Have Students Stopped Drinking?

At 8pm the Uni gym hums like a quiet club. Racks are full, music leaks from headphones, and medical students complete their Anki flashcards on the stairmaster. You bump into characters from the past and future — sports captains, Freshers’ Week acquaintances, the flatmate who used to close the Union bar. This is not a one-off. For many students, late nights now mean deadlifts and meal prep rather than last orders.

As the semester starts, it is the perfect time to reflect on our habits and start afresh for the new academic year. The ‘university lifestyle’ has been redefined, as old stereotypes of eating poorly and late-night study sessions fuelled by caffeine now feel dated. The stereotype of chaotic, booze-first student life is giving way to a broader wellness culture, which brings benefits as well as pressures. 

For years, students have been perceived as careless regarding their health. In 2002, the National Union of Students launched its sensible drinking campaign, adopting the slogan “If you do drink, don’t do drunk.” This was mocked, with one Guardian article stating that although young people cannot navigate their way around Soho or sound officious on the telephone, they are brilliant at drinking. This mirrors the common viewpoint at the time: that your student years are one of the few in your life where you have minimal responsibilities and the consequences of your mistakes are relatively insignificant. Why not maximise these whilst you have the chance?

At a time when university tuition fees were free for all, this carefree attitude may have been easier to adopt. The Student Loans Company forecasts average debts of £53,000 for English undergraduates starting in 2024-25, and £17,000 for Scottish students with free tuition. Combined with the rising cost of living and a competitive graduate job market, the pressure on young people to use their time at university to improve their CVs has increased. Many students cannot afford to spend money on overpriced drinks and club entry, and cannot afford time wasted hungover or tired. Personal safety is a growing concern, with a survey by the Alcohol Education Trust reporting that more than one in ten students have been victims of spiking.

In the age of the internet, we have constant access to a stream of reliable health information. Increased health advertising and research into the negative impacts of drinking and smoking have caused a change in habits. Many students who enjoy the diverse nightlife St Andrews has to offer do so whilst sober. Social media has provided spaces for communities of like-minded young people prioritising their health and fitness, creating room for everyone to find their crowd.

Students describe steadier moods, clearer focus and safer nights. A national survey in 2023 found young adults were the least likely age group to exceed weekly alcohol limits, reflecting a broader cultural shift. There are abundant opportunities beyond the classic drinking culture, with most long-term friendships formed outside of this.

But wellness can carry pressure. Constant tracking and comparison can make rest feel guilty. Students today face pressures intensified by phones in every pocket. The idea that young people must optimise their looks, bodies, or health is abundant on social media, leaving little space for genuine relaxation.

Student life has traded defaults for options. Some nights will still end at 601, others will end with lights out by eleven. As with everything in life, balance is important. Whether you are up early for Bubble run club on a Friday morning or walking back from afters as the sun rises, acknowledging and prioritising your own needs is essential to thrive both academically and socially.

Illustration by Holly Ward