As a male in college, wine is not socially acceptable for me to consume. Neither is Mike's Hard Lemonade, Twisted Tea, Smirnoff Ice--the list goes on. Matter of fact, any alcoholic beverage aside from Natty Light, Fireball, and Jack Daniels is considered feminine. Why? Females are known to have a sweeter taste for alcohol and consume these types of drinks. For whatever reason, males feel the need to distance themselves from this. This is ridiculous, and I'll tell you why.

A lot of guys my age are deathly afraid to share these thoughts, but I'll be the one to say it. It doesn't matter what your laundry list for the liquor store looks like. As an emerging adult, you're encouraged to shop around and try varieties of drinks to find out where you land on the taste scale. Why does there have to be a masculine or prideful connotation attached to it? There doesn't. Life is way too short to pass up classic favorites and new experiences for the status quo and social norms. I'm confident that if you opt for a Twisted Tea over a Budweiser, you're no less of a man. College will try to push a different narrative. Why can't college dudes participate in Margarita Monday's, Tequila Tuesday's, and Wine Wednesday's without facing social repercussions? It doesn't make you any less of a "bro". If anything, it makes you lame for bypassing your wants to fit into a social box.

The basis of this conversation is absurd, considering that people naturally have different tastes and enjoyments. People get into moods. It's how life works. Alcohol is a significant part of culture. Germans love their beer, Italians their wine, Russians their vodka. Historically, people consumed what they wanted to without care. Fun Fact: Aside from beer, did you know that wine was one of the most popular necessities in the 16th and 17th centuries, in a male-dominated society? People, quite literally, drank wine for a multitude of purposes (refreshment, celebration, illness, etc.). Also, watch Game of Thrones sometime. It's not close to a good portrayal of Medieval life, but rarely will you not see a character sipping on a chalice of wine in any scene. How did evolution over time decide which drinks were manly, and which ones not?

I love beer, rum, brandy, and whiskey as much as the next guy. Don't get me wrong. I have an appreciation for all of it. But, I'm at my wits' end on this issue. As a male in college, I don't care what I drink. I'll drink what I prefer to. Let's eliminate the "beer or bust" narrative for guys. It's only setting stupid expectations and limiting men on all of the wonderful flavors that exist in the world. And, if you are a guy that prefers beer regardless, like me, good for you. Just be yourself--I'll toast to that.