<p>Hello</p>
<p>I have never been in bar, bars are not popular where I come from. However, after arriving to USA, I'm curious to go to bar and see what's in there. My college is doing happy hour event for new students and I'm considering going to this event. I don't drink, so I'm wondering is it usual for someone to go to bar and order non-alcoholic drinks or will I be looked at in weird way ? Also, is it strange for someone to go alone and sit there ?</p>
<p>No. Guys go to bars alone; girls usually don’t. Just be social, act normal, and talk to people. If it’s an event for new students, you’re bound to meet people in the same boat as you. Get a club soda so it looks like you’re drinking.</p>
<p>I’m not sure about you icanread but guys don’t go to the bars alone. Everyone I know goes as a group since it’s more fun that way and they can meet new people while playing games like Screw the Dealer, etc.</p>
<p>I’m not a guy. It’s not that ~bizarre for a guy to go to a neighborhood dive bar alone and chill. He can probably meet people that way.</p>
<p>hi, thanks for your suggestions and the club soda idea 
Well if a girl doesn’t find it bizarre, I guess that’s what matters. I don’t usually care about how guys look at me
Of course it could be more fun to go with friends but I still didn’t have the chance to make friends</p>
<p>Well my bad, hope I didn’t offend you first of all. Since the op mentioned a bar for college students it’s different than a neighborhood bar where it’s filled with locals so yeah.</p>
<p>Let me get this straight: your school is holding an event at a bar for 18 year olds?</p>
<p>Think OP may be confused by the terminology in the invitation. “Happy hour” may just refer to a meet and greet before dinnertime, but not including dinner.</p>
<p>where does it say he is 18</p>
<p>
She says it’s a happy hour event for new students. New students are usually 18.</p>
<p>
No, this is a graduate students event. Sorry for not mentioning this earlier :)</p>
<p>
I’m not sure if there is a dinner involved. The event is periodically held for graduate students, apparently it’s not just for ‘new students’ but “new students are welcome”. All I know it’s in a bar and it’s for graduate students</p>
<p>All the girls I know go to bars alone, and not the guys. <em>shrug</em> Go ahead and do whatever you want, if you enjoy it it’ll be okay, if you don’t you don’t have to go again or can bring some people you meet there with you next time. No need to make a big deal out of it, bars are really laid back and really aren’t a big deal. You have to make friends somehow! If other new students will be there I am sure you will not be the only one there alone, and if you join a game of pool or something you won’t be alone for long.</p>
<p>Well in the movies, you see broken men with a divorced marriage get themselves drunk alone… and I always ask who pays the bill after that O.O</p>
<p>OP- If it’s a “new student event” plenty of people will be going solo since they are new to the university. Go about 30-45 minutes late (if you go on time, may be awkward for you, better to enter when party is in full swing) buy a bottle water or something stronger if you prefer, and be social. Be prepared to give a short bio about yourself as way of introducing yourself to people- rinse, lather, repeat. Usually your name, department, field of study, where you did undergrad,blah,blah blah. Don’t sit, mingle, mingle, mingle. Bring a picture ID if you look young-you will be carded. Good Luck.</p>