And face it - if you want to talk overall culture, the USA has a drinking culture ... your kids will enter the workforce and be invited to happy hours with colleagues. There will be champagne toasts for achievements, etc. Not drinking is a legitimate choice but one that does require dedication throughout adulthood.

There are so many things to do at UVA and it is very easy to avoid the frats - they are all at one end of the campus. There are many restaurants around Ch'ville and not everyone drinks - lots of little dumpling places and such that are basically for food. There is an entire close section of the town that is not student bar/hangout area. There is a facility in the middle of campus donated with help of the Parent Committee that is a hang out place without alcohol. This is a lot better than a smaller school in the middle of nowhere where there is often not much else to do ...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No one is pouring alcohol down your throat. It is always a choice.

It's always a choice, but for an 18-year old, choices are blurred by expectations, norms, and acceptance.

Let's be real. The drinking culture at UVA is a BFD. You really have to be be rooted and stolid to not fall into it. Is it possible, exceedingly yes. But from my experience, many who started out as non-drinkers and teetotalers ended up succumbing to the drink.

Only on Greek row. That's only 26% of the students. No one can force you to drink

You can easily find your crowd of teetotaling nerds at UVA.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Teach him how to fake drinking.

Also he should know how to make himself throw up before he goes.

What’s fake drinking?

It's like not inhaling.

Anonymous wrote:Teach him how to fake drinking.

Also he should know how to make himself throw up before he goes.

What’s fake drinking?

Anonymous wrote:No one is pouring alcohol down your throat. It is always a choice.

It's always a choice, but for an 18-year old, choices are blurred by expectations, norms, and acceptance.

Let's be real. The drinking culture at UVA is a BFD. You really have to be be rooted and stolid to not fall into it. Is it possible, exceedingly yes. But from my experience, many who started out as non-drinkers and teetotalers ended up succumbing to the drink.

Another thing, I am sure your child has seen/been around drinking in high school. How has he avoided that culture so far? It is no different in college. Actually, I would say there is less peer pressure in college.

Teach him how to fake drinking.

Also he should know how to make himself throw up before he goes.

No one is pouring alcohol down your throat. It is always a choice.

Every single school has a drinking culture. Anyone who thinks otherwise lives under a rock.

If your son doesn't want to partake there is plenty to get involved with, tell him not to worry about that.

Have him look up clubs he might want to get involved with.

Oh and congrats! While DD will have a delayed graduation, she says it has been the best four years of her life.

The answer is the same for every college. Every institution has a drinking culture. If your son is inclined to use his four years at college to drink and party, then he will do it anywhere. I have a fourth-year UVA daughter. She entered not being a big partier or drinker and that’s how she structured her social network for all four years. There are over 600 clubs at UVA. During the week of orientation the clubs have displays and members available to welcome the new students. A cappella singing groups are very big on campus. There are lots of de bating societies, religious groups and political groups. My DD tried out rowing and the student newspaper. Sure there is drinking but DD’s experience is that is pretty much confined to frat row, which is off campus. She entered UVA with no intention of participating in Greek life. The frat drinking culture sometimes spills over to The Corner on Fridays but she and her friends just go to a different restaurant in Charlottesville. You can go your entire four years at UVA without drinking a drop. The choice is up to your son.

I suggest you read online reviews, like at UNIGO.

You can compare the survey responses for UVA vs other schools. And descriptions of the greek culture

Unsure what you want people to say though, since he committed already. The time to research this was before

My son is committed to UVA but has expressed concern to us about the drinking culture. He is a very social kid but apparently he is hearing a lot of stories about binge drinking, in particular as it relates to fraternities, and I think it is starting to make him nervous. I realize this is a very common issue at lots of colleges but if anyone could talk about their kid's experience at UVA, I would appreciate it. In particular, is there a lot of drinking-related hazing? Are there particular fraternities to avoid or are better about this? He's also hearing that pretty much everyone has a fake ID - is this true or typical teen exaggeration? Any tips, suggestions or advice on this subject would be very much appreciated.