Non-drinker at uni

Hello all,

I don't really drink. I'll have a G&T (yes I have aged early!) or a So Co and lemonade or two (max) occasionally but I don't really like alcohol or the way it makes me feel. I'll be 23 when I go to UEA in September (hopefully) so at least there will be slightly less peer pressure; but will I be the only one who doesn't drink...?!

I don't care too much if people sneer at me, it gets annoying :angry:

but I've been dealing with it for 7 years so I'm not too concerned about that. But to those who are there/going are there a lot of other people who don't drink? Or are my worst fears to be realised and I really am the only person on the planet who doesn't enjoy alcohol?! :rolleyes:

Reply 1

hjradley1

I highly doubt you'll be the only one. Uni is large with a huge number of people from many walks of life. I'm really not fond of alcohol either, for the taste, price and empty calories!

I don't appreciate the atmosphere of busy pubs either due to anxiety and hearing loss so I can't even go out on a Friday or Saturday night!
I'm slightly anxious about the beginning of uni because of this but I've read extensively on TSR that many don't like or even drink alcohol at all! So I'm sure you (and myself!) will be fine!
Hope Ive been of some reassurance :smile:

This was posted from The Student Room's iPhone/iPad App

Reply 2

Tiger Rag

I can't say I've noticed many who didn't drink. However, they did largely respect my choice. (actually, it wasn't a choice for the first two months)

Reply 3

iLikeCupcakes

Depedns on your circle of friends. My circle is rather mixed both drinkers and non-drinkers.

Just find a group of friends that dont really care if you do or dont its actually easier than you think :smile:

Reply 4

Emmzaa

There is so much stigma attached to university and drinking. Having just finished my first year at university I have realised that if you're not a big drinker then that's fine. People don't tend to have issues with you not drinking as long as you don't frown upon them doing it.

Who's to say you can't go out clubbing with your friends, yet not drink? You still get the social side of it and the lovely stories the next morning but you don't have to drink.?

You'll find that many people also tend to go out just once a week and are not up for drinking every night of the week.

Although I go out drinking around 4 times a week, two of my housemates don't drink or come out and we still have a really good friendship. You'll find that you will have many friends who don't tend to drink and if you really don't want to go out then you can hang with them.

Living right near Norwich and the UEA I can tell you that there are many other things to do, other than go out drinking. The more stigma you attach to drinking and yourself, the more others will pick up on it. It's a lifestyle choice you've made, if people can't accept it, then they are probably not the sort of people you want to be friends with.

Reply 5

JadeN92

well i'm just like you actually, i don't like the taste of alcohol but i always seem to forget that whenever i go out! so i always have a vodka and coke and thats when i remember and then just drink lemonade for the rest of the night. At the end of the day, it doesn't matter because you shouldn't need to drink alcohol to have fun!

I don't think people will shun you if you refuse to drink...

Reply 6

funsongfactory

Loads of people don't drink, it'll only be a big deal if you make it a big deal OP :smile:

Reply 7

Katie_p

I'm part of a big group of people who drink anything from solely J2O and water to ten plus pints in a night. You'll probably be asked why you don't drink and if you go out in a big group asked if you want anything, but if you make it clear you don't want to, it's fine, good friends will completely respect that. In my group it works really well because none of us go clubbing, so we're only ever in bars/pubs or at our flat, which means there's no external pressure to drink.

Reply 8

posterchild

I'm not in uni yet and I'm 19 but I don't drink at all (because of medical and personal reasons), and I don't plan on starting again in uni :smile:

I will by all means go out socialising, but I can do that without drinking :biggrin:

If my dad takes me out for a drink with him he has a pint and I have a soft drink, it's all good :biggrin:

Reply 9

Parakeet

I drink less at uni than I do anywhere else. People -can- be a pain about it but that's just life. Better to have respect for your self, your health and your own preferences than to end up vomiting in a gutter somewhere (a mark of respect for most freshers, sadly...)

Reply 10

Jellytots122

I don't drink alcohol either, its a bit awkward when I'm on a night out, I feel really self conscious and I find it hard to get a conversation going and can't help but feel awkward -_- But I'm not the only-non drinker there are a few of my friends who don't drink either or who only have one or two drinks, but they're more of a social butterfly than me lols. I'm the type of person who finds social situations awkward to begin with, and I'm really shy but I'm doing ok :smile:

No one will laugh at you or anything if you don't drink, a tip I should do more often is order like a coke so people will think you have vodka in there, it makes you feel more comfortable and gives you something to do with your hands.

Reply 11

Nirgilis

More people don't drink than you may realise. Plus, as long as you make it clear that you don't drink, any self-respecting person would just leave you alone. I've never been in a conversation longer than 'You're not drinking?' .. 'No' .. 'Oh, cool' .. The question 'why' very rarely comes up at all :tongue:

So long as you make light of/go along with the situation and don't get all defensive/offensive about it, no-one will give you any trouble :h:

(edited 11 years ago)

Reply 12

Confusedanddazed

Got to say this is something im worried about as ive suffered with alcohol abuse for the last few years (Age 18 - 24) and im 1 year sober this month :biggrin:

(Age 25)

I intend to stay sober as Alcohol turns me into somebody I hate but its quite daunting as the first weeks of UNI seem to be Alcohol related with socialising and getting to know each other.

Im aiming to be honest with people about my past from the start as I dont want people accidently putting alcohol in my drinks but it shouldnt stop me socialising ill just stick with red bull and lemonades :smile:

trust me your not going to be the only one who doesnt drink :smile:

Reply 13

username392640

No you WILL be the only person that don't drink and everyone will laugh at you.
I swear this thread pops up about at least once or twice a week.
There's so many people that don't drink including me, get over it.

Reply 14

Dan1909

Original post by TheProdigy2k9

From what I've seen, the only people who seem to make a big deal out of people not drinking, are the people who aren't drinking.

I know plenty of people who don't drink at all, and I drink fairly little myself, I've never seen anyone take offence to it, or even find it weird. It's massively blown out of proportion by people worrying about it, when in all seriousness, nobody really cares what you do. :smile:

Reply 15

Tiger Rag

Original post by Dan1909

I've never seen anyone take offence to it, or even find it weird. It's massively blown out of proportion by people worrying about it, when in all seriousness, nobody really cares what you do. :smile:

Same. I rarely drank at uni and no-one ever said anything about it.

Reply 16

username392640

Original post by Dan1909

That's exactly what I'm talking about, I totally agree with you.
I don't drink like at all, never found it an issue, neither has anyone else. Don't think a lot of people care to be honest. Everyone's just having a good time

Reply 17

rosiemaphone

I don't drink at all, been teetotal since January, and actually I've found that as a non-drinker I've made more friends :smile:

Of course this is a rarity, but alcohol turns me into someone I don't like, while I can be myself sober. I also tend to get "high on life" and so can enjoy myself when everyone else is drunk. You also get good stories from it.

It doesn't matter whether you drink or not. Maybe fresher's week won't be quite as fun, but apart from that, you'll get as good a university experience as everyone else. Don't make a big deal out of being sober and no-one else will :smile:

Just don't start drinking to fit in, even if you do get pressured into it. That never ends well.