I'm not going to turn 21 for another 5-6 months. But let me tell you, I am not looking forward to it. I bring this up is because on Halloween, I was working when a regular patron came in. He asked what I planned on doing that night, and when I replied, "Oh, just playing horror video games with friends," he asks, "What, no drinking?" Which then led to the 'none of us are 21' discussion.
Thankfully, this patron didn't ask why we didn't drink. Although he did ask me if it was because I was Mormon. I said no, I'm not Mormon. And he goes "oh okay" and accepts it. But then he says, "Next year we'll see what you can do."
And I spent the next 10 minutes of my guarding shift wondering why there's a pressure to drink socially. Maybe it's a Utah thing, and I'm going to write the rest of this operating under the assumption that it is an exclusively Utah thing. If it isn't, let me know. I'm always curious to know what others think.
My workplace tends to have parties at one worker's house because it's easy, his roommates are cool with it, etc. Before that it was at another. I never touched a drink because I was DD and decided it'd be best for me to get a sugar rush on soda instead. It never actually worked, to be honest. But when I decline going to work parties now, the number one question asked is "Why not?"
Why not? Why not? Other than the fact that I'm not a huge fan of parties (which I then get crap for, but that's another story), it's because I don't want to drink, and work parties aren't fun if you aren't drinking. Plus, I didn't want to drink and then be unable to figure out how to get home (since I have no DD myself because of the fact everyone I know loves to drink). When I say that I don't want to tailgate with alcohol and will actively work towards finding a tailgate situation with friends who understand I don't drink, I get weird looks. Like, "why aren't you drinking?"
I get this feeling it's a thing with Utah where drinking is one of the key ways to separate non-Mormons from Mormons, and loose Mormons from strict Mormons. The Church seems to have a slight stigma that I can't put down into words. It's like it's bad if you're a strict Mormon. You got shit-talked behind your back, and for non-Mormons, get asked if you're Mormon like you've just sprouted a tail. Like being a Mormon means that your relationship with this person is going to be forever and irreparably marred because of your religion.
I get this feeling that my so-called "friends" in SLC are going to disregard the fact that I'm not going to want to go to a bar when I turn 21. Or, if they heed it, they'll look at me like I'm strange and unnatural. But I don't see the whole big deal of drinking myself stupid when I turn 21. I may not even drink at all for my actual birthday. Probably celebrate it a month later with my family because that's important to us. I'm very glad I won't be in SLC when it's my birthday. I just want to spend a nice day with friends who actually acknowledge my wishes and are cool with it. I don't want my 21st birthday to be seen as a way to rebel against the mainstream where I live.
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