If you’ve ever felt awkward holding a glass of tap water while everyone else holds a pint, don’t worry, I relate. 

I came to uni expecting to say yes to everything – except alcohol. Needless to say, I was a bit worried about whether I’d fit in and if there would still be fun things for me to do during Welcome Week without getting drunk.

Personally, I was scared that finding friends meant having to set foot into a nightclub or be around large crowds, which I knew I would not enjoy. I thought maybe I’d have to spend my nights alone in my room while everyone else bonded over drinks. However, after experiencing it, I’ve learnt that there are a myriad of things to do that don’t involve drinking and I’d like to share some of my favourites with you.

Exploring York

York is a great place to have a stroll around, especially during your first weeks at uni. During Welcome Week, I frequently went around town with new friends and explored every corner. From cute cafes to beautiful bookshops, you can find anything you like in York. It’s a great place to bond while enjoying the beautiful scenery.

I’d recommend going to York Minster as you can get free entry with your student ID! I also loved going to Waterstones and looking at all the different books they have. On the top floor there is also a cafe that I enjoy visiting. You can also take a trip down Shambles Market and do a bit of shopping or browsing if you wish!

Meeting new people

Welcome Week is a time for you to get out of your comfort zone, but a good thing is that it doesn’t have to involve drinking.

Throughout Welcome Week, I spent loads of time getting to know others.

My flatmates and I ended up spending loads of time playing games; we bought a used Monopoly board from Facebook Marketplace once, and got lost trying to pick it up! As you’ll be meeting people from different backgrounds, it’s exciting to see the different games everyone grew up loving!

I also spent some time at the Welcome Fair to learn more about the different societies within the University. Joining societies is a great way to get to know people who have the same interests as you, and trust me, Uni of York has a tonne of societies you can choose from.

College activities

Throughout Welcome Week, all the colleges hold lots of activities to help freshers (first year students) meet new people and form friendships. The day after I moved into Vanbrugh College, they held some team-building games which I was incredibly grateful for as it’s where I met my best friend, who just so happens to be a non-drinker. 

Vanbrugh is also home to Vanbrugh Arms, one of the campus bars run by the Students’ Union. Despite many people going in there to drink, it’s still a fun place to spend time with others. 

After meeting someone who was also a non-drinker, it was a bit less awkward now to only drink water in bars, and it was great to know that I wasn’t alone. We also laughed at the fact that we got ID’d to enter just for us to drink nothing but water! 

 

Being a non-drinker is nothing to worry about

There are still so many fun activities you can do without drinking, and from my experience, you will most likely find someone in the same boat as you.

Playing games, spending time with others, or even getting an early night are options you can always choose from. Welcome Week might seem like a daunting experience, and it might be nerve-wracking to put yourself out there. However, even if it doesn’t turn out as good as you expected, your university journey has just begun, and you will probably find new highlights along the way.

So, find joy in the little things, take your time, make new friends, explore your new city, and learn some new games! And hey, being a non-drinker does end up saving you money at the end of the day.