ONE day, while I was at a birthday event surrounded by some of my closest friends, I asked one of them what their first impression of me had been. 

One said that she thought I partied all the time, and I wouldn’t contribute much to group projects. I laughed at the time, but then I realized: at this point in my life, I am partying all the time. I often find myself hanging out at Pop Up at Katipunan, or Cubao Expo, for a quick drink or two. 

But I still complete my tasks on time. I still do my best to pass my parts on time when it comes to group assignments; a lot of the time, I’m even designated to lead the group.

So why the assumption that just because some people party, they’re some kind of deadbeat? As if you can’t drink on a Friday night and then spend Saturday studying for an upcoming exam? Why the mindset that we can only do one thing at a time, or be one thing and not the other?

Going out at night to drink, dance, and have fun is a part of life for many young people, and it’s not always a bad thing.  

The nightlife for Gen Zs

It’s no secret that young people like to party; I don’t think I have any friends whom I haven’t seen with a drink in their hand at least once. In a study posted on the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism’s website, it was found that in 2021, over 3.2 million youth reported binge drinking at least once within the past month. 

But should going out to drink be taken negatively? Could it just be another way to relieve stress?

For 23-year-old Duane Cañega, a 4th-year student at iAcademy, drinking is a way to have fun and make friends. When he was a frequenter of parties, he’d find himself going out twice a week. 

“You get to meet a lot of new people, different kinds of people, good and bad. And there’s a lot of memories and experiences that you get from partying,” he said.

Xerxes Lawrence, a 21-year-old 3rd-year student at the University of Santo Tomas,  goes out once or twice a week and often comes home at around 3 to 4 in the morning from places like Sanctuary, Rapture, Pop Up, and The Beech.

Lawrence sees this as a way of taking a break from his requirements. Like Cañega, he said he loves the nightlife because he gets to make new friends as well as strengthen bonds with his old ones.

It also allows him to have new experiences and have fun. 

“I think one of the best experiences for me was when we watched a drag show; the queens were very accommodating, and we [even] became close with them,” he said.

A study by Bristol nightclub Motion claimed that 90 percent of young people felt that clubbing has helped them to connect with others, and has as well drastically improved their mental health. 

While there may be some skeptics that say that going out to party does no good, it does help a lot of people to unwind from the daily stressors of life.

Facing judgment

Cañega, like many others, has faced judgment from others due to how often he would party. 

“People say that when you go out to drink, you’re not taking care of yourself, you’re not taking care of your goals in life,” he said.

“But in reality, there’s a lot of people within the spaces that are very conscious about their life decisions. And you know, a lot of us, especially in the creative industry, have to take a break and relax, chill down, so that we have more energy, more creativity in our mind, to continue doing our craft,” he added. 

Through partying, Cañega has created plenty of meaningful memories, both with strangers and friends. 

“You get to meet people you wouldn’t expect you’d vibe with,” he said.

Drinking safely

Of course, going out to drink does have its cons, just like everything else. Cañega recounted how when he first started drinking in senior high school, he had no idea how much alcohol his body could tolerate. He ended up getting so drunk that he threw up everywhere. 

On the same night, he also lost his wallet, and he and his friends were even cheated by the bartender on the price of their drinks.

Cañega also said that other cons of going out to drink are having to spend a lot of money, and struggling to figure out how to get home when you’re both drunk and tired. Imagine riding an Angkas and going down a bumpy road when you can’t even see straight while walking!

To avoid accidents or doing things you might regret, Cañega said people going out should know their alcohol tolerance even before they start partying.

He said that this advice wasn’t just for people that have started partying, but for everyone. 

“You should start drinking at home, if possible, with your parents,” he suggested.

If they can’t drink at home, they could drink somewhere else, he said,  

“Know kung hanggang gaano lang yung kaya mo. Kung saan yung wasted ka na, para hindi siya mangyari when you’re outside, ‘cause it’s not safe,” he said. 

It’s also important to keep track of your finances, even when you’re going out to drink. 

Cañega often spends around P500 to P1,000 when he goes out, and Lawrence spends just below P1,000. Take note, though, that the amount you need to shell out would depend on where you and your friends are headed that particular night.

And of course, just like in every other place, it’s important to have fun and treat everyone with respect. Drunkenness is never an excuse for rudeness, after all.