person” as it “helps people lose some inhibitions and dis-
regard what’s typically seen as acceptable” (Zhang). It is
agreeable that alcohol can lower the inhibitions of the shy.
However, lessened inhibition is far beyond from an honest
portrayal of ones character. Honesty, properly defined as
“the quality or fact of being honest; uprightness and fair-
ness”, has no place in the sloppy kisses of the impaired
(“Honesty”). It cannot be observed through glassy eyes,
and it must be given earnestly from oneself. So while I can
agree that alcohol makes the actions and intention of people
who consume more observant and obvious, it is ridiculous
to believe that “alcohol brings out a more honest version
of yourself” (Michalchuk). If anything, alcohol summons
the anti-honesty — it portrays the secrets that the intoxicated
try to conceal. Whether it is through physical attraction, or
emotional connection, alcohol is described to be suggestive
of honest, raw connection, when in actuality it is assertive in
forcing meaningless human interaction. For example, almost
everyone has experienced the sexy late-night hookup with
a complete stranger, ultimately ending in regret for both
parties. Thankfully, I have yet to experience the dreaded
“walk-of-shame”. But what I can say is that each time my
ex-boyfriend got drunk, his sexual drive became disgust-
ingly overbearing, which in turn made mine shrivel to non-
existence. It felt like going to bed with a stranger. He would
wake up the next morning and forget (or regret) the events
of the night before. The Orlando Recovery Center posted
an article expressing that “seventy percent of people who
regretted having a sexual encounter stated that alcohol has
been an influence” in their decision, speaking volumes to the
kid fact that we as a society, place no value on having significant
= and heartfelt sexual exchanges (“How Alcoholism Affects
=a Relationships”). Do not misunderstand me: I am not reli-
gious, nor am I conservative by any means. Perhaps it was
the way I was raised, never actually growing up in a house-
hold with both a mom and a dad present. But a hasty, sloppy
: post-bar fucking is not a means of expressing true honesty,
or in other words, our deepest vulnerabilities. Alcohol may
co give us the liquid courage to make initial interactions, but
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we must face once the sun rises. The idea of sober dating
may seem unexciting. Nevertheless, seeking out love with
the clarity of a sober mind will allow you to “listen more
attentively, learning far more than you can while drinking”
(Assimos). Alcohol consumption cheats our sober-selves of

what we desire when seeking out a partner. ‘Typically, alcohol
encourages us to find certain physical or emotional charac-
teristics much more attractive that we ordinarily would. So
while Mr. Zhang and Mr. Michalchuk romanticize alcohol as
a passage into one’s sheltered honesty, they cannot deny that
the people they are likely pursuing start “lookin’ better every
shot of Patron”, thus altering their standards due to inhibi-
tion (Ludacris). Honesty cannot be observed through im-
paired eyes, sipped from a cup, or detected with inhibition.
True honesty should be given from a place of clearheaded
vulnerability.

My romantic life has always been dancing with the
presence of alcohol. I have resented it for taking precedence
in the eyes of my ex-boyfriend, but also, I have been tempted
of it now that I am supporting someone who largely prac-
tices sobriety. While my curiosity of incorporating alcohol
and romance has grown since choosing the path to sobriety,
society's incorporation, or even the desire to incorporate, al-
cohol into the dating scene has vanished. Specifically, people
of my age group do not find drinking to be an attractive
attribute, as it is associated with undesirable stereotypes via
social media influences, it perpetuates reckless behavior, and
invokes a false sense of honesty and vulnerability. ‘Today’s
youth seemingly subscribe to the belief that something as
risky as love, or ultimately vulnerability, is not to be taken
lightly. This seriousness largely explains the disappearance
of alcohol from modern dating. Removing alcohol from
my dating life has provided me the clarity of what a loving,
and most importantly healthy, relationship can look like. No
longer is my love life plagued with the chaos and confu-
sion brought on by inhibition. Mirroring my own journey
on alcohol and romance, societies perception of dating has
grown to be delicate. With the absence of reckless, drunken
love, brings the death of Dionysus upon us.