Albert Camus and Binge Drinking

Albert Camus is considered to be the father of absurdism. He believed there was no meaning to life and that one should create their own meaning. If he were to look at the epidemic of binge drinking today, he would most likely say that it is absurd. When people binge drink, it is sometimes due to societal pressure; there is an increased chance of becoming victims of crime, and he might interpret it as a misguided form of rebellion. Binge drinking could potentially hurt not only the people who drink but others around them as well. It is for these reasons that Camus would not view binge drinking in a positive light.

 

Albert Camus was a prominent philosopher of the 20th century. His profound interpretation of absurdism left a lasting mark on existential philosophy. Camus delves into the human condition, contending that individuals grapple with an indifferent and intrinsically meaningless universe. Contrary to embracing nihilism, Camus proposes a different approach, a call to confront the absurdity of existence head-on. His philosophy advocates for a rebellion against this absurdity, urging individuals not to passively accept the lack of inherent meaning but to actively rebel against it. This rebellion involves a profound act of defiance, crafting one's own subjective meaning and values in the face of a seemingly purposeless reality. 

 

In our current reality, the social pressure to drink remains a prevalent expectation. It can lead individuals to feel pressured to consume alcohol even when it goes against their personal tendencies. Occasionally, individuals may be asked why they are not drinking or encounter attempts by others to persuade them into joining. There are also instances where people are indirectly coerced to consume alcohol as they observe the people around them drink. Resulting in an individual feeling obligated to conform and drink. “Roughly 80% of college students… consume alcohol to some degree. It’s estimated that 50% of those students engage in binge drinking, which involves consuming too much alcohol in too little time” (Galbicsek, 2023, para.1). Camus was always a strong advocate for making your own choices and acting without the perception of others. He would look down upon this societal notion and people's lack of ability to refuse a drink. In his book-length essay, The Rebel, Camus delves into the topic of rebellion. In it, he states, “What is a rebel? A man who says no” (The Rebel: An essay on man in revolt, 2012, p. 21). He would emphasize the significance of making decisions based on authentic personal desires rather than succumbing to outside influences.

 

Binge drinking also comes with the potential for harm. “Each year, close to 600,000 college students unintentionally injure themselves due to heavy drinking,” and “Close to 700,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are assaulted by a student who had been drinking prior to the offense” (Galbicsek, 2023, para. 13). The latter can not only leave physical damage, but long-lasting psychological damage. Camus was a believer of justice for the innocent, his actions during World War II proved it as well. He was born in a small coastal town in Algeria in 1913 and was in France when World War II broke out. Camus initially tried to flee France but soon realized his efforts would be futile. He then proceeded to join the resistance against Germany. He did this by doing what he did best: through writing. Camus joined the underground French newspaper Combat as an editor and writer in the fall of 1943. He was opposed to the atrocities being committed by the Germans. “Camus presents Absurdism as society’s most effective channel through which to achieve all things good, even in an inherently meaningless world” (Genovese, 2010, p. 2). If Camus witnessed the sheer amount of harm and violence enacted upon and by binge drinkers, he would look down upon it.

 

Finally, Camus would argue that reckless or self-destructive behaviors are misguided forms of rebellion. In his famous work, The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus states, "One must imagine Sisyphus happy” (The Myth of Sisyphus, 1990, p. 55). In the story of Sisyphus, he is forced to push a rock up a hill as punishment for cheating death. The boulder is too heavy and always falls back just as he is about to reach the top, and as a result, Sisyphus never manages to push the boulder all the way up. The quote implies that despite Sisyphus’s endless task, he accepts his fate and feels gratified with this endless job. Sisyphus rebels by finding happiness in his situation rather than falling prey to despair. What Camus is trying to convey with this quote is that everyone should face their challenges head-on. One should not let their circumstances interfere with how they wish to live. For instance, actions that perpetuate harm or disregard the well-being of oneself or others, like binge drinking, might be seen as rebellions that fail to confront the absurdity of existence effectively. Instead of asserting meaningful values or personal autonomy, these actions might represent a surrender to despair or societal pressures, ultimately reinforcing the absurd rather than challenging it. Camus himself rebelled against the absurd. He never had it easy, coming from poverty and losing his dad at a very young age due to World War I. Another challenge Camus faced was tuberculosis, which prevented him from continuing to play college football. He did not let this stop him from continuing to enjoy life. Instead, he rebelled. He did not let his illness take over his life, and alternatively, he pursued the theater, writing and starring in theatrical releases as well as writing his views on the world. Resulting in him becoming a well-known philosopher.

 

Albert Camus's literary contributions are fundamental pillars of absurdism, profoundly influencing philosophical discourse and earning him the prestigious Nobel Prize. His legacy continues to captivate present-day audiences, sparking ongoing discussion and analysis of his philosophies. While Camus did not directly address the issue of binge drinking while he was alive, a perceptive exploration of his literary works and various scholarly interpretations from others allows us to theorize a potential perspective. By delving into his writings and considering the contextual nuances of his life experiences, it seems plausible to speculate that Albert Camus, renowned for his observation of life's absurdities, would likely perceive the pervasive binge drinking epidemic as absurd.