Is Gen Z Cancelling Uni Drinking Culture?

Is Gen Z cancelling Uni drinking culture? 

By Abi Hall

As a first-year student, I’m proud to say that my flat doesn’t have a “chunder chart,” and more importantly, I’ve yet to “chunder” myself. Sure, I still enjoy the occasional feral night out, but I’ve realised that the whole university drinking culture isn’t really my scene anymore. I’m not alone in this shift, either. While the “right of passage” of university drinking hasn’t disappeared entirely, it’s definitely evolving.

Let me take you back to Freshers' Week. For most students, it’s a time of freedom—no parents, no curfews, and a packed schedule of parties, clubs, and pub crawls. But looking back, I think I may have been wearing rose tinted glasses.  In those first few days, I was out every night, convinced I was having “the time of my life”. But looking back, I’m not so sure.

I made drunken declarations of love to my so-called “best friends” (none of which have lasted, by the way), and woke up each morning feeling more disorientated and lonelier than ever. Was that really fun? Or was it just what society had told me was fun? It didn’t take long for the glasses I was so proudly wearing to become foggy.  

The biggest thing I hate after a night out is the feeling the next morning. And I'm not talking to you about hangxiety. Hanglazyness as I will coin it. Waking up the next afternoon, scrolling mindlessly through my phone, seeing random photos of people I barely know but none of the ones who matter. Realising I’d wasted half my day because I was too tired and too hungover to do anything productive. Looking at my bank account and seeing I’d spent most of my week’s budget buying rounds of Jager bombs for people who were never really my friends in the first place. And let’s not even talk about the skincare routine I ruined by falling into bed without even thinking twice about it. That’s not fun to me. In fact, it made me feel sad, homesick, and disconnected. Sure, we all need a break and some mindless TikTok scrolling, but doing it all day after a night out left me feeling emptier, not recharged. It wasn’t just the hangovers—it was the realization that maybe the whole drinking culture just wasn’t for me anymore.

Luckily, I’m not alone. There’s a noticeable shift happening in university drinking culture. It’s not like everyone’s suddenly sworn off alcohol, but the pressure to go out every night and drink to excess is definitely fading. There are more options than ever for non-drinkers, or those who enjoy the occasional drink but also need their routine the next day.

At my university, Sheffield, there are social events like pottery classes or hiking trips, offering students the chance to bond without ever touching a drop of alcohol. These alternative activities are becoming more popular, and they’re a great way to meet people and form connections without the need for drunken nights out. It’s refreshing, and it feels more real. 

This shift is reflected in the numbers too. According to research from Plymouth Marjin University, drinking among 16-24 year olds has dropped by 12%, and that trend is expected to continue. As students, we’re starting to realize we don’t need to drink to make memories or form meaningful friendships.

Don’t get me wrong—I’m not saying everyone should stop drinking or that nights out should be banned. I’ll still be at Pop Tarts in the SU this weekend, no doubt. But what’s exciting is the freedom to choose what kind of university experience you want to have. The pressure to conform to the "university drinking culture" is lifting, and with it, there’s room for students to embrace who they really are, whether that means drinking less, drinking differently, or not drinking at all.

University should be about more than just boozy nights out and post-party regret. It’s about discovering who you are, forming real friendships, and finding joy in experiences that feel authentic to you. So, if that means a pottery class instead of a pub crawl, so be it. Gen Z is proving that there’s more than one way to enjoy university, and the more options we have, the better.