Alcohol has never done anything for me. It makes me hot and sweaty and before too long sick to my stomach, and then sleepy. None of that sounds like a fun night out to me. Plus all those empty calories - a waste in my opinion. The main reason I ever drink is social convention - "everyone else is ordering a margarita, I should too". I am 22 BTW :)

Alcohol never contributed to my weight gain but I dislike what it does to people including myself. I walked away from it in 2008. I also walked away from an 18 year friendship because she drinks excessively. I want nothing to do with alcoholism...empty calories is the least of my reasons.