Why are 20-30 year olds so obsessed with drinking culture.

So I’m in college, and I just turned 21 in March. I’m not much of a drinker, never have been. I’m really introverted so if I do drink it is with my really close friend at her house or my house.

I just started a new chemistry program at school and am starting to get really close with my lab group. We hang out often after class. One thing I’ve noticed though is they LOVE to drink. They will have 5–6 beers every time we are together. They talk about alcohol 24/7, and it’s just so normalized for them. When I tell them that I’m not a big drinker, they call me “a good girl” or a “healthy girl”, and while I could take these as a compliment, it really only makes me feel like an outcast.

Now I have nothing against alcohol, but like I said, it does sort of make me feel like an outcast. They want to go bar hopping with me but that is just SO NOT ME! I’m scared to let them know that though…

I’m not sure if this is my insecurity about not drinking, or an insecurity about being an introvert in an extroverted culture.

Any advice? Any thoughts?