Anonymous
11/02/2025 07:38
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Why do colleges allow this so openly?
Anonymous
11/02/2025 07:27
Subject: Re:How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
The Mormons
Anonymous
11/02/2025 07:26
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:My college sophmore rarely drinks. She has been to some parties where she will sip a cocktail or two but that's about it. She does clubs where she makes friendships that don't involve drinking -- when those clubs have parties, there is often alcohol, but it's not a big deal that she isn't consuming or is barely consuming.
She also likes in a dorm that hosts a lot of events themselves that do not involve alcohol -- trivia night, movie night, game night, cookie tasting, etc. So that helps as well, although she hasnt' really made as many friends through her dorm as we had both thought she would.
I also have a nephew who is a sophomore and doesn't drink and is at a huge party school. He ended up joining group for our religion at his school and has found a group of people that are not teetotalers, but aren't big drinkers and don't care that he doesn't drink at all. They do a lot of outdoor events and service projects and just generally hang out.
I have a HS kid that doesn't drink at all -- he and his friends play video games and watch movies and go bike riding and things like that. It does make looking at colleges a little tricky, as you want someplace that has a diversity of social experiences.
+10
Anonymous
11/02/2025 07:25
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:My DS (current senior) is really hoping to avoid a school where drinking is the only social outlet. What school, OP?
+1. Disappointed that the BARS seem to be a major focus at UMD. 😢😢
Anonymous
11/01/2025 23:14
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Ask your son if there’s a substance free dorm / housing and see if they have activities he could attend. My kid lives in a sub-free special interest house, they’re putting on a big Halloween party tonight and serving pumpkin spice lattes. They play a lot of board games, karaoke, etc and have a great time. Club or intramural sports is also a good way to find kids with common interests, too.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 21:12
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
My college sophmore rarely drinks. She has been to some parties where she will sip a cocktail or two but that's about it. She does clubs where she makes friendships that don't involve drinking -- when those clubs have parties, there is often alcohol, but it's not a big deal that she isn't consuming or is barely consuming.
She also likes in a dorm that hosts a lot of events themselves that do not involve alcohol -- trivia night, movie night, game night, cookie tasting, etc. So that helps as well, although she hasnt' really made as many friends through her dorm as we had both thought she would.
I also have a nephew who is a sophomore and doesn't drink and is at a huge party school. He ended up joining group for our religion at his school and has found a group of people that are not teetotalers, but aren't big drinkers and don't care that he doesn't drink at all. They do a lot of outdoor events and service projects and just generally hang out.
I have a HS kid that doesn't drink at all -- he and his friends play video games and watch movies and go bike riding and things like that. It does make looking at colleges a little tricky, as you want someplace that has a diversity of social experiences.
She also likes in a dorm that hosts a lot of events themselves that do not involve alcohol -- trivia night, movie night, game night, cookie tasting, etc. So that helps as well, although she hasnt' really made as many friends through her dorm as we had both thought she would.
I also have a nephew who is a sophomore and doesn't drink and is at a huge party school. He ended up joining group for our religion at his school and has found a group of people that are not teetotalers, but aren't big drinkers and don't care that he doesn't drink at all. They do a lot of outdoor events and service projects and just generally hang out.
I have a HS kid that doesn't drink at all -- he and his friends play video games and watch movies and go bike riding and things like that. It does make looking at colleges a little tricky, as you want someplace that has a diversity of social experiences.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 21:01
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:My kid’s school purposely had activities every Friday night that were fun (like paintball) for those who wanted an alternative to social events that focused mostly on alcohol. My daughter wanted that.
All schools should do that , since must college kids are below legal drinking age.
+1000
This should be done everywhere.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 20:35
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
My kid’s school purposely had activities every Friday night that were fun (like paintball) for those who wanted an alternative to social events that focused mostly on alcohol. My daughter wanted that.
All schools should do that , since must college kids are below legal drinking age.
All schools should do that , since must college kids are below legal drinking age.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 18:24
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Board Games. We would stay up until 2 AM playing Catan and Risk.
My kid and his friends workout, club sport, pick up basketball and lots of late night poker games.
He did not have any big Greek or big football drinking schools on his list.
My kid would hang out w your kid !
Love! Wish they could. He’s always had such a great group of friends. And he is big into Risk Europe and Catan too
Anonymous
11/01/2025 17:51
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
gaming, volunteering and similar clubs
my DS is in the same boat.
my DS is in the same boat.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 17:44
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Clubs.
Anonymous
11/01/2025 17:17
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Board Games. We would stay up until 2 AM playing Catan and Risk.
My kid and his friends workout, club sport, pick up basketball and lots of late night poker games.
He did not have any big Greek or big football drinking schools on his list.
My kid would hang out w your kid !
Anonymous
11/01/2025 13:55
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:You still attend the drinking events
You stand and sip. Sip whatever, non alcoholic if you want. No one cares.
Be social
+1 My kid is very social and still doesn’t drink. He’s usually designated driver for college friends in the summer.
We had two teen drunk driving deaths at our high school recently. Thank goodness for the safe drivers!
Anonymous
11/01/2025 13:53
Subject: How to make friends who aren’t into drinking?
Anonymous wrote:Alcohol culture is pervasive in our country. Pps are not concerned whatsoever about minors drinking/being drunk/not fitting in due to not drinking. It's sad, really, and sets these kids up for a lifetime of alcohol dependence for social and professional life.
Kids in the HS/college demographic are drinking significantly less than prior generations. My 17 and 20 year old don’t drink. Older one is an athlete and health obsessed. Even in Europe now where he could legally drink - still doesn’t.