Flute Spindloe shares the pressures to drink at university and how alcohol isn’t needed to have a great university experience.
- Flute Spindloe
Before I started university, I was informed by people around me (many who hadn’t attended university for many decades) that alcohol was one of the most important aspects of university life and if I chose not to drink, I would be missing out on the ‘student experience’. There is a continuing perception of the typical student, someone who lives off pot noodles, procrastinates their coursework until last minute and spends most of their time drinking and clubbing with their friends.
This was extremely stressful to deal with before I had even moved into my student accommodation. The thought that even though I have extreme anxiety about drinking, if I didn't take part in those crazy nights out and get drunk then I would struggle to make friends and I would end up alone at university. Did this mean I wouldn’t be able to enjoy university life? Well I can promise you that no, it absolutely does NOT mean this.
Over the past several years, there has actually been a reduction in the number of students who feel like they need to drink to have a good time and in a recent survey half of non-drinkers reported that not drinking had a positive influence on their life at university in general and 45% say they never feel like their friends expect them to drink alcohol.
The reality is there has been a shift in the way we view alcohol and a greater acceptance that not everyone drinks and that’s absolutely fine! I have many friends who drink but I can still get involved without drinking because not only are they completely okay with my decision, but the environment itself has changed. Student Unions are a place where lots of students go to drink and socialise, but there’s also plenty of non-alcoholic drinks available, so there has been a mindset shift which makes being a teetotal a much easier experience.
Taking part in societies can also be a great way to socialise without alcohol (just choose the right societies as some are more pro-drinking culture than others!). I did walking and mountaineering, which meant I could regularly spend time with friends in a way I felt comfortable with whilst still having a great time! This society did have meetings set in pub environments, however, they never pressured anyone to drink and the majority of people that turned up chose a non-alcoholic beverage anyway. A lot of societies intentionally put on events that don’t involve alcohol so this is another great opportunity to enjoy being a student around other students without alcohol being central to the event. I also enjoy travelling to cities around my university and shopping or seeing sights, all things I do where there’s no drinking necessary and since my friends love sightseeing just as much as me it’s a fun experience for all of us.
There is still a big part of university life where alcohol is involved but it isn’t as important as you might think to have a fun time. Students and the university itself are a lot more accepting of non-drinkers and hopefully we will continue to see this acceptance continuing to grow.
University is only fun if you do what YOU want to do, no-one should make you feel like you’re missing out because you won’t have alcohol and there’s far more to university and opportunities to make friends in a variety of ways which is comfortable and enjoyable for everyone involved.
Find out how you can get involved with the Student Minds Blog. You can find further support relating to this post at Student Space.
My name is Flute Spindloe I am a student at Bath Spa University, studying for a primary and early years education degree. I chose to share my experience of the pressures of drinking at university because I am aware that I was not alone with this feeling and thought that sharing an insight into my experience can give others a better understanding of modern-day university life.
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