<p>so yeah... what if you don't want to drink in college</p>
<p>how does that work out?</p>
<p>will you still have a life and not be a social outcast</p>
<p>just wondering. Are there activities offered on weekends besides parties/alcohol at major universities?</p>
<p>I know this question is very general, but just interested in some responses or to see if there are any other alcohol-free college kids out there.</p>
<p>Just go to parties and don't drink. I go to parties and I don't drink, and I'm in high school. Just say you're the designated driver or something, there's always a way out; nobody's going to look down at you because you don't drink.</p>
<p>Count me in as a non-drinking (soon to be) college student.</p>
<p>You could do what ilikeoranges suggests.. Although I would imagine it would get old after a while when mostly everyone else starts getting drunk and you're sober. But I've never been in that situation, so maybe ilikeoranges can shed some light on that.</p>
<p>If you're not into partying, then I guess try to figure out who among the group of new people you meet this fall don't plan on going to parties, and hang out with them during the party times.</p>
<p>This is something that I'm a bit apprehensive about, only because, once I get to college, I don't want to come off as a snob who looks down on the kids who drink, yet drinking just isn't really my thing.</p>
<p>It's cool if you don't drink in college - not everyone does. You can go to parties and not drink. I even do that sometimes when I don't feel like drinking. threve is right, however. Sometimes it gets irritating when everyone is intoxicated and you're not. Then, sometimes it is easier to just not go out. You will always be able to find kids who don't drink whom you can hang out with, though. However, you may change your mind about drinking when you get to college. It may not be your thing in high school, but you may decide to drink a little once you actually get to college.</p>
<p>Don't go into college with your mindset on anything (unless it is truly moral or health related). I had plenty of reasons for not drinking in high school. All those reasons seemed to vanish when I came to college. So it ended up that I wasn't exactly opposed to drinking but I was against the people who drank and how they acted sober. At college, it wasn't just those same stupid people anymore.</p>
<p>There are two BIG pieces of advice I have for non-drinkers. Come up with a list of reasons for why you wouldnt want to do the particular activity you are against. I said all of my reasons for not drinking (nt doing anything just to fit in, not to hang out with people I didn't like all that much in the first place, and a bet with my cousin that I wouldn't by the end of high school) vanished but my reasons for not smoking still are very strong (my grandpas both died of lung cancer). As long as your reasons still hold strong, there is a better chance of not doing what you dont want to.</p>
<p>Also, if you're worried about acting high and mighty about not drinking, then don't do it. How? Simple, don't roll your eyes if your friends go out or talk about it. Don't try to convince them otherwise (unless it's health related but that's different). You're not going to change their mind just like they can't change yours (if your reasons still remain legitimate of course). Don't talk about weight gain or acting stupid while drunk b/c that will get annoying. And dont mock drunks, b/c some don't forget it.</p>
<p>Also about parties: Just if someone asks you to drink, just say "No thanks, I don't drink." and leave it at that. No one will care. And you won't sound self-important talking about why. If they ask why not: "I have my reasons and I just dont want to. I am enjoying the party just fine sober." Make your that you actually are having fun and aren't backed against a wall or anything b/c that won't prove anything. If they are your close friend and he/she presses you, just tell him/her you'll explain later. Chances are once you let the pesterer away he/she won't ask you again.</p>
<p>If they are pushy: "You seem to be enjoying yourself. Let me have a good time too. Your attitude/complaining/badgering isn't helping." That way there you still have made your point but you won't insult them or sound like you "don't need alcohol to have fun." Because even if that's true, it just sounds rude.</p>
<p>So those are my tips that I used to keep myself sober and well-liked during the first few months of college when I wasn't quite sure what I wanted to do (I was still very admant aganst drinking from high school). One last thing to remember, it isn't high school anymore. I hope this helps somebody. (Btw I found plenty of people who didn't drink too to do stuff with and this is at U of I. So I hope that helps you feel better about that too.)</p>
<p>I think it also depends on the type of school you go to.</p>
<p>I went to a school located in the middle of nowhere. Pretty much, it was drink or do nothing.</p>
<p>There were many activities offered on teh weekends and many were school sponsored. But the majority of those were pretty lame and had small attendance.</p>
<p>As for me, I personally don't drink because a) I can't stand the taste and b) I do really stupid stuff upon getting drunk. So yea...the social aspect of college really sucked for me during my few years there.</p>
<p>I'll drink on occasion but I've never been drunk. You could just tell people, "I can't drink tonight..." and let them wonder why you're not drinking THAT night. </p>
<p>A big piece of advice for anyone getting into drinking is that you shouldn't drink a lot with total strangers for the first few times. Drink with your closer friends, then you won't have to worry about them humiliating you if you get really drunk. You should test your resistance to getting drunk before you start drinking a lot at big parties so you know your limits. All I'm saying is that first-time drunks risk getting taken advantage of or possibly humiliated since they don't know their drinking capacity. </p>
<p>Check this interesting link out:
<a href="http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm%5B/url%5D">http://www.ou.edu/oupd/bac.htm</a></p>
<p>I agree 100% w/ what kman said about being careful with drinking at first. Until you know your tolerence (and DON'T think your first few times drinking that you "feel fine" and can drink more - even many if not most experienced drinkers can have a hard time telling how drunk they are since alcohol takes awhile to kick in) and have a solid group of friends to look out for you if you drink too much (and not casual acquantences, but core friends) then excercise extreme caution.</p>
<p>Look at some of what happens to those who drink/smoke/etc... too much at parties without someone to look out for them:
<a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/dayafterparty.html%5B/url%5D">http://www.ebaumsworld.com/dayafterparty.html</a></p>
<p>Definitely learn your limits beforehand. That is a great piece of advice. Don't just dive into it and go overboard the first time. Consequences from not-so serious shaming to serious alcohol poisoning can result. Drink Responsibly.</p>
<p>I didn't drink in high school but I do now. If you choose not to then no one will care. If someone looks down on you because of that, then they aren't a good friend or worth your time.</p>
<p>First off, those pics are nas-tee! Remind me not to do that! LOL </p>
<p>That BAC calculator is interesting. I wonder why at my body weight the effect of wine in two hours doubles between the fourth and fifth glass. I'd be at around .035 on glasses one through three with "possible impairment" and after four I'd have "some impairment" at .065. After five I'd be at .13 with "obvious impairment." Meh ... I'm good after two glasses and three make me silly. I'm silly enough sober, anyway ...</p>
<p>Do any of you guys go to small schools? If so, have you known kids who got bad reps early on that they were never able to shake for getting too sloshed at parties and engaging in the inevitable random hookups, etc.? Im going to a school with around 2,000 students and Ive heard the upperclassmen guys are all over the freshmen girls giving them drinks in a not-so-big-brotherly way the first few weeks. The ones who succumb can apparently become well known for it really quickly. There's one junior girl there who everybody calls the "snake charmer" and she's been with the same guy for over a year now. She just had a few too many drunken hookups first semester freshman year.</p>
<p>If the party requires any driving to get to, people will be very appreciative of a designated driver. Plus, there's something to be said for remembering everything you did and everyone you hooked up with when you go out.</p>
<p>That being said, why the hell won't you drink, you loser? I say this in the nicest way possible with the kindest possible smile on my face. :)</p>
<p>i dont drink and i just graduated from high school. i dont plan to drink in college either for several reasons. there are always people that you will find that dont drink either, and also like everyone else has pretty much mentioned, you can still go to parties and not drink. i like what type-o said, " If someone looks down on you because of that, then they aren't a good friend or worth your time." -- thats a good point. find friends that share you interests, there are plenty of things to do other than go to parties and drink. drinking doesnt necesarily equal fun.
by the way i'm going to JMU and i'm planning on living in a substance free dorm. may sound gay, but i'm really looking forward to it. my sister went to jmu and met some awesome people in substance-free who she hung out with all throughout college.</p>
<p>Is it possible to join a Fraternity without Drinking?</p>
<p>lol</p>
<p>lol, of course</p>
<p>vinny- well, when joining a frat, you have to think about whether the guys in that frat drink. If they do and it's a big part of that frat, then why would you want to involve yourself? Don't just join a frat to join it. On my campus (Dartmouth) we have places where they don't have regular parties/alcohol.</p>
<p>I think the "not drinking" thing can get overblown by a lot of people. I do drink, but I have gone out multiple times to parties and just have not had alcohol. Not everyone is going to be drunk. Sometimes I just feel like being sober or I have something going on the next day and don't want to feel crappy, so I go out and I just say "i'm not drinking tonight"- but it generally doesn't come up. I think at and school, really, you'll just be able to not even be noticed. People don't really notice who is drinking and who isn't at a big party. At a smaller party, they m ight, but you can just say "no thanks." I've never been pressured, and I have friends who don't drink for religious reasons- and they never get pressured.</p>
<p>Same here there are plenty who don't drink for religious reasons and are straight edge (isn't that religious too?) There have been a few times where I havent dranken at a party or times when I just hold a cup and sip it the whole night. No one will know you aren't drinking it. Plus you can just give it with a friend and let them drink it. haha Anyways just don't freak out about it because it will be a part of college life on every campus and it isn't a big deal.</p>
<p>One trick: put water in a martini glass!! Just don't let ne1 refill it for u! lol</p>
<p>You can certainly go to parties and not drink. Just carry around a red plastic cup filled with soda, and no one will really ask questions. If they do, either say you're driving or that you're the one making sure everyone gets on the right subway. </p>
<p>Although you may find that things change when you get to college and drinking doesn't seem so dumb after all.</p>
<p>if i'm ever not drinking, i'll just say "eh, i've gotta work early tomorrow, and i dont want to feel like ****" or "i'm driving so and so home tonight." Nobody ever gives me trouble for it, it's def. possible to go to a party and have fun sober. </p>
<p>Having said that, drinking at a crazy party is 10X's more fun for me than staying sober. I dont mean passed out trashed drunk (god knows i've had my fair share of those, they're not really that fun), but rather a healthy strong buzz type of drunk. I try to keep that equilibrium of drunkeness throughout the night. </p>
<p>This thread makes me wanna play beer pong all night long. <strong>Sigh</strong> it's been a while.</p>