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Don't drink alcohol at uni..

I'll be starting uni in September. I have recently given up drinking, smoking & unhealthy food due to always being ill (I seem to catch every bug going!) - but I feel as though drinking will start again when I start uni due to every society & class having benders all the time - will I be forced to drink? Does anyone go out with their uni friends and not drink?? xx

Reply 1

No Man

On the rare occasions that I do choose go out, I do drink, but only to the point of being slightly drunk, since being properly drunk is more dangerous for me than it is for most other people.

And I count the number of times I've been out with 1 (or maybe 2) hands, but I'm not treated as outcast because of it.

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 2

loz957

Do whatever makes you feel comfortable. It may be easy to just conform to what your peers are doing, but you will gain more respect in the long run by making your own decisions.

Reply 3

Phantom Lord

Yeah, but you have to miss out on the 'pre drink'.

Reply 4

kerily

Plenty of people in my social circle don't drink, and we still do plenty of socialising. It's not even an issue; no-one's really bothered. As long as you're not a sanctimonious non-drinker, nobody's going to care at all.

Reply 5

You Failed

People at university are just people... they don't turn into savage animals that upon your decision not to drink, proceed to pin you down and force it down your throat.

Reply 6

FelixFelicis

Original post by xtinalouise

I don't drink and uni has been brilliant. Nobody has ever said anything to me and I always manage to have just as much fun as everyone else!

As long as you don't preach to people, it's all good.

Reply 7

SillyRodent

I've only been out sober once and I didn't enjoy it, mainly because it was a really crowded club that we went to though. No-one is going to care whether you drink or not but I'm pretty sure you'd have a better time if you did, drunk people are annoying when you're sober.

Reply 8

The_Internet

Original post by FelixFelicis

I don't drink and uni has been brilliant. Nobody has ever said anything to me and I always manage to have just as much fun as everyone else!

As long as you don't preach to people, it's all good.

This. I don't drink or go on nights out (Because generally night out = drinking), and I get on fine. People might be curious as to why you don't drink but once you tell them the reason, the general response is "Oh. OK. Fair enough" or something along them lines

Reply 9

thegodofgod

Original post by FelixFelicis

As long as you don't preach to people, it's all good.

+rep

(edited 12 years ago)

Reply 10

xtinalouise

Thankyou for all your responses! You've put me at rest hehe :-) xx

Reply 11

gummers

You'll end up drinking.. I wouldn't worry about it now anyway :smile:

Reply 12

Dorito

It's a difficult one, drink is a big part of student life, especially in 1st year. You will be thrown into a social scene where the only immediate thing people have in common is getting drunk so you will find it hard, in the first few weeks if you're choosing not to drink. After that things will settle down and friendships will start to form at a much deeper level as you get to know people.

The important thing is you do not think you're superior becaue you do not drink and don't look down on people that want to go out and get drunk. I find these kind of people to be the most pretentious, up their own arse type - don't turn into one of them.

Reply 13

mcneilio

You may get a bit of peer pressure in freshers week but honestly just rise above it and people will respect you more for that anyway. I know when theres a room chanting 'down it' you don't want to let them down, but in all honestly nobody will think any less of you for doing what YOU want.

Definately don't drink if you are uncomfortable doing so, and I think for many people alcohol can actually ruin the university experience somewhat. There are so many different experiences and opportunities in university, far more interesting than getting hammered mindlessly.

The best nights that I have had in my time so far have been the ones where I haven't got particularly drunk and thus can still remember it in the morning, and don't feel like crap!

Alcohol is a depressant and overall you will be happier without it!

Reply 14

wanderlust.xx

Kinda have the same problem. I mainly don't drink because of my mum, but next week is superhero night down at the SU and quite frankly I went to SU stark sober and it sucked. People seemed to have so much more fun.

If I drink I'll feel like I've given in and just conformed in the last 2 months of my uni life, and if I don't I'll wonder what it was like.

Reply 15

mel_1991

Original post by xtinalouise

You won't be forced to drink if you have nice flatmates and friends who respect your choice. I'm teetotal (I never drink) and I go out with my flatmates. Saves me a fair bit too :wink:

Reply 16

biffyclyro27

Original post by xtinalouise

you don't have to drink if you don't want to. I enjoy drinking sometimes, every so often I'll get the urge to go and get wrecked. But I usually don't drink for like 4 weeks or so at a time.

Reply 17

littleone271

I'm sure nobody is going to force you to drink. If they're people worth knowing and spending time with then they'll respect your decision and probably envy your ability to have fun without booze on a night out.

At the same time, I'm sure you won't become ill if you have one or two drinks every once in a while but obviously it depends on you and whether you find it easier to have none than have one or two.