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There are lots of reasons why people don't drink at parties. Many people simply don't like to drink and never (or almost never) do. Some are being responsible sober drivers. Some avoid it for physical training or religious reasons. Some of your friends might be recovering from addictions they acquired before even arriving at college. Some people, believe it or not, feel wrong drinking underage.
A really great thing to discuss at an upcoming social committee meeting is this: "What are we providing for the people who CHOOSE not to drink at our parties?" Providing non-alcoholic options for the non-drinkers is not only the responsible thing to do, whether you are planning a basic party, a tailgate, or an alumni event. Providing these non-alcoholic drinks for free to your participants is kind of classy, and it sends the important message that not drinking is a valid choice.
There are many stories about people who went to a party, planning to be a sober driver for their friends, who ended up drinking because there literally was no other choice. It's also important for those who might have drank alcohol earlier in the evening, but who are tryng to sober up before the end of their evening.
Think about: sodas, bottled water, energy drinks, bottled teas, etc. If you are in a fraternity or sorority, take note that there is not a single national or campus policy that prevents you from supplying non-alcoholic drinks in any social situation.
By the way, this week is National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week (NCAAW). This is a tremendous week to spend time thinking about how your organization deals with alcohol and your members' use or abuse of it.
