Alcohol guide for freshers

TSR Wiki > University > Student Life > Alcohol guide for freshers

Alcohol is an issue for a lot of people when they begin university. Many have not drunk much before, and others just wish to economise. TSR seems to have a page on student food for freshers, so I thought I'd write one on this more important issue. Whilst there are many people who don't drink, the vast majority do, so I hope this page will become a database of advice for people. --Musicbloke 22:29, 17 September 2008 (BST)

What to drink?

Standard drinks for students are pints/cans of beer, spirits and mixers, and wine. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Wine and beer are more usual for if you're going to a pub or staying in, while spirits and mixers are generally good for going out. As a student you'll probably be wanting to economise, and I can assure you that the cheapest way to get drunk is wine (unless you insist on drinking disgusting things like lambrini or white lightning.) Spirits and mixers will generally cost a bit more.

Types of drink

Wine - From grapes. It can either be dry, sweet or somewhere in the middle. A lot of people prefer their wine dry. Serve White wine slightly above fridge temperature, serve red wines at room temperature. Try both, you might prefer one over the other, or like your esteemed author, think they're both great. Wine is quite strong at 7 - 14% ABV. If your intention is to get drunk, go for the higher percentages. I find around 12% ABV makes a nice wine. Can be drunk with lemonade to sweeten it up if needed.

Beer - different types, lager is the most popular. It is most often what is seen on tap in pubs. Other types include ales, bitters and draughts. All taste remarkably different. Lager is generally the cheapest owing to its popularity. Look out when drinking beer. Some are stronger at 5%ABV and others can be as low as 3.5%ABV. It doesn't sound like much, but the difference in levels of intoxication between 4 pints of 4% beer and 5% beer is very big. If you don't want to get drunk, stick to weaker beers and make it last. It is worth checking out which are strong and which are not. Lagers can be drunk with lime and/or lemonade to weaken it and make it taste nicer.

Cider - Made from fermented apples, with a sweet, crisp taste, served on the tap at pubs and usually as strong as beer. It's also looney juice. Contrary to popular opinion, fights start in Somerset not because Somerset is mind numbingly dull but because of Strongbow, Tesco Value, Frosty Jacks, Blackthorn, Thatchers and just about every other brand on the market. It brings every terrible and malicious idea you possess to the front of your mind and gives you twice the energy needed to act on them. Newcomers to the drink generally aren't so bad, but be wary of any male over the age of eighteen who primarily drinks it, or any female of any age who drinks primarily drinks it.

Whisky/Whiskey - Whisky is an interesting drink. When talking about scotch, there is no e in the word. When talking about all other types the e is used. Scotch whisky hails from the Scottish highlands. Watch out that you aren't buying "scot's whisky" or some such, it isn't as good. It is expensive, and the taste between brands varies, though they all taste of burning. It can be served with ice or water. Generally adding one part water for two parts whisky will really bring the flavour out. Whisky/whiskey tends to be an acquired taste. Also quite nice with cola, or lime and lemonade.

Bourbon - A type of American whisky originating from Kentucky aged in charred oak casks. Best known brand is Jim Beam, other brands include Bulleit, Woodford Reserve and Wild Turkey 101. Not to be confused with tennessee whisky (such as Jack Daniels). Generally drunk with cola by girls who should stick to rum & coke and idiots who don't know liquor for lacquer. Decent drinkers have it straight. Go for singles if you love having your buzz fade during the twenty minute waits in the queue for drinks at freshers events, otherwise order triples. If you don't like the taste, don't waste your money on it and leave it for better drinkers than you.

Gin - A clear spirit flavoured with juniper berries and a few other bits and bobs. Tastes very sharp. Key component in martinis and Gin and Tonics. Before you order a dry martini, shaken not stirred, keep three things in mind: First, because you're not James Bond or Tony Stark, your peers will think you're a tit and the barman will hate you for ordering a complicated drink in the heaviest rush of the year. Second, people who aren't fictional have their martinis stirred, not shaken, to keep the ropy, viscous texture of unaerated spirits. Third, it's three shots of gin in a glass with a tiny dash of a dry liquer. If you're the kind of person who will order a martini during freshers week, you'll probably be sloppy after half a glass and throwing up after two. No, if you have gin, order or make yourself a gin and tonic. If you're making one, fill a glass with ice cubes. Pour in a finger of tonic water, and then pour in four fingers of gin. Stir, and drop in a slice of lime. Perfect G&T.

Vodka - A lot of brands are available, it currently proves very popular among students/younger drinkers. Its usually around 40% ABV. Cheap vodka has a taste, more expensive ones have no flavour whatsoever. Mixes well with pretty much anything. A lot of alcopops use vodka as their basis.

Rum - There are some very popular brands out there. There are white and dark rums, again mixers are common and the basis of a number of alcopops. A certain rum manufacturer makes their own alcopop. White rum is mainly known as Bacardi, drunk with cola, there are a variety of dark rums, and these are drunk with cola or neat. Dark rum can be quite strong (the strongest drink in Wetherspoons) and are deceptivley nice.

Liqueurs - Liqueurs are generally madе by producing pure alcohol and adding other ingredients, such as nuts, fruit, chocolate, cream and so on Anisee is also used. Sugar is also added in large quantities. Liqueurs include Amarettos. They're typically the sort of thing you find with a massive mark up in clubs. Drunk in shots, a fruit mixer may be added. Strengths vary quite massively. Be wary. They generally taste very nice and appeal to those with a sweet tooth.

Water - 100% pure H₂O goodness, tap water must be free by law in pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars.

Where to buy drink?

Freshers week generally involves quite a bit of clubbing and going out. My only advice is to drink before you get to the club. Buying drinks in clubs is stupid and a rip off, and you may as well be drunk by the time you get there rather than spending the first hour feeling sober and awkward while you empty your wallet for no reason. Student bars (run by student unions) tend to be very cheap as far as bars go, and are the best place for you if you like draught beer, but will still be more expensive than buying booze in supermarkets. That said, they tend to be a good place to meet people, and pints can last as long as you want really. Booze from a supermarket is definitely always a good option, and will be by far the best place to buy stuff if you like wine. You can get a drinkable bottle for £4. Don't buy anything for less than that, and look out for special offers. Spirits are also best bought from a supermarket as all bars (even student ones) have ridiculous mark-ups.

"I've never drunk before but don't want to be the odd one out"

Just be careful. Your tolerance won't be great, and you'll get pissed quickly. Make sure to eat something before going out. You won't get drunk as quickly and are less likely to reverse drink your booze. Don't be pressured into drinking more than you want to, and please please please start slowly. Something that may help (however lame it may sound) is to order a coke or orange juice and if your mates ask what you're drinking you say "vodka and coke" or "vodka and orange". Remember, if you don't feel like drinking then don't.

"I've drunk too much; what should I do?"

Drink water and plenty of it. Do not take paracetamol (risk of liver damage together with alcohol); if you need painkillers, ibuprofen is a better option. It seems to stop gnomes having parties in your skull while you sleep. If you feel like throwing up then do it at night, as evening vomit is much more pleasant than morning vomit. Open the windows in your room to get fresh air. Try to get some sleep and don't plan anything for before midday the next day. When you wake up, eat something proteinous (this doesn't mean raw eggs. If you like that you're wrong!). An excellent drink to have is orange juice with a tablespoon of lemon juice, bit of honey and an effervescent vitamin tablet, great for replacing all the good things you threw up. However if in the morning your stomach feels too odd to eat to much for fear of being sick i find very slowly eating a plain piece of bread and slowly drinking something very sweet and carbonated will help to settle your stomach.

"I drunk too much last night and did something stupid. What should I do?"

Regret it and wait for the embarrassing photos (or for the relationship status change request) to appear on facebook. Actually, chances are, no-one will remember. Don't worry too much. Freshers week is for doing stupid stuff, and at least you'll have a story for the bar the next night.

A final piece of advice

Buy yourself a bottle of port (this is quite cheap and it doesn't matter if it's a bit rubbish). Invite your new comrades round to drink it when the bar closes. They will not only like you, but think you are classy or an alcoholic. Either way you look cool. No, seriously, having a bottle of port in your room is always a good idea. Comes in handy a lot, and can't be recommended enough

Actually, disregard that. Unless you actually know port and like port, don't get port. It's a drink for christmastime and for those past middle age. Besides, it would be your stupid poser luck to end up inviting back some upper class prep school kid who actually knows his fortified wines; exposing you as a pompous wannabe.

Better advice would be to find your favourite drink and get a tasty, high end version of that to share. Beer fan? Some leffe or microbrew. Cider? Bottle of a nice vintage cider that you'd find in any shop in somerset or worcster. Wine? Whatever your favourite bottle is, you pretentious freak. Scotch whisky? Whatever you like that you're willing to waste on people you've only just met. Vodka? Get a bit of Grey Goose or Stoli. Bourbon? Whatever suits your taste, along with insurance for all the furniture that will be broken. Gin? A bottle of tanqueray or hendricks. Alcopops? Kill yourself (if you decide not to, i guess cocktails would be a decent substitute?).

That way, when you inevitably bring back a total phillistine with your group who responds 'lol who drinks that stuff, what are you thirty :P", your look will be one of contempt and superiority rather than the nervous, awkward look of an exposed pretender.

And remember...

Just because everyone else is drinking, if you don't want to it doesn't mean you have to. If your ethos does not extend to getting drunk, don't allow peer pressure to force it upon you.