DS off to university soon but doesn't drink alcohol - yet!!! HELP!

[rainbowstardrops]

Just as the title says really.
DS is off to university very soon but doesn't drink alcohol. It's just never interested him.
He only ever drinks water, black currant juice ie Ribena etc, milk or milkshakes

He's really conscious of the partying side of uni and although he's pretty sociable, he's worried about looking like a numpty while everyone else is getting wasted having a good time.

His friend suggested dark berry cider as it's supposedly 'like drinking Ribena' and so we bought him some yesterday to try before he gets there. Except that I forgot to tell him it was fizzy and he doesn't drink fizzy drinks either! (Trust me, he's not fussy about anything else, just what he drinks!) Although he is an odd boy as he never liked sweets either. He could eat his body weight in chocolate though
It all stems from him not tolerating fruit as a toddler and I think it put him off anything 'fruity' (except black currant obviously).

So my question is, can anyone suggest anything that he might quite like to drink?

I suggested he just be himself and say he doesn't like drinking but he's worried he's going to feel left out etc.

Please help!!!

I really like the following that aren’t fizzy:
Tia Maria & orange juice
Gin & orange juice
Vodka & orange juice
Disaranno & cranberry juice (a big favourite of mine)
Malibu & pineapple juice (another big favourite)
Kahlua & milk

I love sweet drinks though xxx

Don't worry op .. dd started college last year and still went out having great crazy nights out with her friends and there was a few in that group who didn't drink at all. They were just as cool trust me! She's in a huge group of friends a mix of people who drink lots and don't drink at all

Now I come to think about it, when I was a student I had the occasional gin & orange - that was it alcohol wise. I don't recall having a hangover once in all the time I was at uni.

Hi @rainbowstardrops. I work at a university and I'm at the new student welcome event right now

The students union organises both alcoholic and non alcoholic events and the non alcoholic events sell out faster.

As others have said plenty of students don't drink.

That's really useful to know Doris. Thank you

Oh God, I remember the people who'd clearly never been on a night out before they started university and then started belatedly at 18. Awful. A danger to themselves and others.

My son's been at university for two whole weeks now. He never drank much because he didn't like the taste but now takes meds that make him feel sick if he drinks. He isn't having a problem with anyone's atittudes.

In fact, verbatim text conversation last night:

DS: We went to [name of bar]

Me: At least it will have been cheap if you're still on water. Or have you branched out into soft drinks now?

DS: I tried a J20. It was vile and I went back to water afterwards.

Me: Bottle or tap?

DS: Tap. Do you think I'm made of money?

If your son is old enough and mature enough to go to university, he should be able to cope just fine with not drinking alcohol. He might start drinking and he might not, but it won't be a problem if he doesn't drink. Also, DS is very sociable and has made a lot of friends already, so your son is unlikely to be a social outcast because of not drinking.

I don't drink. Never made me feel left out particularly. I used to quite enjoy taking the piss out of their hangovers. Good night was it? How much did that headache cost you? Mugs game mate!

They still love me and being the sober one can be hilarious.

ridiculous question.
let him find his own style op.

@BurningTheToast that is the exact sort of conversation that I would expect from DS up until now

although a friend's son also didnt drink and she was worried, like you, about him.
He gave up uni, but not on the basis of not drinking. i dont think.

teach him confidence op. what will be will be.

Rainbow, show him what I wrote and reassure him that no-one will care that he doesn't drink. At the beginning everyone is trying to make friends and by the time their social groups settle down, people will know him well enough not to see him as unusual for not drinking.

Thank you Burning

Ds2 only drinks milk, water or tea. He’s nearly 17.

His friends sometimes gently rib him, but that’s usually if they pop into the shop and all his mates are drinking coke and he’s bought a pint of milk!

Though he normally just refills his water bottle as it’s cheap and healthy.

Though if I make a herbal tea like lemon balm, he’ll drink that.

He says he doesn’t like the taste of alcohol. And that’s fine. He knows his own mind.

rainbowstardrops I've just shown this to my DC who is the same PLUS is delighted to read that someone else is the same with fruit!

Bacere glad my boy isn't the only one!!!!

I've just spoken to him about this thread and explained that there'll be plenty of others that won't be drinking and that it's fine and to be confident with his choices. We had a long chat.

He replied that he wants to drink sometimes when he feels like it. Especially on a night out. He told me everything he knows I want to hear

I can't really do more than that. Pah

My ds has several friends that don't drink - they're all massively into fitness.

I think young adults are a bit cooler than we were and have courage of their convictions.

I was very much a sheep when I went to uni - drinking, smoking and thinking I had to do both to be cool. My ds thinks anyone that smokes is an idiot!