A questioner asks why the culture of drinking is so prevalent across all geographical, cultural, and age barriers, sharing personal anecdotes about her alcoholic father, college peers in India and the US, and even her respected dance guru. Acharya Prashant responds that people drink to achieve a different state of consciousness because they are profoundly bored with their lives. He asserts that this boredom is a universal condition that transcends all barriers, just like alcohol. An Indian is bored with India, an American with America, a disciple with being a disciple, and a guru with being a guru. The speaker explains that the root of this boredom lies in the fundamental nature of existence. Only Truth (Satya) is described as ever-new ('Nitya Nootan') and truly novel ('Abhinav'). In contrast, the material world, or 'Prakriti', is inherently old and repetitive, and boredom arises from this oldness. While our essential nature is Truth, we are compelled to live in Prakriti, which becomes irritating due to its monotony. This is especially evident in repetitive jobs and businesses. The more repetition one experiences, the stronger the inner urge to break free from it, and alcohol serves as one of many means of escape. Acharya Prashant points out the fundamental delusion in believing that problems created by the world can be solved by things from the world. All forms of escape, including alcohol, originate from the very world that causes the suffering. An individual's ordinary state of consciousness is often so low and unbearable that they seek a 'high' to change it. When other options are unavailable, they turn to intoxication for temporary relief, to 'make the sorrow wrong' ('gam galat karna'). This creates a vicious cycle of addiction, as the relief is fleeting, the problem returns, and the need for more alcohol increases, leading to health and financial ruin. The speaker argues that the focus is often misplaced on the bottle and the drinker, while the rotten system that produces such individuals is overlooked. He notes that those who do not drink may indulge in other forms of intoxication, such as addiction to shopping, religion, politics, or television, to escape a life devoid of meaning and vibrancy. The problem often begins in college, a time of great energy when life demands novelty. However, the education system frequently fails to provide meaningful challenges. Campuses and hostels can be depressing environments, lacking creative and physical outlets. With no academic rigor to occupy their time, students are left with unchanneled energy, and this void is often filled by alcohol, perpetuating the cycle.