Also dry after January | These students are living (almost) alcohol-free
0.0 is no longer boring: the range of alcohol-free drinks has increased dramatically in recent years. But what is it like to go alcohol-free through a vibrant student life - where parties and beer are often the norm? Three students talk about their (almost) alcohol-free existence. “Sometimes I’m like the mom friend: the person who runs after drunk friends with a glass of water.”
Tessa Haumann (19), interdisciplinary social science
“I don’t live completely alcohol-free: a few times a year I have a drink at people’s houses. But never at get-togethers or parties. There are often many strangers there, so if I drink, I prefer to do it in a safe environment with acquaintances. I don’t need to drink when I go out. I get very energetic from being social with people, so being tipsy doesn’t add anything for me. At get-togethers or parties, there is often a moment late at night when students go from a tipsy to a drunken state. Then I usually leave, as we are no longer on the same wavelength.”
“Within the student culture, the goal with some is to really drink a lot and dance until four in the morning. At get-togethers, my goal is just to talk to people, and dance a little. Sometimes I’m like the mom friend: the person who runs after drunk friends with a glass of water. When we go out, my fellow students don’t think it’s weird if I don’t drink. Some of my friends don’t drink, either. With drinkers, I often jokingly think, ‘If you want to drink your brain cells away, go ahead.’ Other than that, I do understand that some people like to drink, that it relaxes them, so I have nothing against it.”
Sanaa Kashif (19), political science
“I don’t drink for religious reasons; I’m Muslim. I never really missed drinking. Also, in social situations, I don’t feel that I need alcohol to be sociable. I am the president of Musa, the student association for Islamic students in Amsterdam. During the activities we organize, such as movie nights and day trips, drinking is not necessary for enjoyment.”
“I grew up in Ireland, where there is a big drinking culture. If I don’t drink, people are sometimes shocked. In Amsterdam, no one looks at me funny if I drink Coke, so in that way, it’s a relief to be here. I don’t miss the alcohol. The only times I have ever thought that drinking would be nice was when I was emotional. But at those very moments, it was better not to drink so I could process my emotions without being under the influence.”
Elise Blad (21), actuarial sciences
“I have the occasional sip of alcohol from my parents, but other than that I don’t drink. I think the taste of most drinks is pretty gross. Other than that, I don’t feel the need to drink. Going out and partying is not really my thing either, and those are the places where liquor often flows abundantly. Because I’m never there, I don’t come into contact with it very often. Nor do I feel any social pressure to drink. Many people I hang out with don’t drink, either.”
“By the way, my sport also contributes to it: about six times a week I train for unicycling, in which I also won a world title. I also compete in world championships and want to keep getting faster and better. I can imagine that would be harder with a life schedule that involves drinking. I don’t think I’m the ‘typical student’. In my program, there may be a lot of people who don't like drinking or partying, and I can imagine I would feel more pressure to drink in another program where drinking was more standard among students. Incidentally, I have nothing against alcohol. If I ever get a craving for it, I’m open to it.”
