10 Fun Alternatives To Alcohol & Drinking During Freshers' Week

Drinking isn't the only way to enjoy Freshers' Week.

Plenty of students skip it entirely, and more are doing so every year. If you're one of them, or just fancy a night off the alcohol, here are ten genuinely fun ways to make the most of it without a drink in hand.

1. Have a movie night

Grab your flatmates, pick a film everyone can agree on (harder than it sounds) and make an event of it with snacks and blankets. Cheap, easy, and a proper way to bond before the first lecture hits.

2. Check out university societies

Every uni has a society for basically everything — sports, gaming, debating, baking, you name it. Joining one early is one of the fastest ways to meet people who share your interests, no drinking required.

3. Go to a pub quiz

Just because you're not drinking doesn't mean you can't get involved in pub activities. It might even make you a bit sharper at the pub quiz if you're going sober. You can check out their alcohol-free beer, or just stick to the soft drinks, but most universities offer great alternatives to alcohol for students who don't drink.

Drinking or not, pub quizzes are a great way to bond with your new housemates, and even an opportunity to start a new tradition with your housemates. Most student unions will run regular pub quizzes but even more so during Freshers' week, so check out what's in store — and make sure you come up with a good team quiz name!

4. Try out new local restaurants or order takeaway

An absolute essential when you're at uni is scoping out the good restaurants and takeaway options for those days when cooking is not an option. Obviously you'll have your Student Beans food & drink discount codes in hand, so why not take advantage of the amazing deals you'll get - both online and in-store?

It's a low-key way to get to know the area, and a lot cheaper than a big night out — worth checking against your student budget either way.

5. Have a gaming night

Let's be real, nothing bonds people like a gaming session. Whether it's console games in the common room or board games round the kitchen table, gaming nights are an easy way to get competitive and social at the same time. No alcohol necessary, but it'll give you a good opportunity to find out what games everybody likes to play within your halls or house.

Find out how to upgrade your gaming setup to get ready for uni.

6. Check out events at Freshers' Fayres

During Freshers' week, one of the biggest events that your uni will put on is a Freshers' Fayre — sometimes they're on the first few days, but they can last the whole week. This is a great way to discover all the different societies, clubs, and events that the university is putting on during Freshers' week and beyond. Go early, grab everything free, and sign up for anything that looks interesting – you can always drop it later.

It's also another great way to make some new friends, especially if you see someone checking out a club or society that you'd like to join — an instant mutual interest!

7. Go sightseeing

If you've moved to a new town or city, finding your way around can be a little bit daunting, but Freshers' week is the perfect time to go exploring and find your bearings. Working out the best routes back from town and seeing what sites your new home has to offer is a great alternative to drinking this Freshers'.

8. Take a walk around campus

Depending on where your university is, you could have one big campus or lots spread out around the city. Sounds basic, but genuinely getting your bearings early – where your lecture halls are, where the good coffee is, etc – saves you a lot of stress in week two.

It'll really help you get to grips with your surroundings, and can be a fun activity to do with your new housemates too.

9. Have a Come Dine With Me dinner party

If you're trying to think of ways to bond with your new housemates without trashing your flat to pre-drinks, then why not host a 'come dine with me' style dinner party? It's pretty self-explanatory, but if you're not au fait with the absolute classic television show (in which case, you should be), each housemate takes it in turn to host a dinner party every night. It should include three courses AND entertainment if you're dedicated — perfect time to reveal your secret party tricks.

This can be a super fun way to break the ice when making friends, communally cringe at terrible cooking or basically nominate a house chef. You could even spread this out so that it's a night each week, in case it's hard to get everyone in one place every night of a week.

10. Go to clubs (or sober bars if you're looking for alcohol-free solutions)

You're not drinking — you're not boring. There's no rule that says you need to drink to have a good time in a club, so crack on with the nights out but stick to the soft drinks. There are so many alternatives to alcohol these days, so see if you can find your new favourite mocktail.

You might actually find that a sober night out is the way forward, as you can witness all the shenanigans without getting that hanxiety feeling the morning after. It might even help you avoid Freshers' flu as you'll be in better health than your housemates!

With more and more students avoiding booze these days, it's no surprise that sober bars, serving non-alcoholic drinks, are becoming more popular in the UK, so if there's a sober bar near you, why not suggest it for an alcohol-free night out?

So now you're ready to tackle Freshers' week with lots to do that doesn't involve drinking! Time to tick off your university checklist before making the move. Make sure you're signed up to Student Beans to take advantage of the best student discounts for your new adventure.

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