Starting University is always a simultaneous nerve-wracking, yet exciting, new experience for everyone. The opportunity for freedom, in particular the infamous ‘Fresher’s week’, reigns as the most highly anticipated aspect of University, with 81% of students believing drinking is part of the main culture. But the question looms for new students moving from home- are young adults from rural areas prepared for the city experience?
In most rural areas the population remains within the elderly range, as stated by gov.uk, “the more rural the area, the higher the average age.” As a result, most rural areas lack access to nightlife equivalent to that available within higher populated cities. This results in young adults and students from rural areas participating in drinking activities and events excessively once they attend University.
Multiple students from rural areas, when approached with this topic, agreed there was a lack of pubs or clubs available to young adults, or are unfairly priced. Amelia, a Marjon fresher recently moved from a small town in Somerset, provided her experience living in a rural town:
“Where I’m from there is nothing in my village, so I have to spend around £10 on a taxi to get into town and then £10 on the entry fee, before I buy any drinks. This makes [me] not want to go out because you’ve already spent £20-£30 just to get there.”
When asked if she has noticed a change in her drinking habits since starting University, Amelia stated, “I feel I am drinking more at Uni than I did at home because, firstly it’s a new experience. I can do this whenever I want and as much as I want. Secondly, I find because I’m a student the places I can go to are a lot cheaper than what they are in my area. […] The nightlife is a lot better and easier accessed than back home.”
Lucy, another student moved from rural Ireland, also recalled drinking more while at University compared to Ireland. She noticed there are different rituals surrounding drinking in England, including the popularity of ‘pre-drinks’ in England compared to Ireland.
Within various smaller towns and rural areas, some bars and pubs have an increased age restriction of 21+, and nearly all have a closing time of 10pm. This can result in some students attending University with little to no drinking experience, despite the legal drinking age being 18 and over. Most students from rural areas will lack experience in clubbing culture, with clubs opening later in the evening (when pubs would close), and not closing until early hours in the morning. Amelia commented that situations such as these can lead to increased peer pressure, “I’m not used to clubbing every weekend […] or even on weekdays, for example Wednesday Student Union nights, so this could cause issues for others as they may feel peer pressure into doing it with everybody else.”