Social Life
University Drinking Tips
The social culture at University is a big part of the University experience. You go out, make friends, make memories, have fun. However, you should never feel pressured to do anything you don't want to. Be safe, be sensible and look after one another.
Important tips.
Downing drinks - You don't have to but basically every drinking game involves the potential of downing a drink. So, practice. Start with water and develop that talent with something that fizzes. A trick that works for some is doing a half breath so you can feel the back of your throat widen, then down the drink. With shots, blowing out, then shot, then instantly blowing out can help stop the harsh feeling. Remember, you are never expected to drink or do something you don't want to.
Pre-drink - You are a broke uni student now. Of course, go out and drink in clubs and pubs, but a few shop-bought drinks before you leave helps lessen the pain of seeing how much you spent that night. However, don't turn up too drunk or you won't be allowed in places.
Learn your limit - Whilst you may want to win the 'Chunder Chart', you don't want to be that mate who ends up too drunk and needs looking after, or passes out and misses out on a great night. So, learn what works for you. Eating lots before does help (carbohydrates are best, bread, pasta).
Fresher's Pass tickets- Be careful with what tickets you buy as they are advertised everywhere on all platforms and there are lots of fakes. To be safe, look on your SU website for events like the fresher's balls etc, or proper websites like Fatsoma and Skiddle for other events. Look on the specific club websites to see their club events. If you don't get tickets there is so much happening around halls and in the town/city that you will have something to go to.
Sports
Every Uni will have a society for pretty much every sport.
A great social life and way to make friends.
Most have a joining payment.
Most have trails and a give it a go session to place you in the right team.
You can join just for the socials and not do any sport, or just for the sport and not go to socials.
Some have initiations. They are an experience to laugh about and good fun.
Wednesday is usually when matches and socials happen.
Societies
Whatever You Are Into, There Is A Society For You
How to find societies
Check your university home page. You will be able to view and apply through your uni site. They can be hard to navigate but they will be on there.
Go to the Freshers Fair - usually after freshers or during freshers week.
If you're struggling, google your University's societies (Nottingham Uni societies).
When you know what you want to join, find your Uni's specific society Facebook group and join it (Leeds University Hockey Society).
A lot of societies will communicate with you via Facebook. They post the timings for tryouts, open evenings, training, socials etc on it.
Payment
Most societies will have a small year payment. This is to help fund socials/parties, training, merch, and matches.
How many societies to join
3 societies is probably the most your want to join.
Uni is fun but can be busy. Joining too many societies will get overwhelming with a lack of time and having little rest.
Societies will have set nights of the week for training, meeting up, socials etc. Work out the days and timings of the societies before joining as they could clash.
Put yourself fully into one or two societies and get the most out of it other than partially into lots.
University Officer Training Core
What is it?
You may not see it on the list of your Uni's societies but there will be one. Just google your Uni's name then UOTC. (Cardiff UOTC).
A mix of army training, drinking, socialising, and getting paid.
Run by the British Army to give you an insight into military life and skills, with a mix of Uni social life.
You get paid about 10.50 per 2hrs. Doesn't sound huge, but you are getting paid when your drinking at the UOTC bar, at balls, UOTC events, or summer camps. The easiest way to make money at uni.
Cheapest bar in your area
No matter what uni, your UOTC bar will be the cheapest around you. They subsidise all the drinks. (1.50 Pint on avg).
Extra Benefits
Adventure Training - You can do anything you want (sailing in Greece) and the army will not only subsidise it hugely but also pay you whilst you're doing it. They put on ski trips, mountain biking expeditions, snorkeling .etc.
UOTC Camps - Each year your UOTC will take you on camps and trips. Some are weekend training where you develop skills...and socialise. They will also have big camps, a couple of weeks home or abroad (like Germany) where you do army stuff and also have big social events. You get paid all the time you're there.
Themed Nights
Spice Up Your Normal Drinking Night
Flat Golf
How it works
All dress up as golfers or other fancy dress.
Everyone takes turns to host in their room. Go around each bedroom until all have been visited, your being sick or passed out.
At each location/room, the host must provide a drink for all players.
Everyone must down the given drink with as few sips as possible. Sips are classed as stopping downing the drink and then carrying on. The more sips, the more points - points are bad. The person with the most sip points at the end loses and has a forfeit.
You can create more rules if you wish.
Best if each host does a different drink and theme/decoration for their room (beach). Can also do a game for after or whilst people down the drinks.
Beer Olympics
The more flats/groups involved the better.
Each flat must dress up in a theme (police, nuns etc) and have plenty of alcohol ready.
The aim is to play drinking games, drink lots, and get drunk.
Create a series of games that all flats/teams can do.
Game Examples
Boat Race - Teams stand in a line and one by one down your drink. Team to finish first wins and losing team all do a forfeit.
Flip Cup - All teams in lines next to a table. Take turns (like the boat race) to chug your drink then place the cup on the table and flip it until the cup is face down. Then the next team member does the same until a team wins.
flat v flat beer pong
Shot relay race - Players must have a shot before they run but must keep the shot contents (vodka, gin etc) in their mouth until they reach their team member. Then the player can swallow the shot. Players do this until one team wins.
Egg Dodgeball - Play dodgeball using eggs. Losing team members must down a drink.
Fancy Dress
First letter of your name- (G = Golfer)
Your future job
Disney/Childhood TV/Movies
Decades (80s) - Good for large groups (flats)
Neon - Bright clothes, neon paint, glow sticks etc.
Wild West - Cowboys and Indians
Anything but clothes - Create your outfit with plastic bags, cardboard, tin foil, etc.
Beach
Girls and Boys Swap Clothes
Gatsby/Casino - Dress up glamorous, get in extravagant clothing, suits, and dresses. If you need ideas, search up The Great Gatsby.
Countries of the world - (Mexican, Irish).
Halloween
Don't be scared of going all out at Halloween. Everyone loves a funny costume. Even better if you can get a group theme (Teletubbies etc).
Always wear a costume. Don't just wear your normal clothes. At all the parties everyone wears costumes, even if it's just a ripped top or bunny ears.
Essential Party Items
Decorations
Go to your local shop and buy decorations - they help change your normal living area/kitchen into a fun environment.
Use old beer crates - cut them up and stick them on the wall. A fully covered wall makes a great photo background.
If you have tiled walls, draw on them using whiteboard pens. It then can rub off so you won't get charged. No promises that the maintenance staff won't tell you off. But it's worth the risk.
Flat Charts - Put your flat charts on the walls to help fill the blank spaces.
Speaker
The most important aspect is the music.
The more people, the louder the room is. Therefore you need a powerful speaker to keep above the talking.
Create a group playlist on Spotify, Soundcloud, etc.
Lighting
Drinking with the lights on is not a vibe, neither with all the lights off in complete darkness.
Buy LED Lighting - LED Disco Balls - LED strips etc.
Drinking Games
Common games
Ring of fire
Get a full pack of playing cards.
Place cards in a circle around a pint glass.
Take turns to pick up a card - if the circle around the cup is broken then you must drink the center cup.
Each playing card has a different rule - Google the rules or make them up for each card.
Beer Pong
6 Cups on either side of a table + 1 ping pong ball.
Fill all cups with alcohol - better with shots inside.
2 teams - take turns to throw the ball in the other team's cups - if you get it in, the other team must drink that cup.
Drunk Jenga
Buy a normal Jenga and on each block write rules, dares, and forfeits.
Flip Cup
Everyone around a table
Place 2 cups on either side of the table. Flip the cups till they land face down, then pass to the person on the left.
Keep going till one cup catches up with the next. The cup that gets caught up with must down a drink.
King's Cup
Place a pint glass in the middle.
Take turns to roll a dice - Before a person rolls, they must pour some of their drink into the King's cup.
Roll a 1 = next person's go. Roll a 2 = pour more drink in. Roll a 3 = Down the King's Cup. Roll a 4 = pour more in + Dare.
Shit stirring games
Piccalo
Downloadable game - various drinking games within, some free, some paid for.
Paranoia
Ask the person next to you a question (who do you want to kick out the flat).
They must then point at the person they decide.
Four people must then drink to find out the question asked.
Truth or drink
Ask a truth or dare to a person. If they refuse they must down drink or shot.
Never have I ever
Take turns to say never have I ever...done something.
Example - never have I ever fancied a flatmate.
Anyone playing who has fancied a flatmate must drink.
Student Union
Your SU will be one of the best nights out you will get, especially during Freshers.
Cheaper drinks and entry + generally all Uni students.
Get tickets to SU events on your SU website or at the door.
Bring your student ID.
Pre-Drinking
Definitely pre-drink to get on a good level but don't overdo it or you won't be allowed in.
Drinks in the clubs are more expensive. So if you're low on money, pre-drinking before helps save money.
Some clubs have certain nights (Pryzm Mondays = Quids In) where they do deals like cheaper drinks and entry.
Bring a plastic bottle filled with more of what you are drinking so you don't sober up in the long queues.
Clubbing
Nightclubs
Easy google to find which clubs you have around.
Buy entry tickets online before you go. It is the same price or cheaper than at the door.
Some nightclubs won't let you in unless you have already bought a ticket because of Covid or a lack of space if it is a popular club.
Look for places like Revolution and live lounge, where bars turn into clubs at a certain time.
Getting Into The Club Tips
Do not get too drunk - bouncers enjoy turning people away, so don't give them an easy reason. Yes, you can drink before but unless you can act sober, then control how much you drink before.
Boys, it can be harder for you to get into clubs. Going in with girls can help. Chances are if you are in a group just of boys, a few of you will be told you're 'too drunk' and you'll have to queue again.
If you're told you can't go in. DO NOT ARGUE. Just queue again and they will most likely let you in.
Clothing
Dress nice - some clubs have rules like no sportswear, no tracksuits, no shoes with bubbles. Google the club's rules before you go.
Never wear a jumper. Yes, the queue gets cold but you will boil inside the club with a jumper, or lose it.