Does everyone drink at university?
It can be difficult to know what to expect of your first few weeks of university as a new student. It’s normal to have expectations coming into a new environment, and we often build expectations based on things we hear from friends, family, the media and even films. Although expectations are normal, they can impact how we feel coming into new situations, and impact how we choose to behave. In this blog post, we’re going to explore some of the common expectations around welcome week and identify those expectations that might be a little further from the truth.
EXPECTATION: I’ve got to be out clubbing every night to make friends.
This absolutely isn’t true! Each student is different, with different interests and different ways they like to spend their time. You may choose to go clubbing during your welcome week, or you may choose to explore all the other activities that university has to offer – you might choose to do a little bit of both! Many universities and students’ unions put on plenty of events during this period, like cinema nights or alcohol-free nights. There’s so much to explore, and so many opportunities to make friends outside of a nightclub.
EXPECTATION: I need to spend all my time socialising.
Welcome week can be a very busy period, and this is great if it’s what you enjoy. But, for some of us, we need that alone time to recharge. It’s also normal to feel lonely during this period. You’re still building those relationships and that takes time. It can be tempting to do things to try and fit in during this period, like drink more than you usually would or try things you haven’t before. Building relationships takes time, but relationships should always be built on a foundation of mutual respect and boundaries. If you feel pressure to do something that you don’t want to do to maintain a friendship, then it probably isn’t the one for you!
EXPECTATION: I’m a student now, I’ve got to be independent!
University does give new opportunities to build your independence, but it’s okay if this doesn’t feel comfortable right away. It can be helpful to talk to your friends and family about how you plan to stay in touch over this period, and what would feel helpful. That might be daily check-ins with your family, or it could just be sharing welcome week tips with friends who might feel far away. Whatever it is, make sure you keep a support network around you, and don’t forget that University has plenty of places to access support too.
EXPECTATION: Everyone at university drinks alcohol.
This is a common misconception coming into university, and it’s important to recognise that this isn’t the case. Over a quarter of students SOS-UK surveyed1 stated that they don’t drink alcohol, and a further thirty percent of students drink alcohol less than once a week. Many societies and sports groups run a variety of different socials and events, some of which don’t include alcohol at all. Whether or not you choose to drink alcohol is your choice, and you can absolutely have a great university experience without alcohol!
Hopefully this article has helped bust some myths around welcome week! Remember, welcome week is what YOU make it.
Drug and Alcohol Impact is an SOS-UK project.
SOS-UK is a student-led education charity focusing on sustainability - we know environmental sustainability cannot be achieved in isolation, so our work spans across issues of justice and wellbeing as well.
Alcohol Impact and Drug & Alcohol Impact are SOS-UK programmes that run in partnership with universities and students’ unions and are supported by key sector agencies including Universities UK and AMOSSHE.
