For many, drinking culture is pretty much what being a student is all about. Well, apart from the actual studying. But we all know it makes up a big part of university. But what do you do when you don’t enjoy drinking? Here is what I learnt about drinking, as someone who hates it.
Clubbing for the first time
I only went to a night club four times before I went to university. I was completely clueless about drinking and staying out until 3am. I never had many close friends, so going out wasn’t something I was accustomed to. When I got to university, I couldn’t wait to start going out two or three times a week, under the impression that it was loads of fun, and that I would be dancing all night long. Of course, nothing is ever what you think it will be. The first few times I went out properly at university, I didn’t really know what I was doing, mainly because I had no experience. Plus, drinking proved to be difficult for me, because of the price, taste and how quickly it made me feel wobbly.
If you are starting university having never really been out, just stick with your new friends, and try not to drink too much, especially if you don’t drink a lot anyway! You will end up blacked out in a club toilet…trust me. Pace yourself and if, after a few nights out, you have decided that clubbing isn’t for you, then be honest with your new friends/ flatmates, because they will all understand, and odds are at least one of them will feel the same way.
Drinking when you hate drinking
The first few drinks I ever had were vodka drinks. Let’s face it, vodka is disgusting. It burns your mouth and tastes like acid. Looking back on my first few drinking experiences at university, I couldn’t stand downing drinks that tasted horrific, which unfortunately most alcohol tastes like. It took too long to get that buzzed feeling, so drinking felt like a chore, because I really couldn’t stand it. It took me months to realise that actually I hated drinking. I wasn’t used to it, I didn’t know what I liked and didn’t like, so I ended up drinking the same drinks constantly, which meant I would eventually hate them. I was always the most sober of all my friends during my nights out in 2nd and 3rd year, and now I realise it’s because I drank so much less than them.
If you don’t enjoy drinking or struggle to drink a lot, then don’t force yourself to do anything that you don’t want to! Peer pressure can happen to anyone at anytime, and while I was lucky not to be peer pressured into drinking, you may be, so don’t let anybody try to convince you into it. It’s not a big deal if you don’t like drinking or want to drink, just go with the flow, and remember that you can have fun whether you are black out drunk or stone cold sober!
Experiment with different scenes and drinks to learn what you like the most
Something I learnt only recently is how much I love cocktails, and sitting in a nice pub or a posh bar. Cocktails aren’t available in most night clubs which meant that, for a while, I didn’t even know they existed! There are so many cocktails I absolutely love drinking (a Pornstar is my favourite). I think I love them so much because they’re pretty, fruity, sweet and taste nothing like acid! I hated that it took me so long to realise what I enjoyed and what I didn’t, because it would have made my uni experience so much more different. For example, the first time I went to a bar was on a date, and I had a great time because it was so much more chilled than a nightclub scene. I realised after this that going to a bar was much more enjoyable than any other drinking spot. I also loved sitting in a pub with friends, because the drinks are cheap, and again, the atmosphere is so much more relaxed.
Experiment with different types of drinks and bars/ pubs/ clubs so you can determine what works best for you and what doesn’t. It’s not that I don’t like clubbing, just that I much prefer sitting in a lovely bar for a couple hours and a few rounds.
If you have tried lots of different drinks and scenes, but you still don’t enjoy drinking, then that’s absolutely fine. You aren’t alone and, as mentioned before, there are so many things you can do and so much fun you can have without spending loads on alcohol! Plus, no hangovers. Win win.