In a land where a handshake comes with a pint of beer, the decision to stay sober might come as a surprising one.

I chose a booze-free life almost six months ago, and the six months prior to that were a more or less successful period of “trying to drink much less.” After giving up on an omnipresent Bushwick substance and having a sober outlook on things, I started exploring my  big life change. And I began to wonder, “Why do so many young people in the neighborhood choose to pick up a drink in the first place?”

The supply of 100 bars meets demand

The bar industry pretty much runs Bushwick’s petite economy, and watering holes are the most common new business. According to Yelp, the Bushwick and East Williamsburg area contains approximately 100 bars, which means alcohol is a very accessible commodity in this part of town.