The Case for Going Out without Drinking
Not every good night out needs a hangover.
The Thursday Rager is a column written by Jen Glass for After Dark by Tawk of New Yawk. Jen is a nightlife, good times, Gen Z columnist. Bi-weekly, she’ll tell you about a cool, off the radar event she’s attended, share a perspective, or a really niche story, and will offer a bar recommendation for your weekend shenanigans.
Deep and personal author reveal, I guess: I am on Accutane. I have suffered from acne pretty much all my life, so this year, at my big age, I finally decided to take the plunge. For those who don’t know, Accutane is a very strong drug. It requires constant blood tests and checkups, and it ravages your liver. Doctors recommend you abstain from drinking during the course of your treatment or risk permanent liver damage.
My high school dermatologist actually recommended I start Accutane right before my freshman year of college. My eighteen-year-old self shuddered at the prospect of responsibility and self-control becoming the themes of my freshman year, so instead, I opted for acne and debauchery. Nine years later, I found myself with a fully developed brain and a few sober months already behind me after needing a break from drinking. It felt like a natural time to take the plunge. No more alcohol: doctor’s orders.
It’s not just me and my Accutane-addled body, though. Gen Z is drinking way less than previous generations. And yeah, that’s good in some aspects. Gen Z probably sleeps better, and there are certainly some CBD gummy companies jumping for joy. But Gen Z is also socializing less. Well, we all are, but Gen Z in particular, according to the U.S. Surgeon General.
Your local friend Jen would argue that drinking and socializing do not need to, and should not, be connected. No, really. You just need to remember a few things:
Be in it for the love of the game.
Guys, I genuinely love going out and doing stuff. I love dancing, and I love karaoke, and I love staying out late. I love meeting new people and rehashing the same drama with old friends. I love silly photobooth pictures and playing pool. I LOVE dancing. Did I mention I love dancing? And where can I find all of these things? OUT. Out on the town.
I hear you, dear introverted Gen Z reader. “Oh, but Jen, I don’t actually like those things. I like sitting at home and scrolling TikTok. I like doing my skincare and being in bed by 9:30.” Okay, that’s fine for you! And believe me, sometimes binge-watching Survivor with a bowl of pasta is my ideal weekend night, too. To me, though, being social is a muscle. You build it up over time. You find the things you like and the things you don’t. You find the cadence of going out that feels good to you. Maybe you don’t like dancing like I do, which I don’t understand, but that’s your prerogative. Maybe you love dishing gossip at a swanky cocktail bar. Maybe you only want to go to twenty-person punk shows, or maybe you want to browse the Partiful events tab. Just try going out for a bit in the most amazing city on the planet. Make a friend! It won’t kill you!
Explore your mocktail options.
Celsius has been a godsend to me during this time. I did try Monster, but yeesh. Yuck. Not for me, I fear. Celsius is genuinely delicious and looks passably like a drink. I’m a white woman in my twenties, so I love Diet Coke and often just order those. Bartenders will sometimes just hand me one instead of making me pay two bucks. Homies! Sobriety gaining steam means lots of bars now have fun mocktails on their menus, and sometimes bartenders will even offer to whip one up for me improv-style. Just make sure to always tip! And hey…there are other things that are legal in New York if that’s more your speed.
Find supportive (and normal) friends.
It has come to my attention that some friend groups care whether everyone in the group is drinking. It has come to my attention that some friend groups do not want to hang out at a dive bar, the club, or the park if substances aren’t involved. Well, thankfully, those people are not my friend group. I’m happy to be silly with them and nurse them back to health if they get too drunk and need it. And in return, they never give me any crap about being sober on our nights out. Plus, hanging out with them is my drug, to be honest. I’d recommend finding extremely excellent friends. Lucky to say I have, and it makes everything easier.
Whether you’re drunk or sober, go forth, party, and prosper. It’s for the good of humanity.
BAR TO TRY THIS WEEKEND: Bushwick Country Club
Is the weather good? Who’s to say, really? It feels like it may finally be good once and for all. Maybe? I’m hedging my bets, and so I’m recommending Bushwick Country Club. I kind of stole this rec from my girlfriend, who took me there with her friends and regaled me with stories about how this place invented the pickleback shot. Either way, the backyard of this place ruled. Inside, there are deep booths, friendly bartenders, who did aggressively card us…I’m 27, you guys, and a photobooth, which apparently is the one-way ticket to my heart. Worth a trip if you’re in the area.
