Whether it’s parties in halls, nights at the student union, ‘quids in’ or weekly socials, drinking alcohol has typically been associated with these student events. But recently there seems to have been a shift, with more young people becoming ‘sober curious’. It has been found nearly half of young adults are now choosing no and low-alcohol options, up by 28% from 2018.. With this in mind and for those that are non-drinkers and sober curious, they need sober activities to partake in, which we have detailed in this article.
Are students drinking less now?
Young people between the age of 18-34 are leading the way with 48% being classed as ‘low-risk drinkers’. Student unions have also noticed this change with student bars and nights being less popular and drinking based societies seeing a decrease in membership. But this poses the question; ‘why the change in attitude towards drinking amongst young people?’
Religious beliefs
Many religious schools of faith prohibit the consumption of alcohol which can be a key influence in students choosing to not engage in drinking culture. Their faith is important to them, and they do not feel the need to encroach on this simply to fit in with a culture that does not align with them.
Health conscious
It is well documented that heavy alcohol consumption and the culture of ‘binge drinking’ can be very detrimental to a person’s physical and mental health. This is not to say that you can’t enjoy a drink in moderation, but binge drinking, or drinking to get drunk, can make you more prone to falls and accidents and risks alcohol poisoning. With this in mind, young people are taking to healthier alternatives like going for dinner, coffee, the gym or attending run clubs.
Financial strain
In the midst of a cost-of-living crisis where student’s finances are already stretched, many now see alcohol as a luxury item that can be cut from their budget. On average, student living costs total around £1,140 per month, with maintenance loans coming in at an average of £640 per month.
The benefits of not drinking
There are several health benefits that come from not drinking alcohol, both mental and physical. In the short-term, drinking less can:
• Prevent fatigue and boost energy
• Lead to clearer skin
• Help you save money
• Cut out ‘hangxiety’
• Boost self-esteem
As well as this, there are also notable long-term benefits to cutting down on alcohol or going sober:
• Lower blood pressure
• Improved liver health
• Better quality sleep
• Improved memory
• More consistent moods
• Ensure a healthier diet and easier weight management
Top five sober activities as a student
Whilst it may seem that student activities all revolve around drinking, there are a host of things you can do for fun without drinking as a student:
1. Game nights
Simple, fun, social and easy. Regular game nights, whether it be cards, video games, board games or something else that you and your friends might have come up with, can be a simple sober activity that promotes social interaction at a cheap cost.
2. Attending events
There are plenty of activities happening around your new city or on campus. Regardless of if it’s a gig, a sporting event, a play or even an art gallery, there will be something unique and interesting happening that you can attend and stay sober to enjoy.
3. Sports
Joining a sports team, inviting a friend to play tennis, golf or even to go running presents a fun and healthy way to stay social. These are just some easy, healthy, and cost-effective ways to be social without drinking.
4. Coffee meets
Looking for something more casual where you can just sit down and talk over something affordable as opposed to a full meal? You can take inspiration from ‘Friends’ and meet up with your friends in a coffee shop to have a chat. This is easy and can be a quick, flying visit, or an extended sit down with pals.
5. Sober socials
University societies always tend to have regular socials and meet-ups, but some of these events are associated with drinking games and bar crawls.
However, there are plenty of societies that don’t base their student life around drinking. Some examples of this are the ‘High on Life Society’ in Leeds, the ‘Sober Socials Society’ in Birmingham and the ‘Sober Society or ‘Designated Drivers’ in York. Each has their own culture of socialising, organising fun and sober social events to enjoy such as axe throwing, bowling and a host of other activities.
How a Student Assistance Programme (SAP) can support sober curiosity
If you are struggling with sobriety, or wanting to explore a healthier lifestyle, you can access expert support using HA | Wisdom Wellbeing’s Student Assistance Programme (SAP). Our team of accredited counsellors are available on the helpline 24/7, 365-days a year and can support with a host of wellbeing issues through solution-based counselling.
To further support your wellbeing and health habits, you can utilise your exclusive access to the Wisdom App, which is loaded with wellbeing resources such as articles, podcasts, healthy recipes, exercise routines and breathing techniques. You can also utilise Wisdom for socialising by organising friendly competitions with friends and peers using our wellbeing trackers, including step and hydration trackers.
Utilising these resources, you can then track your wellbeing progress using the unique mood trackers. Whatever your wellbeing needs, HA | Wisdom Wellbeing’s SAP can support you to achieve your goals.
Conclusion
Sobriety is becoming more common amongst students. The entire culture of socialising is not simply based on heavy drinking anymore. If you are indeed sober curious or have been practicing sobriety already, the options for a fun and social student life and readily available, you may just need to seek them out.
