How to Stay Sober in College and Still Have Fun

College is a time when we are supposed to be learning, planning our careers, and making the best choices for our futures. It’s also a time when many are expected and even encouraged to let loose, party, and drink heavily. Heavy partying and drinking are so associated with university life that websites even maintain lists of the best party schools for prospective students to attend. Unfortunately, this heavy drinking lifestyle is harmful, effects study, and can be detrimental to student health.

One study found that 80% of college students drink and nearly 50% binge drink at least occasionally. This leads to addiction, emergency room visits, lowered grades, and poor study habits. As a result, over 599,000 students between the ages of 18 and 24 are injured while under the influence of alcohol, and as many as 1,825 students die from alcohol related causes including vehicle accidents.

If you are intent on studying and learning during your college years, or worse, recovering from a substance abuse disorder, the widely accepted abuse of alcohol on campus can be disheartening. However, while you won’t be able to participate in sorority life and you likely won’t be friends with the popular (and drunk) crowd, you can still get a lot of enjoyment out of college without ever touching a drop of alcohol.

Develop Hobbies

If you don’t have hobbies, you should develop them. Taking up positive activities like sports, yoga, walking, or running will allow you to keep your body healthy, will give you something to do so you’re not bored. If you’re recovering from a substance abuse problem, exercise will make you feel better and happier. Exercise floods the brain with endorphins, which boost your energy, improve your memory over the short term, and can help with fighting cravings. Just remember, most people don’t have much fun lifting weights over and over again. Pick something fun like yoga, dance, or martial arts that you can look forward to and enjoy.

Get Involved

Campuses are filled with things to do. From school choirs to chess clubs to book clubs to kayaking, there’s almost everything under the sun available at any large university. While not all of these clubs are open to everyone, you can apply and join almost anything. In some cases, your school will host entertainment runs where you’ll find yourself doing everything from going on a treasure hunt to participating in a hack-a-thon. Universities are well versed in entertaining people and they typically have dozens of things going on. You can check your campus website or ask around at the school to find out what options are available to you. Or, go on the college’s Facebook page to see if they have anything under events. University activities are fun, can be a great way to meet friends, and may even reflect positively on your grades.

Look Off Campus

Most student areas are packed with fun, low-budget things to do that don’t involve alcohol. Open mic nights, beat poetry, music classes, group tours, hikes, food sampling, local restaurants, and local live bands are usually everywhere around a university, all you have to do is find them.

Become a Better Conversationalist

Many people use alcohol as a crutch at parties. If you don’t know what to say, don’t know how to talk to people, or feel awkward in social settings, alcohol can help you to relax, loosen up, and talk to people. Alcohol is well known as a social lubricant, but you can develop social skills on your own with time and practice. Consider talking to new people on a daily base, create a reading list and read it so that you have things to talk about, read the news and keep up with local news so you can talk about those. If you have confidence issues, you can try practicicing, and you can check out a few books like “Daring Greatly” by Brene Brown, “The Charisma Myth” by Olivia Cabane, or “Overcoming Social Anxiety and Shyness” by Gillian Butler. There are plenty of books on getting over social anxiety and becoming a more confident speaker, and they may benefit you if you have trouble starting conversations on your own.

Don’t Make a Big Deal About It

No one will really care if you don’t drink, just don’t make a big deal about it. Make sure you have a non-alcoholic beverage in your hands at all times during parties to make deter people who might buy you alcohol, politely refuse when people offer you alcohol, and use personal excuses when you are asked why you aren’t drinking. Most people are perfectly fine with you not drinking, they just might be offended if they think you are being judgmental of drinkers. This can be difficult to avoid, so try using non-committal answers like “I can’t have it” when asked why you aren’t drinking if you want to avoid offending the people you’re spending time with. Why? Alcohol is viewed with a mixed sense of shame and guilt, especially in college where most drinkers know that it will affect their memory, cognitive thinking, and performance the next day. If you make your excuses about you and not about alcohol, you can enjoy parties with people drinking alcohol without alienating them.

Do Things

You won’t have fun if you don’t try and if you think that your only option at college other than going to a sorority party is to sit in your dorm and study, you’re setting yourself up for failure. Find out things you can do, go out and do them, make friends, and have fun. And, getting involved at campus can be rewarding in multiple ways. Not only will you make friends who, like yourself, are looking for entertainment options other than alcohol, you’ll be networking, building future connections, and creating meaningful experiences.
It’s important to remember that the party doesn’t have to end just because you aren’t drinking. Dancing, making drinks, enjoying food, listening to music, and socializing or talking with friends are just as enjoyable alcohol free.

No matter what your reason for avoiding alcohol at college, it’s still easy to have fun so that you can get the most out of your college experience. Good luck.

If you or your loved one is currently experiencing a problem with addiction to drugs or alcohol, don’t wait until it’s too late. Please Contact Beginnings Treatment Centers now to speak with one of our experienced intake advisors. There is no obligation or cost for the initial consultation, and quick action might save your life or that of your loved one.