Alcohol-Free Freshers’ Event Ideas: An Ice-Breaker That Works

How to Bring Students Together Without the Bar

Freshers’ Week is the most important in a student union’s calendar for helping new students settle in and feel they belong, yet so much of it still happens around the bar.

The students who feel most alone in that first week are often the ones the schedule quietly overlooks – the shy ones, the anxious ones, and international students a long way from home.

This article looks at why alcohol-free freshers’ events matter more than ever, what actually breaks the ice in those first nervous minutes, and how Laughter Yoga gives student unions and societies an inclusive, memorable activity that brings everyone together – no drink required.

Why do alcohol-free freshers’ events matter more than ever?

A growing number of students don’t drink. Some for health or faith, some in recovery, some watching every penny, and plenty simply because they’d rather not. The trend is clear: Alcohol Change UK reports that 26% of 16 to 24-year-olds didn’t drink at all in the previous year, up from 19% in 2011. Yet research also finds that around 70% of students still feel they have to drink to fit in. That gap is exactly the problem an inclusive welcome programme needs to solve. Unions across the country have noticed, and sober nights, alcohol-free societies and quiet, accessible events are now a fixed part of a good welcome programme.

An inclusive Freshers’ Week isn’t a nice-to-have anymore. It’s how a union shows every new student, from the first day, that there’s a place for them here. The University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Huddersfield are among the institutions I’ve worked with where this inclusive approach is taken seriously.

The challenge is finding alcohol-free activities that do what the bar is supposed to do – break the ice and get people talking – without the awkwardness of a room full of strangers nursing soft drinks and waiting for something to happen.

What actually breaks the ice in those first few minutes?

This is where Laughter Yoga earns its place on a fresher’s schedule. There are no jokes, no comedy and no need to be happy to take part. It’s simple laughter exercises and gentle breathing, done as a group, and in a group, the simulated laughter quickly turns into the real thing. If you have anyone who is visually impaired or has accessibility needs, Laughter Yoga is fully inclusive. Everyone benefits from the connection and mood boost.

Within a few minutes, the first-day stiffness melts. Students who arrived not knowing a single person are making eye contact, sharing a laugh and relaxing into the room. It does the social heavy lifting a bar is meant to do, only faster, and without anyone needing a drink to feel brave enough to join in.

It’s also one of the few activities that puts everyone on equal footing from the first second. No one is better at it, no one has done it before, and that shared unfamiliarity is exactly what dissolves the barriers between strangers.

What does a laughter session bring to a freshers’ programme?

What freshers face	How a laughter session helps
Arriving without knowing anyone	Strangers are laughing together within minutes and leave as familiar faces
First-week nerves and homesickness	Laughter lowers stress hormones and lifts mood during a big transition
Pressure to socialise around alcohol	A genuinely inclusive activity that needs nothing more than people and space
Feeling left out if they don’t drink	Everyone joins on equal footing, whatever their background or beliefs
Self-consciousness in a new crowd	Because everyone does it together, no one feels singled out
International students far from home	No language barrier, and online sessions can welcome them before they arrive

Where does Laughter Yoga fit into a Welcome Week schedule?

It slots neatly into the formats unions already run. As a welcome fair taster, it draws a crowd and gives passing students a reason to stop and join in. As a society, a social or hall event, it turns a quiet first gathering into a room full of laughter. As a dedicated sober social, it gives non-drinkers something to really look forward to rather than an apologetic alternative.

Sessions can be run standing or seated, indoors or out, for a small society group or a large welcome event. They also work beautifully online, which makes them a warm way to welcome international students who are still travelling to the UK.

Does the benefit last beyond the session?

It does. Alongside the immediate connection, students walk away with something they keep – a simple, body-based way to release stress when deadlines pile up or homesickness creeps back in. A welcome that begins with laughter sends a clear message from day one: well-being matters here, and looking after yourself can be simple and even joyful.

How can my union or society book a session?

Get in touch with your dates and rough numbers, and we’ll shape a session that fits your space, your timetable and the students you most want to reach.

Frequently asked questions

Do students need to be sporty or flexible to take part?
No. Laughter Yoga isn’t yoga in the stretching sense. There are no poses and no fitness level required (just a few contraindications, as it’s cardio exercise). Sessions can be run standing or seated, so they’re suitable for almost everyone.

Will students find it embarrassing?

The first minute can feel unfamiliar, then the laughter takes over, and the self-consciousness goes. Because everyone is doing it together, no one feels singled out – that shared experience is exactly what breaks the ice.

How many students can join one session?
Sessions work for small society groups and for large welcome events. Tell us your expected numbers, and we’ll plan accordingly.

Can international students join before they arrive?
Yes. Online sessions are a lovely way to welcome students who are still travelling to the UK, helping them feel connected before they set foot on campus.

Is it really alcohol-free and inclusive?
Completely. It needs nothing more than people and a bit of space, which makes it one of the most inclusive activities you can put on during Freshers’ Week.

Discover what’s coming up

Take a look at the public Events page to see what’s coming up.

Would you like to bring a session to your union or society this Freshers’ Week? Drop me a line and let’s talk it through.

For more information, contact Sunny Turner at happy@seriouslaughter.co.uk or call or WhatsApp +44 7974 778091.

Sunny Turner is the founder of Serious Laughter, an FHT-accredited Laughter Yoga business serving Manchester, Cheshire, London and the wider UK. She found Laughter Yoga through her own experience with depression, and now delivers evidence-based, accessible laughter sessions to make life and work happier and healthier.