I would be alarmed if I woke up and couldn’t remember what happened the night before.

MONEY
Alcohol is expensive! If you gave up drinking for a week, just think of how much money you would save…then think of how much you’d save after a year. 

​SOCIAL
Many people drink to be more social or have fun. I have gained so much more confidence by not drinking. Not drinking forces you to get out of the corner and simply be yourself, which is good practice for after college.

RESPECT
No one has ever made fun of me for deciding not to drink. In fact, people at parties have told me, “Wow I really respect that you don’t drink,” and, “I wish I had never started drinking”.
 
Celebrities like Blake Lively, Jennifer Lopez, and even Kim Kardashian don’t drink (I was shocked when I heard that Kim doesn’t drink!). So for those of us who don't drink, there are plenty of others both famous and not famous who also choose not to drink!
 
Thanks for reading!

XOXO

​B