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Is it possible to go to parties in college and not drink alcohol? Going to parties, bars, etc. looks really fun, but it also seems that there’s a huge stress on drinking… What do you guys think? Alcohol just looks and smells really nasty, in my point of view. Also, do most college kids drink or not?

By Pimpdaddy (Pimpdaddy) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 05:10 pm: Edit

yes, most college kids drink.
Can you party without drinking? absolutely.
I dont drink and and i partied every night my first week.

By Missegg (Missegg) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 07:17 pm: Edit

helpful hint: just hold a drink and no one will pressure you about drinking.

By Bee (Bee) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 07:28 pm: Edit

Depends which college you go to and the friends you make....

By Megofou (Megofou) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 08:11 pm: Edit

You can also make a game out of it. If it's a frat party, chances are everyone's drunk. Take the beers random people shove in your hands and water the grass...or drunk people's shoes. :-) (Not that I would EVER do such a thing.)

By Awesome (Awesome) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 09:34 pm: Edit

Hahaha. I might just do that. I just really, really don't want to have to separate myself from those who drink. I guess I'll find out soon. For those of you who moved in already, how long did it take for the parties to start? And did people form groups of friends yet?

By Candi1657 (Candi1657) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

"For those of you who moved in already, how long did it take for the parties to start?"

Same day.

"And did people form groups of friends yet?"

Not "true" friends. Most people hang out with their suitemates or people they've known before setting foot on campus.

By Geniusash (Geniusash) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 09:48 pm: Edit

The parties started right away. You don't have to drink, no one will tell. Or, tell people you have a medical condition, like hypoglycemia.

By Nj777 (Nj777) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:12 pm: Edit

You can but its extremely extremely hard( from my personal expereince).Its even harder if you r a hot girl since evryone wants u to get drunk. Going to a party but not drinking basically means standing in the corner with the "losers" sign on top while u watch people have fun. I would much rather not goto a party than go and not drink.

By Fenix_Three (Fenix_Three) on Thursday, September 16, 2004 - 10:42 pm: Edit

I'm not a bad looking girl.. and i don't drink.. and i've been to parties... so ya, it's possible.

By Lyoha45 (Lyoha45) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:00 am: Edit

no parties here...
expect frats - 5 bux to get in and drink

By Buddnutz (Buddnutz) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:09 am: Edit

Its possible, but parties are fun when you drink. Any fraternity that charges to get in to a party sucks, we have free keggers twice a month...

By Megofou (Megofou) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:14 am: Edit

I was in fact drinking at the frat party I went to. But I guarentee...it would take very little to fool those people into thinking you're drunk. Just introduce yourself eight times to the same person and they'll assume you're gone.

Or don't listen to me. I like messing with drunk people. It's funny. They believe anything.

By Awesome (Awesome) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:42 am: Edit

Nj777,

Can't I have fun while not being drunk? Why does being drunk make the experience better? I'd like to get your opinion.

Just wondering, do you guys drink or not drink at parties, and how do you think it affects your experience?

By Xenowang (Xenowang) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 12:54 am: Edit

Drinking most certainly can loosen up your overall demeanor and enhance your experience. If you're like me, who's pretty self-conscious and finds it a little hard to socialize with strangers and whatnot, downing a few drinks always helps ease things.

By Idiias (Idiias) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 01:09 am: Edit

Yeah Awesome, it's something you should think about just experiencing so you can know what its really like. It doesnt have to be gross. you can mix vodka with coke or something. but you should note, never take a drunk person seriously if they're being stupid...

By Serenityslayer (Serenityslayer) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 07:38 am: Edit

You can go and not drink. But check your schools policies first. Some schools will kick you from your major if you are even caught around drinking/drugs. Even if you weren't drinking. Especially Education majors and some Pre-Law majors.

By 3togo (3togo) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 02:11 pm: Edit

When I started college I tried to drink for about 3 months "to fit in" and then decided that was stupid since I did not like to drink. From then on ... host: "Would you like a drink" ... me: "Sure, I'll have a coke". 90% of people were just fine with that and if the other 10% wouldn't respect me choice I didn't wqnt to know them anyways.

By Caramelkisses06 (Caramelkisses06) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 02:28 pm: Edit

You can definitely go to parties and not drink ... at my school I've found that people actually seem to repect me MORE once they know that I don't drink. As long as it's an actual party, with music and dancing, and not just a "let's all sit and get drunk" party, then it's very possible to have a great time. The only serious issues might arise when all of your friends (literally) are drinking, and you end up feeling like you're responsible for taking care of them. But honestly, there's usually at least one other person who's sober enough to help out dealing with the falling down drunk people.

As for when the parties start ... here, they started the first night, and there's been PLENTY going on every nite since. Looks like everyone's tryin to get their jollies before classes start.

And as for forming groups of friends ... no one really seems to be real "friends," but there are definitely groups of people who chill together the majority of the time and will eventually seriously become friends.

Just my experience.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 03:35 pm: Edit

Awesome, don't worry about not drinking. The *intelligent* people there will respect you for not being afraid to do your own thing. I agree wholeheartedly with Caramelkisses06. Drinking doesn't enhance *my* experience (I can only speak for myself), and drinking too much (or even one tiny strong drink) can make you sick the next day. I don't condone underage drinking (I was in England at the time of my alcohol consumption, so it doesn't count), but if/when you are 21, try Bacardi Orange or Mike's Hard Lemonade-- they're yummy. Stay away from the Long Island Iced Teas-- you cannot taste the alcohol and they're really strong. Anyway, I don't drink (in the US) and my social life has never suffered because of it. Besides, I think it's a very attractive quality for a guy not to drink-- it shows that he doesn't blindly follow the crowd for the sake of "fitting in". Nj777--you give hot girls like me a bad name

By Awesome (Awesome) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 09:37 pm: Edit

Hey that sounds good! I'm sure I can have fun without being drunk, and I thank those who talked about their experiences. Thanks!

By Marcyr (Marcyr) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 10:58 pm: Edit

Awesome, DD is a junior and doesn't drink - never did. She has tasted various drinks, but frankly just doesn't like the taste of alcohol. No one has ever pressured her to drink, and she now actually has several guys in her theater group who don't drink with her. She says the best part about being sober when everyone around you is drunk is that you get to write down all the really stupid things that they say, then read them back to everyone later. Drinking is not a necessary requirement for having a good time unless you make it one.

By Awesome (Awesome) on Friday, September 17, 2004 - 11:55 pm: Edit

Haha, yeah, people can be pretty stupid when they're drunk. I think that's the point.

By the way, I'm a male, if that means anything.

By Awesome (Awesome) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 01:40 am: Edit

Oh, do you think there's a risk of getting STDs and stuff from parties? The chances are probably pretty low, but getting an STD would really suck. What do you guys think?

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 03:23 am: Edit

Unless you're attending an orgy I wouldn't worry about it. You've taken sex-ed right? Don't share drinks, don't screw around and you'll be fine . And I definitely agree with you-- getting an std would really suck. LOL. That just struck me as funny for some reason.

Another thought I had on the drinking issue-- a lot of people drink to lose inhibitions and get their nerve up to do things they otherwise wouldn't do. Personally, I'm more proud of myself when I can bravely talk to a random guy, dance spectacularly badly, and act like an idiot without the aid of alcohol. (Besides, everyone else is drunk so they won't remember anyway, right?).

By Fendergirl (Fendergirl) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 09:47 am: Edit

i was just at my best friends party last night and i didn't have a drink. a lot of my friends were like "hey you want us to mix you a drink" but i said no and they didn't care. ordinarily i probably would have had one but i had taken medicine (i've been sick) and it's not good to mix medicine with alcohol (i am 21 by the way)

By Vladimir2004 (Vladimir2004) on Saturday, September 18, 2004 - 05:02 pm: Edit

I don't know why Americans make a big deal of drinking. (I'm Russian) Well, I'm guessing because there is much propaganda against it, and it;s like a forbidden fruit, so when it gets accessible you guys are like kids in a candy shop. Drinking is very natural, if you want to do it, you do, if you don't, you don't. In my culture, if you are a HEALTHY man, then it's a show of respect to your friends if you drink with them. If you are a lady, it's considered unethical and uncivilized to "get drunk", whereas a few beers and glasses of wine are definitely acceptable.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 02:05 am: Edit

I think Europeans are much more sensible in their treatment of alcohol (as well as other issues). It's very interesting to hear another perspective on it . I like that it's "unethical and uncivilized to 'get drunk" for ladies, but I want to see that extended to gentlemen as well. There's nothing more unappealing than a drunk guy-- unless it's a drunk guy surrounded by other drunk guys. (Sigh) I miss Europe

By Nj777 (Nj777) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 04:06 pm: Edit

"Nj777--you give hot girls like me a bad name"

I only speak from personal experience. At my school girls get in free at parties while guys are always charged. A girl can be 15 or 22 but she will be offered unlimited drinks while underage guys basically spends the entire time looking for that lone can of beer. Man those frat guys make me so sick!

Joke- A guy comes upto a hot girl at a frat party and asks her how many drinks she has had? She says "one". The guy replies " Ok i will come back later then"

By Hoo_29 (Hoo_29) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 04:21 pm: Edit

Om, drinking is the best part of the party. There would be no party without drinking. As long as you don't drive or have like 30 shots, getting drunk is OK. It's not like you are hurting anyone. I don't drink more than 7 drinks or so when I go out(which is like 11-3). I just spread it out and go home in a taxi(it's more like a giant van of drunk kids). Om, I do recommend that you take at least 2-3 drinks to enjoy it more. In Athens, it can be really overwhelming without having a few drinks. That is the way I look at it. Also, I don't understand people who drink to puke later on. That just isn't fun to me.

Maybe start off slow with a beer or two, or maybe at a bar get a screwdriver(OJ and rum)...I think.

By Anglophile (Anglophile) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 05:52 pm: Edit

Nj777, great joke Wait-- it is a joke right? Not an anecdote from personal experience? I think I'll stay far away from those frat parties!

By Irchik13 (Irchik13) on Sunday, September 19, 2004 - 09:23 pm: Edit

vladimir, maybe that's why so many of our men are alcoholics (I'm Russian too). Also, it's considered uncivilized if girls get too drunk? Really? Didn't notice that the last time I partied in Russia.