Tips for Navigating Through Freshers Week & Uni as Someone Who Doesn't Drink

Freshers Week has a reputation for being one long pub crawl, but that image doesn’t match reality for plenty of new students. Drinking rates amongst sixteen- to twenty-four-year-olds in the UK have been falling for some years, with a growing share of young people choosing not to drink at all. If that’s you, Freshers Week is still very much for you, and there’s a full week of things to do that have nothing to do with alcohol.

Not drinking is never that obvious.

Even on a night out surrounded by people drinking, not having alcohol yourself is rarely as noticeable as it feels. There’s a good chance you won’t be the only sober person in the room, and if someone offers you a drink, a polite “I’m alright, thanks” or a request for a soft drink does the job. Holding a glass matters more than what’s in it, so stay hydrated and join the toast anyway.

Don’t feel pressured to drink.

Whether you’ve never had a drink, you’re cutting back, or you just don’t fancy it tonight, the choice is yours. Anyone who pushes you to drink, or makes you feel odd for saying no, isn’t someone worth keeping around. You don’t owe anyone an explanation, though if you’d rather explain your reasons, that’s fine too.

Get involved in everything.

Card games, drinking games, and big nights out with housemates and coursemates are all still open to you. You can join in the games and the conversation without taking the shots, swapping alcohol for a soft drink and still showing your personality. Nobody minds, and most people won’t even notice.

Make the most of your mornings.

Skipping the hangover means your mornings during Freshers Week are free. Use them to explore your new surroundings whilst the campus and town are quiet, or to find out what else is happening that week. It’s an easy way to get your bearings before term properly starts.

Join a society

Universities have societies and clubs covering everything from sport and languages to baking and board games. If nothing matches your interests, nothing stops you from starting one yourself. Freshers Week is when sign-ups happen, so it’s a good time to find your people for the year ahead.

Go on a café crawl

If pub crawls aren’t your thing, a café crawl works just as well for meeting new people and scoping out your favourite study or lunch spots for term time. Bring your flatmates along, try the coffee, and don’t skip the cake.

Go to a pub quiz

A weekly pub quiz is a low-key way to get competitive, pick a good team name, and see familiar faces regularly. You don’t need to drink to take part, and a strong pub quiz team can become a highlight of your week throughout the year.

Host a game night

Pick up some board games, or grab a few cheap ones from a charity shop, and host a games night in your kitchen, communal space or games room. Invite your flatmates, stock up on soft drinks and snacks, order a takeaway, and enjoy getting to know each other.

Not drinking during Freshers Week doesn’t mean missing out. Plenty of other students will be doing the same, for all kinds of reasons, and there’s still a full week of societies, sports teams, new friends, and a new city or town to explore, alcohol optional.

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