[GammaGirl1908]

It seems that you're assuming that the main purpose of the social events is to be drunk. While indeed there may be some people who do drink a lot, it's likely that just as many either don't drink at all, or drink in a controlled manner.

Unless it's an event focused on alcohol (wine tasting, cocktail mixing, etc.), everyone isn't automatically going to be drinking, and at any given event, there likely will be plenty of people who will have a little, but won't necessarily be smashed all night. Having one glass of wine is not the same as getting drunk.

Although my greek affiliation is with an NPHC organization that I joined after college (and so I am, technically, out of my lane), I went to many, many -- MANY -- NPC events while in college, and everyone wasn't drunk all the time. I didn't even drink myself until I was a junior in college, and I usually had plenty of fun dancing and socializing with a diet Coke in my hand.

Try at least a couple of events, and you might be pleasantly surprised. Most of the fun in social events is in getting dressed up for the party with your friends, sharing the experience, and giggling afterward about the funny things that happened. Plenty of people do that without drinks, and the ones who do drink, or even get sloppy drunk, don't necessarily ruin things for the folks who don't. Why would you miss out on all of the good parts because some dude might have a beer or some girl might have a Cosmopolitan?

I also agree with the person upthread who noted that it's a good idea to get used to the idea that you can't avoid situations with alcohol forever. A lot of people drink at least some of the time, and you'll be doing yourself a favor if you learn to deal with it.