Each week, we post short interviews with interesting people about their thoughts and feelings on women and drinking. There is such a wide array of perspectives about this topic, and we are excited to gain insight into as many as possible and to share them with you.
Sarah Pitre lives in Austin, TX, where she programs screenings at the Alamo Drafthouse and coordinates events at The Highball, a playground for adults. Tired of feeling like a creepy old lady in the bookstore Young Adult section, she created Forever Young Adult to provide grown-ups with a community where they can gush about young adult literature without shame. In addition to crushing on fictional teenage boys, Sarah enjoys dance parties, macaroni and cheese and any excuse to drink.
Drinking Diaries: How old were you when you had your first drink and what was it?
Sarah Pitre: So… I actually didn’t drink until I turned 21 (WHAT! I KNOW!), and I remember popping open a bottle of Andre to celebrate my birthday. Classy, I know.
How do you approach alcohol in your every day life?
Uh, by drinking it?
Have you ever had a phase in your life when you drank more or less?
2005 was basically my banner year for drinking. Part of it had to do with a terrible break-up, and the other part stemmed from the fact that I worked at a crappy job with my best friend, so we could show up at work hungover together and take naps in my office. Plus, we were in our mid-20s, so our bodies didn’t hate us yet.
What’s your drink of choice? Why?
Vodka soda with an orange slice! It’s low calorie, it tastes good, and it’s loyal. In other words, if we stick together, I never get sick. I’m also very partial to Sofias, also known as champ cans. They are excellent for the pool and, well, really, any public space, because they don’t look like alcoholic beverages.
Can you tell us about the best time you ever had drinking?
Y’all know this is, like, the world’s hardest question, right? I could probably come up with the meaning of life more quickly than my response to this question. So there was the boat party, and my wedding, and the vodka we snuck into Schlitterbahn (greatest water park in the universe), but I guess I would say the best time I had drinking was this year in New Orleans on the Gray Line Cocktail Walking Tour. I, along with all of my best friends, drank our way through the oldest bars in New Orleans and even learned some history along the way. Like, we saw the place where the word “cocktail” was invented. HOLLA!
What about the worst time?
Ah, that would be at the Whiskey Bar in Austin, circa summer of 2005. I tried to keep up with my buddy Ray, which was a really bad idea. Did you know you can get kicked out of a bar for puking, even if you puke in a trash can? Lame!
Do you have a favorite book, song, or movie about drinking?
Dude. Chumbawumba. OBVIOUSLY. Once, when I was in Vegas with my bestie Meredith, I told her that it was my dream to actually hear “Tubthumping” while I was drinking in a bar. And then we happened to be in this divey lounge, and a Celtic band called Killian’s Angels (I am not making this up) came on stage, and they played a Celtic cover of “Tubthumping”! I DIED.
If you could be any drink, what would it be? Why?
French 75 all the way! It’s classy, but it also packs a punch.
YES!!! Chumbawumba is the best pre-gaming song of all time! A tell-tale sign that you’ve got a fantastic night ahead.