Collegiate Times

Now that Thanksgiving break is over, we must all get ourselves back into a working mode and get ready for exams. While we all feel overloaded right now, winter break will be here before we know it, and with winter break comes all the family holiday gatherings.

There is always a bowl of punch at these parties — the tantalizing pink, spiked, sweetness that you were denied access to. Until now. Having recently turned 21 myself, I found myself faced with a dilemma over Thanksgiving: to drink or not to drink?

My mom and I would frequently share a bottle of wine over break, and she didn't have any problem if I drank a little of the cranberry cocktail she had made for Thanksgiving dinner. But now the grandparents were involved — one of whom seems to take issue with my short hair and tendency to occasionally wear a black top (gasp!). In the end, I decided I'd go ahead and have a glass or two; after all I wasn't breaking any laws.

I tried to be discreet. I would just quickly pour a glass from the pitcher, and no one would comment. Problem was, there was a spoon in the pitcher, and it clanged against the side announcing to all, "Laura is taking a drink!"

It was a little awkward.

Here's the problem: these people still see you as their little grandchild or niece or playmate, and they will be slightly shocked to see you pick up a glass of vodka and cranberry. They expect you to be drunk after one sip, since your virgin lips have never yet touched alcohol — and don't you let them think differently. So even though I had only finished half of the tiny glass, comments were made.

I didn't act any differently than I always did. I attempted to make little jokes and, being a naturally clumsy person, stubbed my toe on a chair someone had left pushed out. But now, in my family's eyes, I was acting like a crazy person. After saying something about being excited to eat all the yummy Thanksgiving food my cousin asks me, "just how many drinks have you had?" This was followed by some obligatory winking. I just looked at her, wondering what about what I had said was so strange.

It began to seem as if the only thing I could do without comment was sit quietly by myself and watch my shoes.

By dinner time, however, my family finally seemed to realize that I wasn't drunk and wasn't going to be drunk and started treating me normally again. It seems that, while awkward and even annoying at times, I had just crossed a necessary hurdle. My family now knows that I do have the occasional cocktail. In their eyes, I am finally seen as an adult now that there is visual, alcoholic proof of my age.

Drinking at the holidays is fine, as long as it is kept under control. Have a glass, maybe two, and act responsible around your family. By the time the event is over, things will be less awkward, and you will have opened the way for family events ever after.

However, that one grandma still made a comment about my hair on her way out the door. Some battles you just can't win.

If you decide to drink this holiday season, here are two drink recipes that are fitting for the season.

Cranberry Cocktail (a.k.a. what I was drinking this Thanksgiving.)

Mix equal parts vodka, cranberry juice and orange juice over ice. Serve in a punch bowl or pitcher. You can adjust the amount of vodka depending on how rowdy you want the crowd to get.

Peppermint Twist

A nice refreshing drink that would probably be nice at the end of the meal.

Mix equal parts (one ounce each for one drink) peppermint schnapps, Kahlua, and brown crème de cacao in a cocktail shaker filled half way with ice. Shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a mini candy cane, peppermint stick or chocolate shaving if desired.