Beer-Soaked Wisconsin
When asking young people what they plan to do on any given weekend you might hear everything from biking. canoeing, shopping, or planning a marathon movie watching event. But there is also a segment when asked that question who will respond “going drinking”. People actually label drinking as the event. Not having a beer after canoeing or biking, but making drinking the event itself.
I started thinking again about our drinking culture in Wisconsin this weekend. Many events spurred my mind down the same path. There was the rousing football game Saturday on the UW-Madison campus where double the students from last week were kicked out of the staduim in part due to excessive drinking.
Spirited Green Bay Packers took to the field as tail-gate parties and bars state-wide poured the amber-liquid-ritual one after the other. In too many bars some patrons will have been served more than they should have consumed, and will hit the roads after the game.
Then there was the very special and wonderful bride in a beautiful dress along with the groom this weekend who entered the reception hall on what everyone agrees is a most memorable day. Held high in the hand of the groom was a cup of beer. Others in the wedding party brought their beer bottles, none concealing the fact they had been drinking a great deal. While guests had waited for the reception to start, the wedding party was drinking and arrived almost an hour late.
On Sunday in Madison a victim of drinking while boating was pulled from Lake Monona. Last week he and a friend thought swimming was a good idea while intoxicated. The owner of the boat was ticketed for OWI after making it back to his vessel. Search crews finally pulled the victim’s body to shore about 3:00 P.M. today.
I do not want to come across as puritanical or less than a very fun-loving person. No one can paint me as conservative, and those who know me can attest to the fact I like to laugh and have a darn good time. But after this weekend I am wondering where is the joy in drinking so much that a college game is missed, hangovers start a new life together, or for others the beginning of a work week is headaches and sluggishness? What about the loved ones from the drowning incident? I know it may sound absolutely absurd to a large percentage of the people but I pose a few questions.
Might the frequency of drinking, and the amount consumed by the typical Wisconsinite be a topic that should merit more attention from our society as a whole? I know the State Legislature is seeking remedies to drinking and driving. The UW-Madison has ended commercial contracts for radio advertising of beer during college sporting events. But what about the larger social question of asking whether collectively we just drink far too much? Do people really have so much fun doing it, or is it an easy cover for a wide variety of problems that would be better addressed through some honest introspection?
If anyone cares to have a dialogue about this matter I would be happy to ‘listen’ here.
He mentions “new and exciting adventures.” We seem to have lost our capacity for adventure (while sober). Adventure is all around us. Here’s one example of a local adventure: http://saveourstream.blogspot.com/2010/01/exploring-lake-wingra-in-winter.html .
As a college student, I can honestly say that drinking is titled as an event on its own not because of the drinking itself, but because of the events it appears to bring about. Alcohol makes you less self conscious, and causes you to act before thinking (or without thinking) much more often than you would when sober. These facts lead to the inevitable occurrence of events that would NEVER have happened without the presence of alcohol. These new and exciting “adventures” are what people seek when they drink. They wants to say and do things they wouldn’t do normally. They want to end up in illogical situations and make irrational decisions, because it makes for a better story. People also want to be able to enjoy common events that are normally considered boring or socially unacceptable. for example, it is completely socially acceptable for a 21-year-old man to sing along with a Miley Cyrus song when he is trashed, but knowing the words to the tween pop sensation’s song while sober would bring about ridicule. I think if we were to attempt a change in society’s need for alcohol, we would need to focus not on the drinks themselves, but on society’s attitude. We would need to find a way to push college students to embark on sober adventures and for fringe interests to be considered interesting instead of signs of social illness.
And let’s not forget, drinking and driving have higher death and injury rates than any firearm accident. Much higher. They get drunk and then get into the car (of which a vietnam vet once described as a guided missile).
I watched as my cousin’s bridal party and husband celebrated their beginnings by the groom showing up towards the end of the reception while my cousin wandered around the party alone. I watched as her brother and others post pictures of drunken revelery on facebook. I do not mind having the occasional drink, but I think it makes a person look pretty stupid play beer pong and it’s in bad taste to post pictures of yourself looking wasted; not to mention all that alcohol is bad for you.
I think it’s classy to enjoy a glass of wine or whatever over dinner or during happy hour. You enjoy the drink, but your focus is on your friends, the dinner, and your surroundings. You come away from the event a whole lot happier and healthier with stronger friendships.
Ferrell,
I thought that the NFL stopped sales of beer at 3rd quarter around the country, but do not know for sure. I think the ending of beer sales at half-time is not a bad idea either.
I do know that we do not pull over at random and check for DWI in Wisconsin. Some have advocated for that idea over the years, but it never gets too far.
You make some valid points. Doesn’t it always seem to come back to: All Things In Moderation.
In Illinois after Bears Home games, there are state police pullovers on every expressway and tollway going out of the city. The state police randomly pull people over and check them out for DWI. They also don’t sell beer after halftime.
Does Wisconsin do anything like this?
Don’t know if a generalization can be made about why everyone is drinking and if they’re drinking too much.
Speaking of drinking, your header reminds me that I need my morning cup of coffee!
May All Beings Be Happy.