NYC is NOT the place for ex-drinkers! Alcohol is our water, which isn't a good thing

So, I went out last night with some friends to play some trivia at Cherry Tree Tavern.   I must say, definitely one of the TINIEST I"ve been to.  It was way overcrowded, to the point where I had to keep moving to allow the traffic, leaving me right near the front door.  Anyways, I was trying so hard to enjoy my time, while sipping on some quality draft beer.   As I'm looking around and observing all of the silly, young-mid 20's drunkards, I think, "huh....I wonder what time these people have to go to work, OR do they even work?"  My experience living here, is that NYC is the MECCA for alcoholics.  Well, it's also the mecca for drugs (ANY drugs), however alcohol is always rampant and abused every day.  It's almost as if the term, "social drinker" has became the "full-time drinker."  I'm not saying I'm innocent whatsoever, but I must say it tends to disgust me.  I find it disheartening that the days of friends going to each others houses (or apartments for that matter) to chit chat are long gone, and that people choose a bar as a meet up for social interaction.  I can't imagine how difficult it must be for a sober, or ex-alcoholic to survive here.  On another note, I have a funny story about how different upstate and downstate is, in pertains to drinking.  On morning, me and my boyfriend went to brunch with his parents at Tavern on Dean (no longer exist) and of course, since we're accustomed to having drinks during our meal, we ordered two mimosas.  Well, as the waitress asked what his parents  (who lived in Syracuse for most of their life) wanted to drink, "would you like a mimosa, or bloody mary...?"  they said, "coffee's just fine."  And, yet the waitress continued to repeat the same question in a very persuasive tone.  I was stunned!!  Looking over at the other tables, just about everyone had a mimosa or some kind of alcoholic beverage.  That's normal to me here.  Growing up in Long Island, it wasn't so normal.  However, I felt embarrassed for his parents because that pressuring was uncalled for.  Who says that one needs to get tipsy in the morning?  After we received our drinks, we had his mom take a sip because she's NEVER had one before.  All in all, it was a funny experience but with a little awkwardness.  Everyone who lives here knows, so many people are alcoholics---whether they're a plain one, functional one, semi-functional one, etc.  I definitely enjoy all of the interesting bars, lounges and pubs, but it's very overpowering.  I know for a fact that my generation is filled with binge drinkers, and I hope that when we're in our 50's it subsides.    You know how they say that alcohol is poison? Well, that's the damn truth.   Hopefully, we can all release our "NYC stress" in a more moral way---via writing, music, getting back into a hobby, etc.  Those are the true safe stress relievers that I feel should overtake the drinking.  AND that's the end of today's pondering thoughts......hasta manana.