<p>Hi,
I am a senior in high school & I have a school all set to attend next fall. I also will be doing a intercollegiate sport. I am a great athlete & student, but only one thing concerns me.. The party life. I've experienced a bit of this on my overnight at my college. I have never been a drinker, so seeing all of my future teammates/other recruits get drunk in front of me sort of concerned me. They said it was fine that I don't drink, but I feel like I can't be good friends with them next year if I don't drink. I really have considered drinking next year, just for them to want to hangout with me. Should I start? Or no... I know I can make other friends outside of the team, but people who are not athletes do not understand that you are always with your teammates. I am rooming with a future teammate next year. Your thoughts are appreciated. Thanks.</p>
<p>Don’t do something you don’t wanna do. I know some folks who don’t drink or rarely drink even though many of their friends do and they still have a good time in college.</p>
<p>you don’t need to drink to be good friends with them. You can still bond with them over other things, and it’s not like they’ll be drinking ever night. Plus, even if you decide to drink, you do not have to get drunk. For example, my roommates drink every once in a while, but they don’t get drunk (they know their limits) and they only do it in the comforts of our suite (I live in a suite-style dorm), and I still have a good time with them when they do (I’ve tried a few sips of alcohol, but I wouldn’t really call that drinking).</p>
<p>There are many different reasons for not drinking, and that’s understandable. It’s fine that you don’t drink, but it’s fine that they drink too. Don’t act as though you’re afraid of alcohol. Don’t judge your teammates, and don’t act like you’re morally superior than your teammates because you don’t drink. Don’t be awkward or anti-social around teammates who are drinking. Basically, still hang out with them. Don’t be weird or a dick. Maybe volunteer to be a DD; that’ll get you cool points.</p>
<p>yup,i agree with Mike</p>
<p>I’m sorry but there other important things in college than to worry about whether you will drink or not 'coz your friends drink! If they are really your friends they will accept you for the way you are! That is very shallow, sorry!
Just IMO!</p>
<p>I agree with Mike also.</p>
<p>If they won’t be friends because you don’t drink, they aren’t people you want to be with anyway.
College has things for everyone and everyone can find friends that share their interests.</p>
<p>Thank you for the replys, Mike is right that I shouldn’t act like I am afraid of alcohol or even judge my teammates for deciding to drink. Also, being a DD for them would be a great idea! I’m sure they will be my friends (we’re teammates) but I won’t have a lot of the closeness I would have if I were a drinker like them. I am kind of curious about drinking though. I actually might try it while in college, but I’m sure I won’t go crazy. I love my sport & I do not want drinking to take that away from me. I know alcohol could increase my risk of injury. Thank you again!</p>
<p>Yeah agree with the rest. No one forces anybody to do anything as far as drinking goes. Heck get the nontransparent solo cup and put pepsi in it. I’ve done that various times, no one knows/really cares. Only time I ever drink is at bars (which I visit with friends once,maybe twice a month) Its actually kind of fun to laugh at the drunk people as they make fools of themselves. Be safe in your social activities.</p>
<p>There is absolutely no reason to start drinking if you don’t want to, and more importantly there is no one at college who can MAKE you drink regardless of how intense the peer pressure may be. As you will notice, most people ** will ** drink at first due to the new influx of independence. If your friends wanna do this and you don’t, you have a few options:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>Go to parties with them and just don’t drink. Play mother-hen and take care of your friends when they get sloppy. You can go to parties and not drink; it’s not like people are watching you to make sure you’re drinking and kick you out if you’re not.</p></li>
<li><p>If you’re worried about being judged for not drinking, go to parties and pretend to drink. Apple juice and 7-up are prime disguises for beer and vodka respectively. No one will know you’re faking it.</p></li>
<li><p>Find friends who don’t feel like partying or drinking and maintain a friendship with your drinking-friends and your non-drinking friends.</p></li>
<li><p>Try drinking if you feel comfortable with it. I wasn’t a drinker when I started college, but I tried it a few times and now it’s just become a way to let loose without getting totally ****ed up.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>Just know that it’s an option and not a requirement. And try not to look down upon those who make harsh decisions in either direction.</p>
<p>Especially as an athlete, you will not be ostracized for not drinking. Some teams have “dry seasons” enforced by coaches, where they can’t drink all season. Most teams follow the 24/48 hr rule (no drinking 24 hrs before a practice, 48 before a game), which leaves only one day of the week to really party. You will obviously still hang out with your teammates on the other 6 days. When your teammates go out, you can go and not drink, or even stay in, study, and get work done. It’s only one night a week, and sometimes not even, especially if the team is travelling and such. </p>
<p>That said, you may want to try drinking a little. My advice is to try it at some grad parties this summer, learn your limits, and decide whether you like it.</p>
<p>Just don’t do it, it is pretty simple. Just because you don’t drink and they do does not mean that they are going to have an attitude with you. As long as you are not going to be weird about them drinking they will probably be fine with you.</p>
<p>You can start out by letting them know that you don’t drink and just stick with it. If you want to drink a little then just have a beer or 2 when you do. There are a few rules that you should stick with if you have no drinking experience and you are not sure about the whole thing.</p>
<p>-Don’t do shots, ever. Just say no.
-Stay away from hard liquor. Try it later if you want to.
-Stay away from sweet drinks-they are usually full of hard stuff and will knock you down so fast, unless its a wine cooler, but if your a guy you don’t want that either.
-stick with beer, never have more than 3 at a sitting if you don’t want to get drunk.
-don’t drive after you drink!</p>
<p>The main reason I do not want to drink is because of my demanding sport, but of course like anyone I’m curious. I came at a bad time to visit with the team because they were on off season. They were ok with me not drinking (some of them didn’t their first year). But still… I want to be good friends with them, but school & my sport is very important.</p>
<p>Don’t do something you don’t wanna do.</p>