Although Locust Walk is reliably filled with staggering, inebriated students each weekend night, there are those who choose to socialize without alcohol.
Some Penn students do not drink for various reasons -- bad experiences, religion and moral convictions, to name a few -- and report that they feel minimal pressure from other students to drink.
Contrary to popular opinion, these nondrinkers still manage to lead fun and fulfilling social lives. Undergraduates who do not drink are not alone, comprising 14 percent of the student body, according to the Office of Health Education alcohol use survey.
"There's more than one social scene at Penn," College freshman Mark Griffin said. "I can be me and still have fun."
In fact, although most nondrinkers agree that there is heavy drinking at Penn, they say that people are respectful of their decision not to drink.
"My friends who do drink never pressure me," College sophomore Evangel Fung said.
Although most nondrinkers avoid the party scene, preferring other social activities like watching movies and dining out, those who frequent fraternity parties still say that they are comfortable not conforming to party norms.
"I used to feel more pressure, but now I don't," said College senior Adam Lampert, a partygoer and recently declared nondrinker.
Lampert, who has not been drinking since the summer, said that he enjoys abstaining more than drinking.
"I choose not to drink because my life is much better without alcohol," Lampert said.
Griffin also chooses not to drink because of personal convictions. He cited the lowering of inhibitions, increased risk-taking, increased likelihood of sexual encounters and weight gain as his main reasons for not drinking.
He summed it up by saying, "I can think of far more reasons not to drink than to drink."
Fung had additional reasons for not drinking. Last year, after having a bad experience with alcohol, Fung decided that drinking was not her scene.
"I think it's a waste of time and energy that I could spend elsewhere," she said, explaining that her heavy workload and involvement in clubs has left her with little time to regret her decision.
"I don't even have enough time to miss going out to parties," she said.
Other Penn students do not drink for religious reasons. College senior Anjum Cheema, a devout Muslim, does not drink because Islam prohibits the consumption of alcohol. However, because most of his friends are also Muslim, he does not feel isolated in Penn's social scene.
Cheema asserted that he would not drink even if his religion did not prohibit it.
"Intellect is the greatest gift we've been given, and by drinking, you impair your intelligence," Cheema said.
Last year as part of the "Better Life Initiative," Cheema, along with many others, marched down Locust Walk in order to show support for the nondrinkers and nonsmokers on campus. The event, organized by then-Engineering senior Sith Chaisurote, was modeled on a similar campaign in Thailand.
"It was interesting to see a lot of varied people from varied backgrounds, who were choosing not to drink," Cheema said.
Even with campus support and the strong convictions of nondrinkers, though, sometimes the choice to abstain from alcohol can be difficult. However, most say they are confident they can overcome the temptation.
"I have enough willpower to simply choose not to" drink, Griffin said.
Cheema explained: "I don't ever wish that I'm in somebody else's spot. ... I like the life I'm living."
