According to Student Beans, two-thirds of UK students are open to sobriety whilst at university, but “not all Student Unions are doing enough to support their sober-curious population”.
Whilst Student Beans reported that a third of SU bars do not offer a non-alcoholic beer or cider, Exeter University’s campus bar, The Ram, does offer a selection of zero alcohol beer and cider including Dead Man’s Fingers 0.0%, Birra Moretti Zero and Rattler Zero.
This can be seen on a poster in The Ram Bar, which advertises alcohol free options that they serve. The zero-alcohol section of the menu also details the same six zero alcohol beer and ciders, all costing £3.50 or less.
But The Ram Bar does not sell other alcohol-free alternatives. The full drinks menu, does not include any non-alcoholic wines, spirits, shots or cocktails, meaning students cannot always choose an alcohol-free equivalent to what their friends may be drinking.
Exeter University’s website page for The Ram Bar describes it as “the perfect setting to socialise, unwind, or prep for a night out” and a “social hotspot on campus”. It describes the Ram’s drinks menu as “extensive” pointing to the many “great local suppliers”.
However, the zero alcohol options are cheaper than their alcoholic counterparts, with a pint of Guiness costing £4.39, and a pint of Guiness 0.0% costing £3.25. Rattler costs £3.99, and Rattler Zero is cheaper by a pound.
The small range of non-alcoholic alternatives has raised questions about the accessibility of non-alcoholic options in The Ram Bar which is often used for society socials.
According to Student Beans, AJ De Vera, previous President of the Lancaster University Sober Society, says: ‘‘It’s fine if a social is in a drinking venue, but make sure that there are NA beverages available for those who don’t want to drink. Bonus points for choosing venues that offer non-alcoholic pints, wines and spirits as it lets people choose to drink something similar to the rest of the group.”
AJ De Vera suggests the significance of university hubs, such as a campus bar, providing a wide range of non-alcoholic drinks, in including all attendees, including those who chose not to drink.
“there just aren’t a lot of non-alcoholic options besides lemonade or coke/Diet Coke, I wished there were more options.”
In a survey of Exeter students conducted by Exeposé, some students expressed dissatisfaction with the selection and variety of non-alcoholic alternatives on campus and around Exeter. One student said: “there just aren’t a lot of non-alcoholic options besides lemonade or coke/Diet Coke, I wished there were more options.” Another student said that there was a wider range at Wetherspoons pubs but apart from that, there is usually “only one kind of lager/cider available at most places (i.e. Thatcher’s).”
A Spokesperson for the University of Exeter said: “The University regularly rereviews its food and drinks provisions across all campuses to ensure that the needs and requirements for students, staff and visitors alike are met. This includes ensuring there are good selections and choices of soft and non-alcoholic drinks at all outlets to meet all requirements.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Students’ Guild told Exeposé: “Your Students’ Guild and Officers have championed and supported students to ensure there are plenty of options on campus to suit all tastes. We continue to advocate for food and drink options on our campuses which offer value and choice for everyone. Kira, your Student Living Officer, is working on an audit of outlets to ensure all dietary requirements are catered for on campus.”
Whilst there are plenty of non-alcoholic beer and cider options available on campus bars in Exeter, perhaps looking into other non-alcoholic alternatives would help all sober-curious students to feel included and meet the requirements that have been expressed by students.
