Negative Experiences of Non-Drinking College Students in Great Britain: an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis

Research relating to alcohol use amongst university students primarily examines the effects of binge drinking. Researchers rarely focus on a range of drinking styles including light or non-drinking. This study was designed to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of female, first year UK undergraduates, who do not drink alcohol. Semistructured interviews were conducted with eight participants. Narratives were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA; by Smith and Osborn (Sage 51-80, 2003). Three superorodinate themes were identified: "managing the feeling that you don't belong" highlights the importance of managing social interactions as a non-drinker; "experiencing social exclusion" recognises the impact on social bonding as a result of insufficient socialising opportunities; and "experiencing peer pressure and social stigma" highlights the scrutiny and labelling participants endured. These findings provide an understanding of some of the difficulties experienced by these undergraduates as a result of their non-drinking status. Implications of this research are discussed and areas for future research are outlined.