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How can I have a social life at uni if I don't drink alcohol?

I hate dunking alcohol, it makes me feel sick and it's just not something I enjoy at all. But I enjoy making friends and socialising. The problem is that I'm worried that most of the social activities at uni are going to revolve around alcohol- clubbing, going to bars and pubs.

What can I do to make friends and socialise if I don't want to consume any alcohol? I want to go to UCL but from what I've heard the social life there revolves around drinking a lot
(edited 7 years ago)

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Original post by kangsterf
I hate dunking alcohol, it makes me feel sick and it's just not something I enjoy at all. But I enjoy making friends and socialising. The problem is that I'm worried that most of the social activities at uni are going to revolve around alcohol- clubbing, going to bars and pubs.

What can I do to make friends and socialise if I don't want to consume any alcohol? I want to go to UCL but from what I've heard the social life there revolves around drinking a lot


You can join societies, perhaps there are some sports you enjoy or hobbies you have. You could also just drink juice or whatever, why do you need to be drunk to enjoy yourself and make friends?
Join a sport soc.
Social life does revolve around alcohol, at uni and outside of it. If you don't drink at all, you will find it difficult because alcohol is how people socialise and get to know each other.

There will be others who don't drink though so talk to as many people as possible and try to find them. What do you do to socialise without alcohol atm? Whatever you do now do socialise, you will be able to find others in London who do the same.
Solution: don't have a social life
Just because other people are drinking does not mean you have to. I have a friend who for the first 2 years of uni didn't drink at all, he still came out with us and spent time with us.There's no reason you can't do the same. And if anyone gives you grief, well they're not people you should want to be friends with anyway.
Original post by SophieSmall
Just because other people are drinking does not mean you have to. I have a friend who for the first 2 years of uni didn't drink at all, he still came out with us and spent time with us.There's no reason you can't do the same. And if anyone gives you grief, well they're not people you should want to be friends with anyway.


But it is sooo boring being sat in a pub for hours sober :-/

I find it hard socialising when that is the main focus. Either give me booze or socialise whilst doing something else at the same time.
Original post by kangsterf
I hate dunking alcohol, it makes me feel sick and it's just not something I enjoy at all. But I enjoy making friends and socialising. The problem is that I'm worried that most of the social activities at uni are going to revolve around alcohol- clubbing, going to bars and pubs.

What can I do to make friends and socialise if I don't want to consume any alcohol? I want to go to UCL but from what I've heard the social life there revolves around drinking a lot


Join a religious group - they're very into the 'no drinking, no fun' mentality. Apart from that, you'll easily find people who don't drink - even normal people! It does make it more difficult, because as you know our culture does rather revolve around drinking. But it's by no means impossible - you'll just need to work a bit harder at it. Best of luck :smile:
Original post by AishaGirl
You can join societies, perhaps there are some sports you enjoy or hobbies you have. You could also just drink juice or whatever, why do you need to be drunk to enjoy yourself and make friends?


Drinking is an important part of our culture. However, who said anything about being drunk? Certainly not the OP.
Original post by Reality Check
Drinking is an important part of our culture. However, who said anything about being drunk? Certainly not the OP.


Don't people tend to get drunk when drinking? I'm sorry I thought that was a byproduct of drinking alcohol.
Reply 10
Of course you can. There is a proportion of people who don't drink and hundreds of interesting activities and societies.
Original post by AishaGirl
Don't people tend to get drunk when drinking? I'm sorry I thought that was a byproduct of drinking alcohol.



People don't automatically 'get drunk' when they drink. What a ridiculous assumption! Do you think a glass of wine with a meal means you're getting drunk? Or maybe taking communion?

People drink for a whole host of reasons in this country. It's how we do things here. It doesn't mean we're all getting blind drunk.
Original post by Reality Check
Given your avatar, how would you know?

People don't automatically 'get drunk' when they drink. What a ridiculous assumption! Do you think a glass of wine with a meal means you're getting drunk? Or maybe taking communion?

People drink for a whole host of reasons in this country. It's how we do things here. It doesn't mean we're all getting blind drunk.


Drinking a glass of wine with his meal is clearly not what the OP meant. "given my avatar what do I know" I still understand the basic convention of how they socialise.
Original post by AishaGirl
Drinking a glass of wine with his meal is clearly not what the OP meant. "given my avatar what do I know" I still understand the basic convention of how kuffar socialise.


You are making unwarranted assertions about the OP's question. And if by 'kuffar' you mean the native British population, then at least have the decency to refer to us using the English language. I have no wish to engage with you and your mahometan propaganda.
(edited 7 years ago)
Reply 14
Original post by Reality Check
Join a religious group - they're very into the 'no drinking, no fun' mentality. Apart from that, you'll easily find people who don't drink - even normal people! It does make it more difficult, because as you know our culture does rather revolve around drinking. But it's by no means impossible - you'll just need to work a bit harder at it. Best of luck :smile:


Yeah I know our culture revolves around drinking, I have absolutely no problem with drinking. It's just that I just cannot stand the taste of alcohol and the way it makes me feel. I guess I could join a religious group, thanks
Original post by Reality Check
You are making unwarranted assertions about the OP's question. And if by 'kuffar' you mean the native British population, then at least have the decency to refer to us using the English language. I have no wish to engage with you and your mahometan propaganda.


I didn't need to make an assumption to know what the OP meant. It was self evident. If you don't know that the perhaps you need to learn how to recognise context in a question.

I will speak to you how I please, as you speak to me as you please :h:
Original post by kangsterf
Yeah I know our culture revolves around drinking, I have absolutely no problem with drinking. It's just that I just cannot stand the taste of alcohol and the way it makes me feel. I guess I could join a religious group, thanks


Yes, and that's absolutely understandable - I know several people who don't drink because they don't like the taste of it, or because it makes them feel awful. I think that because you've clearly got a good attitude towards it (i.e. don't have an issue with other people drinking) you won't have any problems socialising and getting to know a good group of people. I was joking about the religious group thing, by the way - don't ruin your life!
Original post by AishaGirl
I didn't need to make an assumption to know what the OP meant. It was self evident. If you don't know that the perhaps you need to learn how to recognise context in a question.

I will speak to you how I please, as you speak to me as you please :h:


I don't need to learn anything from you. Nothing at all.
Original post by ChaoticButterfly
But it is sooo boring being sat in a pub for hours sober :-/

I find it hard socialising when that is the main focus. Either give me booze or socialise whilst doing something else at the same time.


I won't lie, I prefer socialising with alcohol.

But if you find spending time with your friends in the pub sober boring then I think probably have rubbish friends :lol: you shouldn't need alcohol to be entertained, though it does help.
Original post by SophieSmall
I won't lie, I prefer socialising with alcohol.

But if you find spending time with your friends in the pub sober boring then I think probably have rubbish friends :lol: you shouldn't need alcohol to be entertained, though it does help.


Boring is probably the wrong word. Stressful is a better description. Social anxiety innit.

Also I have no friends and hardly go to pubs anyway :emo:

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