College Drinking Culture

Boston

Just reading through that other thread about that guy nobody likes. People started talking about how they made friends by going getting pissed together and the like. Thing is I don’t drink and I don’t think it’s really the type of thing I’m going to pick up. Not that I have a problem with other people drinking just I never saw the point, also I think if you don’t start young you probably wont. When I go to college next year I probably won’t know anybody doing the same course as me, so it’s going to be abite difficult to meet new people. I’m not exactly the type of person to start talking to random strangers so I’m abite concerned with the prospects of getting along with people, if I don’t go out drinking with them, Anybody any advise on how to handle this situation.

sisob

Best way to get to know people in college is to invite randomers to come have coffee or hot chocolate or whatever after lectures.
You can always just go out and not drink yourself. There really isn't that much serious pressure to drink and everyone appreciates the sober one who stops them from killing themselves and can recount all the horribly embarassing stories the next day.

Don't worry, college kicks ass, everyone loves it after the first few months.

<Grace>

ballooba

Get involved in lots of Clubs and Socs. You'll meet loads of people.

College i go to is DIT and here is the address to find Clubs and Socs which have websites; http://clubsoc.dit.ie/ for that college.

A lot of college social life is drinking orientated and a lot isn't.... (drugs )

Only joking.. only way to get to know people is to get involved.

LegacyUser

i started college this year, and didn't drink until about two months ago. It isn't difficult to make friends at all. It's easy (and fun) to "go out for drinks" without actually drinking. I was never pressured to drink after people realised that i wasn't just trying to get them bought for me

if you're not comfortable even going to the bar, then just invite a gang for coffee in the break between lectures, or even (god forbid) head to the library with a couple of people in the same course. I know it's difficult if you aren't someone who's naturally outgoing, but everyone is in the same boat. Just be yourself and you'll be grand

Re what people have said about clubs and socs, definately get involved. Some of my best friends have been people i met through those. Wherever you head for college should have some kind of Expo for the freshers where you can join up, and mention interest and the like.

S

Tusky

i tihnk its reallly silly to say """u donte see the ppint of drinking" as the point is obviouse, buht if you dont want to dunk fine ! i myself at the moment am drunk and forgot what my point was gonnne be,,.much apologie

Mr_Roger_Bongos

Drunken Posting would be a good reason not to drink.

Im goin to UCD next year and i dont drink alot. I have one or two, but mostly its so that i have something in my hand (unless i hav i fine women, but alas its mostly a bottle of something), i aint worried about not drinking.

If teh worst comes to teh wrost, me and u can meet up and stand in the corner complaining baut society with our cokes!

ferdi

Originally posted by Tusky
i tihnk its reallly silly to say """u donte see the ppint of drinking" as the point is obviouse, buht if you dont want to dunk fine ! i myself at the moment am drunk and forgot what my point was gonnne be,,.much apologie

drunk posting, priceless.

Annasopra

Again, I would suggest clubs and societies as a social outlet. I dont drink that much either but because I enjoyed the social side of life in college so much I stayed on an extra year as Sabbatical Vice President

Also two girls that I know who don't drink have had the most fun in college ever, and it's great when you're able to recall events the next day cause you were sober


Personally, after 5 years in college in NCI I've enjoyed it so much that I want to be a student forever. I'm doing a postgrad course in DIT next year

ballooba

BTW first day in college is like the first day in school. Its not like starting a new job because its everybody's first day. Everyone talks to everyone and people don't generally split up into groups until a good few weeks in. just try your best to get involved.

damnyanks

I started college this year knew no one in my course. Its quite easy , other people are in the same situation just talk to whoever is next to you in class or whatever.

Of course alot of people are sorta reserved at the start and you only find out what **** they are 3 months in

Doodee

Originally posted by Boston
Just reading through that other thread about that guy nobody likes. People started talking about how they made friends by going getting pissed together and the like. Thing is I don’t drink and I don’t think it’s really the type of thing I’m going to pick up. Not that I have a problem with other people drinking just I never saw the point, also I think if you don’t start young you probably wont. When I go to college next year I probably won’t know anybody doing the same course as me, so it’s going to be abite difficult to meet new people. I’m not exactly the type of person to start talking to random strangers so I’m abite concerned with the prospects of getting along with people, if I don’t go out drinking with them, Anybody any advise on how to handle this situation.

its not so much teh going getting pissed but more the going out and getting to know people, the drink helps settle nerves and im sure alot of ppl act nervous around new faces that they have to spend time with..

being yourself is the best advise in teh world, it words for everything!

LegacyUser

I don't drink(I have lots of fun without it so why bother - but i do wish i had something to blame any of my stupid acts on!)
If you're in a college like DIT the classes are small so by the time you get to Christmas of first year you'll know everyones life story inside out!
talk to EVERYONE on your first day...you might be nervous but so will everyone else be! College is a place to re-invent yourself if thats what you want to do!
Lots of socialising is done in pubs but no-one cares if your holding a coke or a pint in your hand!
And join clubs that interest you!

Gavin

I found DCU quite tough in first year too. First day was cack. As I discovered in second year, the key is clubs and socs. Join whatever you have an interest in and make sure you go to them. People are genuinely interested in meeting new people and talking to them/getting to know them. C&S are especially important if you are in a large class ( mine was 300 people ).

It's quite hard but the key really is to go in, determined to talk to people. If you see people standing around, force yourself to introduce youself to em and have a chat, about the course, the colllege, how everyone is confused etc... Making an effort the first few weeks really pays off. Don't concern yourself with the drinking aspect. Go along to the events etc, especially the freshers ball, there's always people that don't drink, don't drink much etc. Make friends with them. There are always twats that go on about how much they drank the previous night blah blah, fuck them, it's unlikely they are actually the sort of people you would like to hang around with anyway.

Main thing I've picked up from college is that there are a hell of a lot of different types of people. Hang out with the people you like and have an open mind about other people.

Gav

yeah i know i probably contradicted myself in there a few times.


also, don't worry overly much if you don't actually like the course. It happens. You can change courses easily. Personally I didn't like dcu for first year, but decided to stick with it and as I said, clubs and socs made things a lot easier.

YoungNastyMan

If your not gonna drink.

Maybe you should consider drugs ??

people in your course will think your cool and living on the edge.

Only messing, Anyone i met in college, was during classes or on a lunch break or somthing, Ive only gone out drinking with my class twice, And we all get along grand, so dont worry

Strangers + Drink, does not = friends

Just chatting to your class mates, should do the trick.

Having said that soon enough they will all go out for a drink, just drink coke or redbull, you'll still have a laugh, I have a good few mates who dont drink, (or do drugs) and go out clubbing just for the fun of it.

good luck

Red Alert

Ok i'll prefix this by saying that i most definitely succumb to excess alcohol consumption however....

it doesn't matter one bit whether you drink or not when you go out. just whatever you do make sure you go out loads in the first couple of weeks and months - go to the fresher's ball, go to other cheap student nights etc. oh and by the way one difference from school: you'll be going out week nights a lot so get used to it

Mac daddy

Well if you don't drink you can always invite people around for tea and scones, only joking, sports and social is your best bet.:p

evie

Seriously, don't worry about it. It really is not an issue. I was lucky enough to go to college in my hometown and my friends all stuck around. However, I was alone in my course. There was noone there to hold my hand. Ever before I got into the lecture hall to have my first lecture, I made friends.
You have to remember that everyone is in the same boat. They're just as, if not more nervous than you are. They'll probably approach you! Just remeber to be yourself and not to shut people out, not productive for anyone!

Good Luck!

Wolf

I took the absolute piss outa college weeks would go by where I could bearly stand

However, I meet most people in the gaming club, on the footy team or around the pool table. The real trick to college is talk to everyone and anyone on your first day. Remeber 90% of the people there are all alone also, there just as dying to make new friends as you are. Trust me try it it easier than it sounds as people light up when someone new talks to them

also I know this cause iv been to 2 colleges and ended up head of ents and pres a few times. Remember not everyone drinks its a good thing and to be admired just be friendly as hell, leave your embaressment at the door and you will have a blast

Trebor

i don't drink either but when i went out with my "mates" they would start looking at me strange when i wasn't drinking so i don't go out with them but now i go out with people from my job and they don't mind mostly college heads so they are more open minded.

and it is so much fun laughing at drunk people

Boston

Thanks for the replies, thing is looking at the current time table for the course im interested in, (eng trinity) seems to be a 9-6 job 5 days a week, don't really think ill have much time for c&s.
Also i'm not the type of person random strangers approach and talk to, since i have that whole intimidating north dublin "ill eat your babies" look about me.

Trebor

most c&s's are based in the eveanings as most students have a simillar time table

Syth

You don't have to worry, I don't drink myself, and I had no problem meeting people. In the first few weeks nobody knows anyone, so just randomally walk up to people and strike up a conversation. Everyone's in the same boat, so nobody'll think your rude are anything. Everyone's dead sound, it's not like secondary school where there's all these mad groups and there very exclusive. It's more like primary school where anyone will hang around with anyone.

QBall

Originally posted by Boston
Thanks for the replies, thing is looking at the current time table for the course im interested in, (eng trinity) seems to be a 9-6 job 5 days a week, don't really think ill have much time for c&s.

The timetable for Engineering in Trinity is pretty hectic, but I'm in Trinity (Computer Science) and the engineers I know seem to spend more time socialising (not 100% drink based) than getting any real work done.

First year Eng share lectures with some other courses so your lectures will be full of people who don't know each other. In that kind of situation it's impossible not to meet new people. In my first year class there were about 75 people. I kinda knew one of them but that was it. Now I know nearly all of the people in my classes.

My advice, like the others, is join plenty of Clubs and Societies. If you go to Trinity, Fresher's Week is your friend. All the clubs and societies in Trinity are dying to get more members. Find something you're interested in and talk to the people on the stand for it. I can guarantee you that unless they are complete w4nkers they'll be delighted to see you (even if you do look like you'll eat their babies :-)).

Not just that, but all the Clubs and Societies in Trinity are being restricted more and more by the college as to the extent alcohol can play a part in the social side of the Club/Soc. http://www.tcd.ie/Junior_Dean/AlcoholPolicy.htm has more on that, but it may interest you that the first objective of that policy is: "to provide an atmosphere free from pressure to drink for those who choose not to drink".

<SHAMELESS PLUG FOR TRINITY RIFLE CLUB>
Join the rifle club, even if you have no intention of shooting[1]. It's one of the biggest clubs in the college (nearly 450 members this year) and has a party at the start of the year for all the members to meet each other. I guarantee you, if you don't have fun and meet new people at it I'll not only eat my hat, I'll also refund your membership. :-)
</SHAMELESS PLUG FOR TRINITY RIFLE CLUB>

Either way, if you're going to Trinity, have a look at http://www.tcd.ie/Clubs/DUCAC/ for the sports clubs and http://www.csc.tcd.ie/ for the societies. Some are better than others, so if you're interested in any particular ones there's probably someone who posts to Boards who either is in that Club or knows someone who is.

Hope this is of some help.

-C

[1] Just in case you think it sounds a bit crazy, we are not a bunch of gun nuts. See http://durc.tcd.ie for details on the kind of sport it is.

Sarky

Large societies or clubs can be pretty intimidating to the newcomer.

Be sure to check out the smaller ones too. I found them to be much more close knit, and they're the source for the majority of my closest friends in college.

Not bashing big clubs at all, just saying smaller ones can seem a bit friendlier, they'd certainly make a good starting point to meet new people...

STaN

College smoking culture I found is also a big thing, almost as big as drinking, maybe even bigger. (well it was in my college anyway)

After most lectures allot of the class would head off smoking. They would have their little groups and head off wherever and only invite the other smokers so in a sence chopping up the class group that way.

The rest of us just hung around chatting, but wouldn't see half of the others allot of the time. It was a bit annoying at times. But hey, not in college anymore