Credit: SWNS / Elysia Sanders
A student who gave up alcohol just weeks after freshers' says uni life is just as enjoyable sober - and she doesn't care if people call her "boring".
Elysia Sanders, 19, quit the booze in November last year after realising she didn't even like the taste - and 'hangxiety' was affecting her mental health.
The geography undergraduate returns to Durham University for her second year on Monday (25/9).
She says she's going to continue her sobriety - and have a good time doing it.
A student who gave up alcohol just weeks after freshers' says uni life is just as enjoyable sober - and she doesn't care if people call her "boring".
Elysia Sanders, 19, quit the booze in November last year after realising she didn't even like the taste - and 'hangxiety' was affecting her mental health.
The geography undergraduate returns to Durham University for her second year on Monday (25/9).
She says she's going to continue her sobriety - and have a good time doing it.
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LifestyleTranscript
00:00 that do hurt you or offend you.
00:01 Remember that they probably wish they could do a night out without having to drink.
00:05 Not drinking at university.
00:08 For some context, I'm just about to start my second year
00:10 and I haven't had anything to drink since November,
00:12 but I do still join in with nights out and university events.
00:15 This is how I've done it.
00:16 You will make friends, I promise you.
00:17 If the people that you're with can't respect the fact you're not drinking,
00:20 then they shouldn't be your friends anyway.
00:22 First thing is to just always be straight up with people.
00:24 Don't be offended if somebody offers you a drink
00:26 or tries to get you involved in a drinking game.
00:28 They're probably just trying to make friends with you,
00:30 but you do not need an excuse.
00:32 Just say, "I'm not drinking tonight."
00:34 Or if you don't drink full stop, just say, "I don't drink."
00:36 If you respond first with an excuse, people are going to try and push you on that.
00:39 If you just say you don't drink,
00:41 you might get a few questions asked about why you don't drink,
00:43 but people won't try and make you drink.
00:45 Second thing is that if you still want to go on nights out,
00:48 make sure you have enough energy.
00:49 When I started going out, my caffeine intake went way up.
00:52 Do not act like you are the sober friend.
00:54 Obviously, if it's a super close friend that you would be helping anyway, then yes,
00:57 but do not let yourself become the default person to clean up other people's messes.
01:01 Fourth thing is to hype yourself up.
01:03 Make sure you have a good praise playlist.
01:05 Look in the mirror and tell yourself that you look gorgeous before you go out.
01:08 That is my biggest takeaway from not drinking,
01:10 is to still have the confidence to go and talk to people,
01:12 dance like crazy, sing along to the music.
01:14 Remember that everybody else around you is not going to think that you are standing out.
01:19 Always have a drink in your hand, a Coke, a lemonade, whatever you like.
01:22 It means that you can still join in on things like drinking games.
01:25 It's easier to feel like part of the group in that situation.
01:28 Actually, one more bonus one.
01:29 If anybody does make any comments about you not drinking that do hurt you or offend you,
01:33 remember that they probably wish they could do a night out without having to drink.
01:37 [MUSIC]