Forget Freshers’ Week: This Year, It’s All About Fitness for Students

With a record-breaking 439,180 students accepted onto university and college courses this year 1, more students than ever will be heading off to start their courses this autumn. However, new data suggests that the perception of students as partygoers is increasingly outdated, with many students turning to health drinks and fitness instead of beer, wine, and spirits. The survey of 500 students, run by low-cost gym chain PureGym, looks at their relationship with and attitudes towards alcohol, health, and fitness.

Student Health Habits Are Changing

While the stereotypical student life involves heavy drinking, late nights, and a diet of takeaways and noodles, the research found this is no longer the case; 2 in 3 (66%) students said they prefer to focus on health and fitness over partying and drinking. It’s not just personal preference either – as many as 3 in 4 (75%) want student culture to shift more towards a health and fitness focused lifestyle, and 70% of students would prefer to date students who share this sentiment, over someone who prefers partying to fitness.

What Students Are Drinking Now

While alcohol is on the way out, health drinks are having their moment. Students are drinking smoothies and protein shakes at least once a week (91% and 74% respectively), with the same number of students drinking supplement drinks as they do alcohol (65% and 64%) at least once weekly. Of the 35% of students who do not drink at all, the most common reason given (after having no desire to consume alcohol) was due to alcohol feeling unhealthy.

Another reason students may be drinking less is that exercise is replacing partying as a way to ‘let off steam’. Data from YouGov shows 28% of students aged 18-25 would use exercise as a means of doing so, with just 14% going out partying and 5% turning to alcohol instead.

Expert Advice for Balance from PT & Nutritionist

Caitlin Coates, Personal Trainer at PureGym and qualified nutritional advisor, provides the following tips on how to ensure you can drink alcohol and maintain healthy fitness levels in a balanced way.

“Alcohol negatively impacts fitness performance by reducing strength, endurance, recovery, sleep quality, and muscle protein synthesis” Caitlin explains. “Even a couple of drinks can slow progress and leave you feeling flat in training.”

“That said, balance matters,” she adds. “It’s not about ‘never drinking again’, it’s about being intentional – keep alcohol occasional, lower-volume, and ideally away from key training or recovery days so it doesn’t derail your progress.”

“A healthy balance equals enjoying social occasions without letting it become a weekly habit that stalls your results. Think moderation, not elimination.”

James Gauduchon, Group Customer and Marketing Director, adds: “Stereotypes have long suggested that students may not be particularly healthy, consuming copious amounts of alcohol and junk food, and having late nights from partying, but as we can see from these survey results, this is simply not the case anymore.

“While partying is still part of the university experience, it’s clear that many students are taking a balanced approach and making time for friends with all types of interests. Joining the gym or a sports team is a great way to socialise and can exist alongside nights out.

“With increasing demand for sober social events, and with greater interest in healthy lifestyles, we’re keen to support students by providing them with welcoming spaces, affordable and flexible memberships and classes and initiatives that truly make working out feel fun.”