Molly Christianson, Contributing Writer
There have been many posts about how Generation Z is the “sober curious” generation popping up on my social media feeds recently. People are misunderstanding the label. Being “sober curious” does not actually equate to sobriety.
Ruby Warrington wrote a book in 2018 titled “Sober Curious,” in which she defined sober curiosity as “questioning every instinct, every invitation and every expectation to drink versus going along with the dominant drinking culture.”
In the past few years Gen Z has been statistically proven to be consuming less alcohol than previous generations; drinking culture has less of a hold over our social lives.
What people seem to be forgetting is that sobriety goes beyond abstinence from alcohol, but also other substances such as Gen Z’s drug of choice — marijuana.
Gen Z is the first generation to exist in a world where marijuana is widely legalized. Virginia legalized recreational marijuana use in 2021 for individuals over 21, along with 23 other states and the District of Columbia.
Marijuana’s widespread legality naturally means that people are going to be consuming it more freely. Data by a marijuana research firm found 69% of people aged 18-24 prefer marijuana to alcohol. 56% of the individuals have replaced alcohol with marijuana.
Gen Z, despite popular claims, isn’t the “sober generation.” In high school, I knew a lot of people who were not able to focus or function at school if they were not high. That trend has continued into college, and I know some people who still get high just out of habit.
The misuse of “sober curious” bugs me for a couple of reasons, but what really gets me is how I have seen substances ruin people’s lives, despite them allegedly being a part of the “sober” generation.
Using marijuana can lead to someone developing a cannabis use disorder (CUD) due to its potential as an addictive substance, according to the National Institute of Drug Abuse.
So what? Why does it even matter that people are consuming marijuana instead of alcohol? The honest answer is this: it doesn’t.
But what does matter is consumption rates. No matter what you are consuming — be it candy or an addictive substance — you should not be consuming excessive amounts of it.
When doing anything you need to be mindful — or “sober curious” — about how much you are consuming and how it is affecting you.
Paying attention to your body and not ignoring the signs it gives you can be a lot harder in social settings, but it is more vital for you to pay close attention in these settings.
In the end, it’s not about being sober or having a buzz; it’s about being in the driver’s seat of your life, steering towards choices with awareness and happiness.