Non-drinkers at university

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by sophiepop

I am so pleased to read this thread. My Daughter is due to start uni next year, and like the OPs Daughter, she doesn't drink and is not a fan of going out either. She has seen too many of her friends posts of social media to put her off

Isn't it a shame though that we need to worry about our kids 'not' drinking, like they're not normal

This is a very reassuring read

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I could have written this about my daughter 😀. She is also off to uni next year , hopefully Bristol or Aberystwyth, and doesn’t drink. She has lots of hobbies and interests but never goes out with her friends in our area. She also rarely uses Facebook as she says it’s just full of drunken photos and ramblings of her peers.

She is very happy and hard-working and, although nervous, looking forward to starting uni but I know she has some concerns about the drinking culture. She would hate to be in halls with drunks rolling in at all hours, but would also hate to be thought of as a killjoy by not drinking. I have said that times have changed and she will find many others who feel as she does and suggested she joins societies and clubs to meet like-minded students but I do agree it’s sad that we have to worry about our children not fitting in for not drinking

[ameliaUK]

My daughter started 2 weeks ago and shes not much of a drinker... all the girls in her flat are big drinkers and she went out a few times freshers ...last night she stayed in on her own ! She seemed happy enough when i phoned her. Its a worry but am hoping in time things will settle down and she seems quite happy at the moment !

[WileyCoyote]

It may be an exception looking at all the other posts but my eldest doesn’t drink and is a fairly quiet lad. So he hasn’t really had a great social life at uni. There is a big focus on meeting at pubs and bars and he has struggled being the only non drinker. He would say being a non drinker has made him feel the odd one out . But perhaps that is more a lads than girls thing. He’s into his last year now so it hasn’t stopped him wanting to go back,

I hope your DD has a great time and enjoys it. It’s an exciting time for them.

[YorkshireT]

Originally Posted by matt987106

while i never went to Uni ( I did a HNC in college )

I knew all the doormen ( i used to part time work on the doors ) in all the places ( even the student union bars ) so i lived the student life for a few years, we knew students ( and us ) who would drink 7 days a week, i mean hammer it

As you say, times change and for the better imho

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I did a law degree and made the mistake (lol) of going in a house in the third year with 2 guys on my course who were also in the rugby team. Jeez, these guys were animals on the drinking front. Even I didn't try to keep up, and to be fair they did go over the top on numerous occasions, one was once arrested for setting the fire alarm off. Nowadays I drink about 4 pints a week, I don't know how I did it, then again it was 27 years ago.

[Ked]

Thanks all, I’m glad I’m not the only one who's child doesn’t drink!
We are going to look at Aberystwyth and Bath (they offer the course), they may have more societies that would suit her. I definitely will ask about accommodation for non drinkers.

[Island mamma]

My son decided late to defer for a year and had already put in his accommodation application. There was an option to request non drinking accomodation. His friend who is Muslim took that option. Our friends daughter is also teetotal and went this year ( different uni) and is sharing with girls who all drink. They were worried before but say she is getting on fine with them. She is quite sociable though. But there are plenty other introverts in the world that have happy successful lives.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Originally Posted by Ked

Thanks all, I’m glad I’m not the only one who's child doesn’t drink!
We are going to look at Aberystwyth and Bath (they offer the course), they may have more societies that would suit her. I definitely will ask about accommodation for non drinkers.

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We visited Aberystwyth last week for an open day, We didn’t ask about non drinking accommodation, the rooms were very nice there though. The university did seem to have a range of cafes and bars on site so giving the choice whether to hang out with or without alcohol. Likewise the town, there were bars and cafes. I feel that the town, as a coastal town, had a lovely feel to it. My daughter said she can imagine lots of picnics on the beach and strolls along the seafront there. She will be putting it as her insurance choice to her first choice Bristol, depending on offers for next year. She is, as I said earlier, also teetotal

[novocastrian]

Originally Posted by 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...

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its freshers week(s) in newcastle & i beg to differ... if thats not drinking much i would hate to see drinking a 'lot' ...

loads of bars/clubs do deals on drinks and 'pre drinks'* seems to be the in thing to do

* cant see the point personally but thats young folk for you...

[arosiem]

Originally Posted by novocastrian

its freshers week(s) in newcastle & i beg to differ... if thats not drinking much i would hate to see drinking a 'lot' ...

loads of bars/clubs do deals on drinks and 'pre drinks'* seems to be the in thing to do

* cant see the point personally but thats young folk for you...

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As a recent graduate i can confirm the above - for Newcastle anyway!
Students tend to pre-drink HARD, then a few bars have offers like 3 trebles for £5 (&#129314 2 cocktails for £5 etc.
It’s very easy and very cheap to get drunk as a student!

[novocastrian]

Originally Posted by arosiem

As a recent graduate i can confirm the above - for Newcastle anyway!
Students tend to pre-drink HARD, then a few bars have offers like 3 trebles for £5 (&#129314 2 cocktails for £5 etc.
It’s very easy and very cheap to get drunk as a student!

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Indeed .. 3 trebels for a fiver ! @30 years ago a treble was £1 happy hour so in reality nothings changed...