Connoisseurs of vintages and brews

We all know Bloomington is a drinking town with a sports problem.

It’s been like that for years, and nothing’s going to change anytime soon.

So what’s the problem? A good portion of the student body is not legal, meaning  if you’re under 21 and caught drinking at a party, you’re in trouble.

Not that most people seem to care anymore. Drinking tickets are as common as coffee drinkers on this campus. It’s something to be expected.

It doesn’t matter if you party every weekend or only once in a while. The point is our society today now only seems to view alcohol as an escape from everyday problems, as opposed to a complement to foods and life.

Let me explain: The reason I support the laws prohibiting drinking under the age of 21 is because I feel that until we pass that age, we do not fully understand and appreciate the hard work that has gone into the various vintages and labels.

Because we abuse the symptoms of ingesting alcohol, we forget drinks should actually accompany meals, instead of aiding us in having what we seem to think is a good time.

Not that becoming legal makes you a connoisseur of vintages and brews. I honestly don’t know how long it takes everyone to properly develop a palate for decent drinks. For that matter, there have to be some people who never fully learn to taste drinks for what they are.

But what if that changed?

What would happen if Bloomington, rather than having parties for the sole purpose of getting everyone drunk, had dinner parties in which wine was served as a complement to the meal? What if, instead of getting belligerently drunk on your 21st birthday at the bars, you went to a wine or beer tasting?

If our society suddenly came to a realization that alcohol is more than an enabler for cheap laughs and thrills, we would be much better off. Imagine being able to enjoy someone’s company and remember the next day, and not just by looking at pictures on Facebook. Imagine being in better shape because the alcohol you once ingested like a daily vitamin is not present as often, leading you to better short- and long-term health.

Not that my dreams are at all realistic.

I would just like to overhear students in Ballantine talking about the different flavors of a good stout from the Upland Brewing Company instead of how they reeked of “Natty Lite” after a party.

You might say I’m crazy and I’m acting like an absolute snob. And maybe I am.
But I would rather see people spend money on a pinot noir to accompany a plate of medium rare beef medallions with garlic smashed potatoes and haricots vert, or a good stout to accompany fish and chips, than smell the stench of cheap liquors a good block from a party house on a Sunday morning.