It’s 2 a.m. on a Friday. The lights are spinning, the floor is sticky, and you’re shoulder-to-shoulder with sweaty strangers. There’s a seltzer in your hand, a vague memory of the dance floor, and then, nothing. You wake up still in last night’s clothes with a pounding headache, 100 unread texts, and a new vow: “I’m never drinking again.”
But what if you actually stuck to that?
Staying sober in a college town where “Thirsty Thursday” is basically a holiday sounds impossible. Yet it doesn’t have to be boring, or worse, “uncool.” In fact, skipping the tequila can make nights out better.
Why We drink in the first place
Most of it comes down to FOMO. We’ve all been at a pregame swearing we won’t drink, only to cave when our friend is three shots deep and already dancing on a chair. Suddenly, it feels like you are the boring one if you’re sober.
But here’s the secret: nobody’s paying that much attention. Most people are too busy thinking about themselves (and their next drink) to notice whether there’s vodka in your cup.
And then there’s college culture. Whole days are branded around alcohol—“Wine Wednesday,” “Thirsty Thursday.” Drinking becomes the default, the thing you do without thinking. But it doesn’t have to be. Why not flip it? Make it “Thankful Thursday,” where the point is appreciating your friends, not out-chugging them.
My sober night out
Here’s what happened when I actually committed to staying sober on a night out in my college town. Spring break had just ended, the frats were throwing, and my friends were already wasted. The first stop? A tiny, rainy frat party that was deader than dead. I was cold, sober, and being offered drinks left and right.
My move? I hit them with the classic: “Sorry, I’m driving.” Instant exit from the peer-pressure Olympics.
Once that was out of the way, I leaned into the entertainment value of watching drunk people do their thing. (Pro tip: it’s hilarious.) I even carried around pickles as a conversation starter, and let me tell you, the joy on a drunk person’s face when you hand them a pickle is unmatched.
When the drinks started flowing, I cracked open an energy drink. It kept my hands busy, gave me the same boost of energy, and let me “cheers” without missing out. Finally, I set a cut-off: a plan for when I’d leave and what I needed to be sober for the next day.
And the best part? I remembered everything. No blurry Snap stories needed.
tips for a fun, sober night
- Have an excuse ready.“I’m driving,” “I’m on antibiotics,” or “I have to wake up early” usually ends the questioning fast.
- Find your fun. Whether it’s people-watching, dancing, or carrying random pickles, lean into something that makes the night yours.
- Keep a drink in your hand. Mocktails, soda, or an energy drink give you the same social feel without the alcohol.
- Plan your exit. Have a strategy for leaving or something to look forward to the next morning.
The bottom line
Going out sober isn’t about being “anti-fun.” It’s about choosing to have fun on your own terms and remembering it the next day. The stigma only lives in your head. Let it go, make the night your own, and trust me: memories beat hangovers every time.