Non-drinkers at university

[Ked]

Hi,
My dd18 is looking at going to university next year but doesn’t drink or like going out
We are worried how she will fit in as she wants to make new friends but can’t see herself going to the pub!
Has any any experience of uni life with no alcohol?
Thanks
Sarah

[BevS97]

My dd doesn’t drink but she loves to dance so she will go out sometimes and have a soft drink and dance.

She also joined a drama club and took a dance class and met people through these as well.
I don’t she goes out anywhere as often as many students but she’s found she can go out and not drink and it’s ok.

[Lola]

DD, now 35, doesn’t drink as she doesn’t like most alcoholic drinks and was on medication for quite a while so didn’t bother. She didn’t have any problems at uni fitting in and your DD will not be the only one on soft drinks at all. According to the press it’s quite common now and lots of her friends will be similar.

[Beth_Disney]

There was something on TV about it yesterday, I think it might have been the One Show. It seems as though there are lots of younger adults that choose not to drink now so I don’t think your DD will stick out or not fit in due to it.

[Ked]

Thanks both, she becoming quite anxious about it, we are going to the open day next Saturday so I’m hoping that will make her feel better. I’m worried she’ll be lonely and won’t make friends, I just want her to be happy.
Having children is harder than anyone told me it would be!

[Ked]

Originally Posted by Beth_Disney

There was something on TV about it yesterday, I think it might have been the One Show. It seems as though there are lots of younger adults that choose not to drink now so I don’t think your DD will stick out or not fit in due to it.

See more...

Just watched it, it made us both feel better although she can’t play chess!

[TigerMom]

My DD really struggled during her first year at Uni because of this. She was the only teetotal one on her corridor of the dorm. However, once she moved out of dorms into a flat she thrived.

[Col&Ali]

Our DS doesn’t drink and left home last week to live at Uni - the others in his flat have been drinking and partying but he’s not bothered. He has joined a society which plays games and will go to Free Film Friday etc to avoid the drinking scene.

I’ll ask him if they are bothered by his non drinking but I know what the answer will be ... he doesn’t care!

[WhereIBelong]

I never drank at uni either - back in those days it could have been lonely, but I got a job in a bar and was basically paid to socialise in a bar that was not too busy. Chat, serve a beer or 2, chat some more... 2 nights a week, fitted round studies, was fab.

No one can really afford to drink much any more as a student anyhow...

[Floridatilly]

I do not drink either lol but I suppose I am too old to compare to your daughter 😱
A close friend of mine eldest daughter is on her second year at Nottingham and loving it! She does not drink, nor does she go to pubs & clubs. There are actually more to do. She has a great circle of friends. They have girly nights in with goodies and a DVD. She is a Latter Day Saint and there are a few other members there that get together and go to church activities together. She was shy at first and worried she would be lonely etc but she loves it.
My cousin is on his last year at Uni, he does not drink and the clubbing scene is not his thing at all. His hobby is actually trains and he loves it at our house because our back garden backs into a train track. He works in nando’s down there and they transfer his work place when he is back up here. So that’s how he socialises, sounds strange but he has a free evening meal and a good old laugh with all the staff.
I would highly recommend joining a group in something she likes, baking, reading etc or do es the uni have a gym ? That way she will meet like minded people x