How to navigate being sober at university

In the UK, university culture is often considered to revolve around nights out, clubbing, and lots and lots of drinking. While this is true for some students, it certainly isn't the case for everyone. If you're a sober student you can still have a full, exciting, and interesting university experience. 

Going sober for October?

In recent years, sober awareness months like Dry January and Sober October have grown in popularity. In fact, 9 million people in the UK pledged to take part in Dry January in 2023. There are lots of benefits to giving up drinking, even for a short period of time. You'll save money, avoid hangovers (and the dreaded hangxiety), have more energy, and experience many health benefits. If you're sober-curious as a student, taking part in one of these month-long challenges is a great way to try out an alcohol-free lifestyle. 

5 tips for being sober at university

It can be intimidating to navigate university life as a sober student. The culture of drinking in the UK is undeniably strong, and it can feel like you're the odd one out if you don't want to join in. To help you, we've put together five tips to help you stay sober at university and enjoy the experience, whether you're just giving up for the month, or you're completely sober.

1. Don't give in to peer pressure

There will probably be times at university when you're faced with friends saying things like 'can't you just have one drink?', 'just try it, you might like it' or 'come on, everyone else is drinking'. While these comments might not be ill-intentioned, they can make life more difficult for sober students. Not to mention, they can just be plain irritating. 

Remember, you don't owe anyone an explanation as to why you're not drinking. If you don't want to share, you don't have to. Just saying 'no' should be enough. And if your friends want to persist with encouraging you to drink, then they might just miss out on hanging out with you the next time. In which case, more fool them.

2. Focus on alcohol-free activities

There are lots of different things to get stuck into at university. The vast majority of these activities actually don't involve drinking. If you're looking to find new hobbies, you can join societies and try things out. Your university will offer everything from sports societies to student journalism to board games clubs! There truly is something for everyone. You'll find people with similar interests, and will have a natural way to socialise that doesn't have to involve any alcohol. 

3. Surround yourself with like-minded people

You might be surprised to find that there are lots of other students at your university who choose not to drink. Having their support might make it easier to stay sober at university. They'll understand your choices and what you're going through first-hand. 

If you're not sure how to meet other sober students, your SU might be able to help. Most Students' Unions tend to put on a selection of sober events - everything from pizza parties to quizzes. Attending these can be a great way to meet like-minded friends. Your SU also might have a sober society for the same reason, so make sure to look into it if you're interested!

4. Explore alcohol alternatives

You shouldn't have to miss out on the fun of nights out and parties just because you're not drinking alcohol. Plenty of students enjoy getting stuck into pres or hitting the pubs, bars, and clubs, all while sober. The great news is that now there are plenty of alcohol-free options to enjoy. Mocktails and soft drinks are still great choices, but you can also partake in alcohol-free beer, ciders, wine, or gin if you want to. Brands like Peroni, Kopparberg, and Gordon's are now offering some great alcohol-free choices. (Bonus: If you want to avoid any annoying questions about why you're not drinking on a night out, these can be a great option!)

5. Talk about it!

There's absolutely nothing shameful or strange about being sober at university. So, why not talk about it with your friends? If you're comfortable, you can share why you've chosen to be sober, even if it's just for a month. Being open about your sobriety is a great way to reduce the stigma around not drinking at university. Plus, you might even encourage other sober-curious students to try it out!

Get stuck in this Sober October

Whether you're considering giving up alcohol this October, or you're already embracing the sober lifestyle, we hope these tips have given you some inspiration, encouraged you to raise your alcohol-free beverage high and helped you get stuck into uni life!