The head of the UofT Wine Society on the perils of too much Robartsing
Oskar Muller, Contributor
We’ve all been there before. It’s 5 o’clock on a Friday and you find yourself writing prose, reading poetry or doing the dance of x and y in the palace of academia: Robarts Library. A message appears on the corner of the capitalism smashing MacBook you just need for university, ‘anyone down to go out tonight?’. This should be enough to put the pen down and log oL for the night. Why is this a debate? But no, staying in the library supersedes any form of enjoyment. I would go further; pens should go down universally most evenings at university.
This rejection of socialisation comes from an engrained belief that academics define you and your net worth. In part, this is true. It is also incumbent on a gifted person – which is everyone reading this – to work on their gift to show their appreciation. This call to action to put pens down should hone the focus onto this gift in traditional work hours. Focussed during the day, expanding on the subject with your friends by night over a chilled Chablis. Once 5 o’clock comes around it should be a chance to reflect on the day’s toil and talk about your subjects you profess to love. Share with the world your fragment of knowledge secured that day, over a beverage.
As part of the University of Toronto wine club, our mission is to encourage drinking. Drinking you say… isn’t that… bad. Our contention is that it is not, once learned how to drink in moderation. It is no coincidence that this lack of comfortability with casual drinking, one pint after your lecture, promotes binge drinking behaviour when you inevitably must switch oL. Developing a healthy relationship with alcohol during your university days is crucial to prevent a problem occurring later when the balance between paralytic and tee total has still not been struck.
The wine industry is calling out for a change in behaviour. We are losing a historical industry of immense cultural significance. They too disagree with the buy a pink witney once every two weeks and end up on the floor at the Maddy approach. They are encouraging students to buy a bottle of wine, enjoy it and learn to appreciate the art of relaxing in a new venue with new people. Of course, every now and then the Maddy and Pink Whitney is justified and constitutes a good night. But why not add to this weekly rota a casual drink with friends. Contrary to popular belief wine is an aLordable option for students, recommendations available on our Instagram (@UofT.Wine). If there is a will, there is a way to a more alcohol educated population here at UofT.
This is a call to action. Put down the pens. Go to the pub. Have a drink, have two. Speak to your classmates, meet new ones. Socialise, don’t study. It is incumbent on you, dear reader, to make the change – everyone else will thank you.
Photo Credit: Oskar Muller
