Consuming a lot of alcohol is typically associated with the University lifestyle and this plays a role in many of the social events you will experience; but it is important to remember the significance of keeping safe whilst doing so. We don’t want to be party poopers or stop you having fun, just to know how to do it safely!

One of the most important things with drinking is knowing your limits! It is so easy to get carried away, especially when the drinks start flowing and this can often lead to waking up with regrets; or even worse, waking up to remember nothing at all. Drinking within your limits reduces the likelihood of you ending up in a dangerous situation.

Ask yourself, what impact is that extra shot going to have on you? Are you already drunk? Do you really need it? It’s also important to ask yourself these questions when buying drinks for friends too!

Some useful tips:

• It’s not a race, always try to drink at your own pace – drinking in rounds with friends can get messy and expensive. Only drink what you feel comfortable with, at a rate that suits you.
• Buy yourself a spirit measurer for home to avoid making super strength drinks & not making it past pre-drinks!
• Eating is NOT cheating! Eating a good meal before you go out drinking helps to prevent you from getting stupidly drunk, as well as reducing hangovers. Carbs & protein are a good idea!
• Alternate your drinks between alcohol and soft drinks or water – taking breaks is good, it’s better to do this than to carry on & be sick!
• Drink some water when you get home, this can help with the hangover. Eating food can help too, but me mindful what you eat. That greasy kebab might not help as much as you think!
• Don’t mix alcohol with drugs! This can intensify the impact of drugs and cause adverse reactions. See the DrugsIT Interaction Chart to get a better understanding.
• Remember – it is always your decision whether you want to drink or not. Don’t feel peer pressured into joining in or drinking in ways that you don’t feel comfortable with – such as drinking games.

How do you Know When Things are Getting out of Control?

• Drinking to the point of blacking out and not remembering what happened the night before
• When your attendance at Uni and work efforts start to slip
• Concerns expressed by friends or family about your drinking
• When you feel you need to hide the extent of your drinking
• When you find yourself reaching for the drink when things get a bit stressful or you’re feeling low – remember, alcohol is a depressant and won’t help in the long run.
• If you’re unable to cut down your levels of alcohol consumption

If you begin to notice some of these signs, it may be time to reach out for some support. Unipol’s Tenancy Support team are always happy to listen to your concerns and can help signpost you to appropriate support networks.

Being (or Going) Sober at Uni

Although heavy drinking is often typically associated with students and the university lifestyle, this isn’t for everyone! There are a wide-range of reasons why people may not drink alcohol, whether this be down to personal choice or religious or cultural reasons. No matter the reasons, this is their personal decision and it is important that this is respected – nobody owes anyone a justification as to why they don’t drink!

Did you know? One third of students in the UK now identify as sober![1]

• Research has shown this number to be rising in more recent years, between 2005 to 2015, the percentage of 16-24 year olds who do not drink had risen from 18% to 29%.[2]
• These figures have increased even more since the pandemic, with the number of students identifying as sober increasing by 22% between 2021 Freshers & 2022[3].

Many events at Uni, particularly within the first few weeks, can be heavily associated with the drinking culture and consequently some students have noted feeling isolated as a result of their sobriety at Uni. Some people find going on nights out sober is great, for others, this is their worst nightmare. So, it is important that you find out what works for you!

Most Uni’s have sober societies (or similar), this provides a great opportunity to meet like-minded individuals and to participate in a range of fun & sociable activities!

• NTU – Whilst there doesn’t appear to be a Sober Society, the Students Union run a wide-range of events that are not centred around alcohol. For example, a trip to Ikea where you will battle UoN students in a furniture building completion. They also run regular quiz & games nights & organise day trips, such as wildlife walks at Wollaton Hall. There are a number of societies relating to sober activities such as Trent Hiking, Travel & Culture, Mixed Rounders & NTSU Bowling.
• UoL – the ‘High on Life’ Society was established 2018 and has been popular amongst sober students since then. They run regular trips and days out such as visiting Alton Towers, pizza making, murder mystery nights & many more. They meet once weekly for an alcohol free event, though everyone is welcome regardless of whether you drink or not. Find out more here.
• UoN – Whilst UoN does not appear to have a dedicated ‘sober society’ they have a huge range of societies and some of which are more welcoming to those who’re sober. For example, the Kettle Society who meet weekly to indulge in a variety of hot drinks and chat with friends. They also arrange regular trips including pottery painting.
• LBU – Whilst LBU do not appear to have a specific sober society, there are a wide-range of societies on offer which run trips and activities. For example, the Musical Theatre society run regular trips to the theatre, or you could join the Movie Nights society who run screenings of movies that you would not normally see in mainstream cinemas. There is also the Outdoor Society & the Tourism Society who run regular trips, walks and quizzes. LBU have provided some information on fun activities in Leeds which don’t involve alcohol, they can be found here.
• LCon – LCon do not offer a huge range of societies due to the nature of the Uni, however there are dance, gaming, journalism and sport societies on offer as well as a wide-range of music and performance related societies. The SU also run a range of activities such as open-mic nights and live music gigs.

[1]Sober Student Statistics – Student Beans - https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/navigating-university-as-a-sober-student/

[2] Percentages of 18-14 year olds who do not drink - Student Drinking Statistics UK - Rehab 4 Addiction

[3] Sober statistics - https://www.studentbeans.com/blog/uk/navigating-university-as-a-sober-student/