By Ilona Plat – Contributor 

“Where are we pre-drinking tonight?” says my friend and roommate Josephine as we buy our alcohol for Winterfest. This question must have been at the top of the minds of many other students a few weekends ago. If Bishop’s University wants to shift its image away from being known as a “party school”, then it is necessary to wonder what hallmark events like Winterfest look like for those who don’t drink alcohol. After asking around, I felt that if you weren’t a drinker, your experience was less enjoyable for the price paid.

According to Statistics Canada, alcohol is the most widely consumed substance in Canada. Winterfest weekend was made for partying, so it is even more likely that alcohol consumption increased that weekend. 

On Saturday, as soon as I passed the Quad’s entrance gates, my friends and I decided to get in line for the drink tickets so that we did not need to wait in line during the concert, allowing us to enjoy it fully. Although we arrived early, the line was incredibly long. It took us around 40 minutes to finally buy the tickets. Once we got there, we were told that the mocktails did not require a ticket and could be taken directly at the bar, as they were free. This is an excellent consideration for people who do not drink. Given the difference between the queue for tickets and the line at the bar where non-drinkers were, there were certainly more drinkers than non-drinkers at the event.

From my experience, the rail jam was mainly a way for students who were drinking to get their drink tickets in advance. It was an excuse to start drinking early or start partying during the day. For non-drinkers, especially if you were interested in winter sports, it was a cool opportunity to see people attempt tricks and socialize with other students.

The ambiance during the rail jam seemed more innocent than that of the concert. At the concert, people crowded in front of the stage to dance or stayed near the bar, chatting with friends. There were a lot more people pushing you around, talking loudly and stumbling, which, if you are sober, can get especially annoying. 

I know some people who refused to buy a Winterfest ticket even though all their friends were going. As non-drinkers or self proclaimed “not big partiers”, the people I talked to felt that the price for the experience could have been better. Some of my friends expressed that they would have liked to see more fun activities added if they were not drinking. For example, they mentioned a sledding competition, a snowball fight and an igloo-building activity.

When reflecting on the experience of non-drinkers at Winterfest, it is easy to see how this event can be more appealing for drinkers than non-drinkers, even though the SRC has made an effort to make everyone’s experience enjoyable. The SRC puts much work into Winterfest, where you can spend time with your friends. However, for the price, I bet the non-drinkers and a portion of students uninterested in parties would appreciate more festivities during the day portion of the event. More advertising and communications that you do not need alcohol to enjoy the event could also help the SRC reach the non-drinking population.