While many students are under the legal drinking age during their early years of college, this does not always prevent them from attending parties or consuming alcohol.
According to Alcohol Help, roughly 80% of college students consume alcohol to some extent. Of those 80%, approximately 50% of students participate in binge drinking.
Ohio University’s student population is no exception. In Niche’s 2026 Best Colleges rankings, OU ranked 17 out of 1,598 schools for top party schools in America.
Despite a prevalent drinking culture, some students choose to remain sober.
Erin McKibben, a senior studying marketing, has stayed sober throughout her OU career, citing both personal and religious reasons.
McKibben said it is challenging to be sober at OU since classmates enjoy going out to drink alcohol after presenting group projects.
“Especially after presentations and stuff, my friends or whoever I’m with like to go out after, and I kind of feel excluded from that,” McKibben said. “So I think that’s the most difficult, but I feel like I can’t go with them.”
OU’s social scene might not be centered around drinking, but it remains a noticeable part of it. According to OU, 73% of Bobcats drink alcohol zero to two times per week, based on the results of a university alcohol and drug survey.
“I’m not sure if it's completely centered around drinking, but I’d say it's a big part,” McKibben said. “I say that even underage drinking is a big thing, and I don’t think that is completely right. I understand it’s fun, and it’s pretty easy to underage drink on a campus, but I personally wouldn’t support that.”
A portion of underage students participate in the party and bar scene in Athens and risk getting arrested. According to Ohio Expungement Law, underage individuals can receive criminal charges for violating the drinking age limit. People under 21 years old can be charged with violating the open container policy, consumption of alcohol in a motor vehicle, purchasing or possessing alcohol and owning a fake identification license.
The penalty for those facing an underage drinking charge can also include: up to six months in jail, a fine of $1,000 and additional court fees and driver’s license suspension up to three years.
In addition to not worrying about the possibility of getting arrested, McKibben said remaining sober boosted her academic career.
“I’m usually at home at night, so I (get) better sleep,” McKibben said. “If I have an assignment, I can work on it regularly before I go to bed. So I’d say it helps. It helps being sober with academics.”
Remaining sober can be hard with OU’s social scene, including the 15 plus bars along Court Street. However, places like Big Run Kava Bar make it a little easier by providing sober students and locals with an alternative space.
Shaylee Tucker, owner of Big Run Kava Bar, said they have been part of the Athens scene for about two years.
Big Run Kava Bar specializes in non-alcoholic drinks like botanical coffees and teas, providing a space for both socialization and relaxation.
“I would say we kind of focus on the coffees but a lot on the Kava too,” Tucker said. “It’s an herbal supplement that can be used as an alternative to alcohol with no intoxication.”
Tucker said the bar is open until 10 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and until 7 p.m on Sundays. Drinks range from $5 coffees to $10 Kavas, which is a calming, non-alcoholic herbal drink.
“I think it’s easy to say that not a lot of people are drinking as much alcohol these days, but having a space where you feel like you can still meet people and socialize is very important to be able to get out and do something rather than being at home,” Tucker said.
Despite the alternative space, some challenges arose for Tucker when opening the non-alcoholic shop.
“A lot of people may come in with the interpretation that it’s still going to give you a bad feeling like alcohol or intoxicate you, and that’s obviously the opposite of what we’re trying to do,” Tucker said.
Drinking culture might be normalized at OU, but it does not mean participation is required. Remaining sober can be difficult amid the partying scene, but sober individuals might just find a new hangout space down Court Street.
“I think just giving it a chance, honestly, because you know a lot of it too, I think it’s just kind of scary to try something new, right?” Tucker said. “I think if you try it firsthand, maybe bring a friend or two. It’s a good atmosphere to be in.”
