Can I Still Enjoy University if I Don’t Drink Alcohol?

From my experience, my friends who didn’t drink alcohol tended, on the whole, not to go out to nightclubs and bars as frequently the ones who did drink. However, it is entirely possible to have a great night out without drinking alcohol – and lots of people do it.

For those who would like to go out at night but don’t like the idea of consuming a crazy amount of alcohol, there are many alternatives available, and plenty of non-alcoholic drinks you can order at bars and clubs if you wish (which will also be significantly cheaper). Ultimately though, it really is up to you to decide what you feel comfortable with.

Energy drinks are a popular substitute for alcohol, as they can help give you the high energy levels of someone who has drunk a lot of alcohol, without the hangover (although they have their own negative side-effects). In fact, I once tried doing this before a night out instead of drinking alcohol and the bouncers refused to let me in because they thought I’d had too much to drink – it turns out energy drinks can make you very hyper!

Alternatively many big brands have now started making non-alcoholic versions of their popular alcoholic drinks, due to a new focus on health. There are also non-alcoholic versions of cocktails available in most bars, which are just as tasty (if not better) as the alcoholic ones.

Of course! There are so many societies to choose from and although some will be more drink focused than others, the main activity will not revolve solely around drinking (with the exception of the cocktail society of course – and yes that is a thing in some universities.)

There is often a perception that sports societies are focused around drinking culture. While this may be true in some cases, the actual sports training will not be, and many universities now insist that all societies do at least one social that is not drinking-related each year.  Your university may also offer a society especially for people who do not drink, which is a great way to meet other likeminded people who are in the same situation as yourself.

Ultimately, in my opinion, yes, it is entirely possible. The university experience for someone who doesn’t drink may be very different to that of someone who does drink, but whether that is for better or for worse is purely down to the individual’s experience.

While drinking culture is, for lots of people, a large part of uni, it is only really the nightlife where you are likely to notice it. In the day there will be a multitude of events where alcohol plays no part.

I also think it’s worth noting that the amount of alcohol people drink and the amount people go to nightclubs tends to decline quite significantly after first year, or even after the first term as people start to get stuck into work and exams, so before you know it, many of your friends will be more up for a quiet night in rather than a wild night out.

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Do you think it’s possible to enjoy university without alcohol? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.