University can be a challenging time. Despite the seemingly endless amount of socials, loneliness is rife among students. Almost one in four students are lonely most or all of the time, according to new research.
This can be especially the case if you don’t drink. It seems a large portion of socialising at uni revolves around drinking alcohol, and there can be huge social pressure to get involved or else end up “missing out” on the experience.
This was definitely one of my fears before coming to uni. I don’t drink for religious purposes, but I still wanted to socialise and have fun. And at first, it was really difficult for me. But, over time I managed to figure things out and really enjoy student life!
Whatever your reasons for not drinking – religious, health, money, or simply because you don’t want to – you’re not alone! Nearly 30% of young people in England do not drink.
Hence, I have written some advice and guidance from my experiences at university as a non-drinking student on how to overcome this challenge. I can’t promise this will magically solve all your problems, but hopefully, it will give you a better idea of how you can still make the most of student life.
Making the most of drinking socials
A lot of society socials involve dressing up, meeting at a bar or house for ‘pre-drinks’, going out into the city for a club night, and then repeating this next week.
But, you don’t have to drink to enjoy these types of socials. I go simply to hang out with friends and have a laugh. Instead of alcohol, I drink juice or fizzy drinks to keep my energy levels high.
I only stay for the ‘pre-drinks’ because I hate clubbing. At this time, people aren’t too drunk, and there isn’t ridiculously loud music, so it’s a lot easier to have a conversation with people. I may not stay out as long as my drinking friends, but I still manage to have a blast!
This may be difficult at first, as many people struggle with socialising, but over time my confidence has grown, and I’m known to my friends as one of the most social people they know!
Alternative activities
If this doesn’t appeal to you, don’t worry. There are plenty of alternative activities available in and out of the university where you can have fun, make friends, and enjoy life!
Personally, I love to play sports. I find it really good for my physical and mental health, and going regularly to weekly sports training sessions really makes me bond with my teammates and feel part of a wider community. You don’t have to be good at it either! Just find something you genuinely want to play week-in week-out and you’ll make friends along the way. Many sports have free taster sessions at the beginning of each term, so you can try as many sports as you like.
For me, badminton is the society in which I really feel at home at. But it took me a few months to find my feet, so my advice for sport would be to go out and see where it gets you!
But if you’ve tried sport, and it’s just not cutting it for you, there are still loads of other things to do.
There is a whole range of societies in York, like Baking society, an Outdoor society, and even a Taylor Swift society! You can take a look here and go to any which spark your interests. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make friends immediately, often it takes time for relationships to build. Just keep showing up regularly and eventually, you’ll find your people.
Outside of the University, the city of York has loads of things to do! There are plenty of cafés and restaurants with amazing food to try with some new friends! Here’s a list. Some personal favourites of mine are Doner Sumer and Heavenly Desserts! In addition, there are cinemas, pub quizzes, sightseeing, and plenty more! Here’s a list of the main things to do in York.
If you’re still struggling…
However, it may be the case where none of these things seem to be working. Loneliness can take a huge toll on your mental health – add a fact – and not drinking can compound those feelings as you feel constantly left out.
If so, it’s ok to seek help. There are many options and resources available for students at the university for this kind of thing.
If you just need to talk to someone and let it all out, there’s Nightline – a confidential listening service run by students. The university also has an Open Door service, a team of Mental Health Practitioners and Student Wellbeing Officers providing support for students. In addition, there are a variety of other mental health resources students can access.
For me, speaking to someone really helped me figure things out during my toughest times. In short, you’re not alone, and navigating uni as a non-drinker can be challenging. But, whatever happens, keep trying. Hopefully what I’ve written in this blog will help you find your way.
Leave a Reply