Academic heavy drinking is a long tradition By Dominic Koole
Academic heavy drinking is a long tradition By Dominic Koole
Students have a reputation for enjoying regularly drinking themselves into stupefaction, but there are a growing number who are deciding not to touch a drop. So how hard is it to be teetotal at university?
Students have a reputation for enjoying regularly drinking themselves into stupefaction, but there are a growing number who are deciding not to touch a drop. So how hard is it to be teetotal at university?
Freshers' week is a period of intense blandishments for 18-year-olds. Surrounded by parties and pubs and under intense pressure to make new friends, most have alcohol as their social lubricant of choice.
Freshers' week is a period of intense blandishments for 18-year-olds. Surrounded by parties and pubs and under intense pressure to make new friends, most have alcohol as their social lubricant of choice.
Clubs and societies attempt to gather them in with the promise of the messiest pub crawl or the most free drinks. It is very difficult to find a girlfriend as most of my friends find girls on nights out, whereas I do not David WileyTeetotaller
Clubs and societies attempt to gather them in with the promise of the messiest pub crawl or the most free drinks. It is very difficult to find a girlfriend as most of my friends find girls on nights out, whereas I do not David WileyTeetotaller
Oliver Keane enjoyed a very different kind of freshers' week. Alcohol poisoning from a particularly heavy drinking session several months ago persuaded Oliver to go teetotal.
Oliver Keane enjoyed a very different kind of freshers' week. Alcohol poisoning from a particularly heavy drinking session several months ago persuaded Oliver to go teetotal.
"I didn't drink a drop and wasn't even tempted," the 18-year-old Birmingham University student says.
"I didn't drink a drop and wasn't even tempted," the 18-year-old Birmingham University student says.
Socialising is a key part of freshers' week, a time to make new friends during what is most teenagers first experience of living away from home. In many cases, freshers are nervous about speaking to new people, and much of the easiest opportunity to do so comes on alcohol-fuelled nights out. It's a tumult of drinks for a pound and fancy dress as standard.
Socialising is a key part of freshers' week, a time to make new friends during what is most teenagers first experience of living away from home. In many cases, freshers are nervous about speaking to new people, and much of the easiest opportunity to do so comes on alcohol-fuelled nights out. It's a tumult of drinks for a pound and fancy dress as standard.
Constant pressure
Constant pressure
Without a dose of Dutch courage, a week spent socialising with a group of complete strangers may seem like a daunting experience to some. And teetotallers can soon find themselves feeling a bit left out.
Without a dose of Dutch courage, a week spent socialising with a group of complete strangers may seem like a daunting experience to some. And teetotallers can soon find themselves feeling a bit left out.
After three days at Aberystwyth University, David Wiley tired of the constant pressure to drink and decided to leave.Hijinks, alcohol and socialising are inextricably linked
After three days at Aberystwyth University, David Wiley tired of the constant pressure to drink and decided to leave.Hijinks, alcohol and socialising are inextricably linked
"Flatmates were always knocking on my door, saying 'you coming out', 'wanna get hammered?'," he says.
"Flatmates were always knocking on my door, saying 'you coming out', 'wanna get hammered?'," he says.
He now lives at home and commutes to Wolverhampton University. He has yet to set foot in the students' union bar, as most events revolve around cheap alcohol, and conversations among his fellow students frustrate him as they are typically centred on how much everyone had to drink the night before.
He now lives at home and commutes to Wolverhampton University. He has yet to set foot in the students' union bar, as most events revolve around cheap alcohol, and conversations among his fellow students frustrate him as they are typically centred on how much everyone had to drink the night before.
A non-drinker after observing the mental and physical effects of alcohol on people close to him, David says he now finds it more difficult to make friends.
A non-drinker after observing the mental and physical effects of alcohol on people close to him, David says he now finds it more difficult to make friends.
"It is also very difficult to find a girlfriend as most of my friends find girls on nights out, whereas I do not. Plus people see it as a bit weird that I don't drink, which appears to put them off."
"It is also very difficult to find a girlfriend as most of my friends find girls on nights out, whereas I do not. Plus people see it as a bit weird that I don't drink, which appears to put them off."
Comprehension struggle
Comprehension struggle
"Lots of people think drinking is essential to get in the mood," says Oliver, an 18-year-old geography student. "Everyone finds it harder to get on the dance floor without having a few drinks inside them and talking to strangers is certainly more difficult."
"Lots of people think drinking is essential to get in the mood," says Oliver, an 18-year-old geography student. "Everyone finds it harder to get on the dance floor without having a few drinks inside them and talking to strangers is certainly more difficult."
And then there is explaining why he doesn't drink - because it is frequently remarked upon. "People keep saying that they want to take me out to get drunk, but don't understand that I actually don't want to."
And then there is explaining why he doesn't drink - because it is frequently remarked upon. "People keep saying that they want to take me out to get drunk, but don't understand that I actually don't want to."
The peers of the student teetotallers struggle to comprehend how they can be having fun at all.
The peers of the student teetotallers struggle to comprehend how they can be having fun at all.
It's the atmosphere that makes a night out, not the booze Oliver KeaneTeetotaller
It's the atmosphere that makes a night out, not the booze Oliver KeaneTeetotaller
Ricky Hilton arrived at university a recovering alcoholic who had had to give up drinking completely.
Ricky Hilton arrived at university a recovering alcoholic who had had to give up drinking completely.
Before starting at Leicester, he exchanged messages with other freshers. When they found out he was a non-drinker, most thought this "boring" and wondered how he would make the most of the freshers' experience.
Before starting at Leicester, he exchanged messages with other freshers. When they found out he was a non-drinker, most thought this "boring" and wondered how he would make the most of the freshers' experience.
But Oliver says being teetotal is not as people imagine. "People think that if you don't drink you will just end up standing in the corner of a club by yourself.
But Oliver says being teetotal is not as people imagine. "People think that if you don't drink you will just end up standing in the corner of a club by yourself.
"It's not like that at all. You can have just as much fun and you get a lot of respect from people. It's the atmosphere that makes a night out, not the booze."
"It's not like that at all. You can have just as much fun and you get a lot of respect from people. It's the atmosphere that makes a night out, not the booze."
Moderation problem
Moderation problem
And the teetotallers should take heart from the knowledge that they are not alone. A study last year at Lancaster University noted that there was evidence the number of teetotallers aged 16-24 was rising.
And the teetotallers should take heart from the knowledge that they are not alone. A study last year at Lancaster University noted that there was evidence the number of teetotallers aged 16-24 was rising.
Of course, even for most people who are vehemently against binge drinking, the norm is drinking in moderation rather than giving up completely. But for a lot of student teetotallers it is difficult to envision going on a night out, having a drink or two and then stopping. And then there are those who simply do not enjoy even the smallest dose. In the US, student binge drinking has its epicentre at Spring Break
Of course, even for most people who are vehemently against binge drinking, the norm is drinking in moderation rather than giving up completely. But for a lot of student teetotallers it is difficult to envision going on a night out, having a drink or two and then stopping. And then there are those who simply do not enjoy even the smallest dose. In the US, student binge drinking has its epicentre at Spring Break
And for Oliver, there are clear benefits for drinking nothing at all. He cites health benefits, saving money and not making a fool of himself on a nightly basis. He makes the most out of his days while his friends are soothing their hangovers.
And for Oliver, there are clear benefits for drinking nothing at all. He cites health benefits, saving money and not making a fool of himself on a nightly basis. He makes the most out of his days while his friends are soothing their hangovers.
Of course, there are plenty of non-alcoholic things to do, says Ellie Reyland, welfare officer at Manchester University Students' Union. Joining the hiking club or the drama society might offer a non pub-centric avenue for socialising.
Of course, there are plenty of non-alcoholic things to do, says Ellie Reyland, welfare officer at Manchester University Students' Union. Joining the hiking club or the drama society might offer a non pub-centric avenue for socialising.
And those wanting to be teetotal should be strong, Ms Reyland says.
And those wanting to be teetotal should be strong, Ms Reyland says.
"If you are comfortable around others drinking, but choose not to drink yourself, then don't allow others to pressure you into it."
"If you are comfortable around others drinking, but choose not to drink yourself, then don't allow others to pressure you into it."
Send us your comments using the form below.
Send us your comments using the form below.
I started a course of medication at university which meant I couldn't drink alcohol. It served to make me feel like an outsider, as though I wasn't properly included in my friends' affairs and activities whilst they were drunk. I found it incredibly difficult and ended up isolated from what were previously very good friends. It was quite sobering also to look at a group of drunk students from the outside, and think "grow up" only to realise I was the same just a couple of weeks before. Now that I'm in full time employment with bills to pay I despair at students whose only concern is getting money for alcohol, a group which includes many of my friends unfortunately.CMD, Bradford
I've been a teetotaller since I was 18 (now 30) and commuted to university everyday and didn't really feel a part of freshers week nor the whole student life, not that I was particularly bothered. I've had some odd looks from people in the past when I've said that I didn't drink but now that I am older, I think people respect the fact that I choose not to drink. I totally agree with Oliver in the article, it's definitely the atmosphere and your friends that counts and not the booze on a night out.
To those who feel pressured to drink and don't want to (in any circumstances), don't stand for it. They've made their choice to drink and that's fine, but they must also respect your decision to not to drink. It just means that you need to find other means to make like-minded friends.Eve , Wales
