<p>@emerson:</p>
<p>People only ever ask your grade, not your age (at least until they really get to know you). And it's not like any of the incoming freshmen will be able to obtain alcohol "legally" (unless they took 2 years off or something). This is purely anecdotal, but I know some 17-year-olds here who have no problem getting booze whenever they want it.</p>
<p>I was seventeen when I first came to campus, having a late birthday, and never found I had a problem with alcohol, or felt strange because of my age. There are a lot of people here with special circumstances, I know a few kids who are 20 year old freshman. As everyone said before, age doesn't really matter as much once you're here.</p>
<p>I don't think anybody would have a problem getting alcohol regardless of their age. Unless they publicize the fact that they're like... 13 years old. Or something ridiculous.</p>
<p>People like to party here, and a lot of people drink on the weekends. However, binge drinking isn't a requirement. I know lots of people who don't do it, and it does seem to get better the older students get. I have a lot of older friends here who say really hardcore partying gets old after freshman year and take it easier once they realize there's no use in drinking until you can't remember your own name. </p>
<p>Not to say there aren't freshman here who don't drink, or only drink lightly. As long as you don't get terribly bothered by being around alcohol (or at least people who drink regularly), you should be fine. The only time I've ever seen somebody made fun of for not drinking is after they had said some really judgmental things about other people drinking at a party. He had some kind of superiority complex, and people didn't take very well to it. Other than that, there have been nights where I've decided not to drink for personal reasons, and I've never felt like others looked down on it.</p>
<p>I agree with princeton12, the older the students learn to set limits on their alcohol consumption. The excitement of attending a school like Princeton, the relief after all the work of getting there and the overwhelming social scene can be a bit much for freshmen.
As the novelty and excitement wear off, students learn better ways to manage their stress than drinking themselves into oblivion.</p>