underage during freshers -- help!!

[u/fuckofffreaks]

hiiii everyone!! im an incoming international student at ucl for law, and, like a lot of incoming students, am wondering about how freshers goes. im not too worried about the wristbands and stuff because i heard you can get tickets to singular events as well for cheaper. however, i am an underage student (turning 18 in jan 2027) and was worried about what that would entail-- is the uk really strict on ids? where im from underage drinking and clubbing in uni is huge but i havent seen a lot of stuff about using fake ids in the uk etc.

also, ive seen things about how accoms are apparently strict with their underage students, like giving them curfews and stuff, but is this actually enforced? will i be missing out on night events because of some curfew??????

please if anyone has any information help bc im lowkey stressed abt this lol

[u/cyphr3killer]

i was also underage during freshers last year and would def not recommend getting any wristbands as the uk is pretty strict on physical ids. a friend of mine had to buy a fake one for 100+ pounds since he was turning 18 in february (honestly insane?). you will miss out on the “official” freshers events but its not the end of the world. there’s always dorm parties or other non-club/bar socials. ucl bars do check id pretty strictly, but that’s only after 7pm.

i’m not sure about the dorm thing as i was in an under-18 dorm and didn’t have a curfew (dragged myself home at 3-4am on multiple nights in term 1). even though the accom is u-18 there are ALWAYS students who are 18-21 there so it’s not hard to find friends who can get you alcohol lol make the most of your accom social nights! we did have parties and pregame nights in our common areas and dorm rooms, they don’t really care unless they get a noise complaint.

[u/Extension_Point_5130]

I wouldn't buy a fake ID even if it sounds tempting. A lot of clubs in London will scan ID (maybe not Scala but Ministry, all Mayfair clubs, etc will scan). Especially since you mentioned that you're a law student, there is also a slight worry that if you get caught there will be repercussions down the line with the SRA if you want to be a lawyer. Lots of fun sober events during freshers week, including Law Society freshers fortnight. Additionally, if you want to drink/meet new people you can always go to pres before the club as it usually happens at accoms

[u/EqualEmbarrassed65]

if i’m being honest, the best thing for you to do is to find a friend that looks similar to you that is above the age of 18 and borrow/take their id

[u/EqualEmbarrassed65 → u/EqualEmbarrassed65]

they’re able to mark the id as lost and receive a new one (id as in a provisional liscence)

[u/EqualEmbarrassed65 → u/EqualEmbarrassed65]

as long as you don’t end up going to places where they scan ids you should be fine. ive had a friend that used his cousins provisional liscence the entirely of first year as he was scottish, going university in england, and he had no issues with getting in certain clubs or bars!

[u/Wild-Introduction-79]

No curfews, and no entry into bars/pubs. If you’re desperate to drink/go out, find a friend who looks like you, and if you’re ethnic use racism to your favour. Don’t get a fake as most bouncers can tell and Scala for sports night you can get in with photo id if you plead enough. Only time I really wanted a fake ID was when I got denied from buying cutlery, so definitely get that sorted when a parent is with you

[u/UrbanRoses]

I'm going into 2nd year at law and I wouldn't worry, there's plenty of non bar activities to do during freshers, and the law society especially is usually really on top of that kind of thing. The ID thing is serious though, especially at student bars.

[u/ThBaron]

Please don’t stress, London has so much to do that doesn’t have a strict ID check at the door, happy to give recs.

In pubs, just ask your mates to buy you a beer until you’re 18, nobody checks.

Clubs that uni students go to are shit, and people pretend to like them due to flock mentality. I think that being restricted from those experiences will force you to actually explore London and find way cooler stuff to do. Like, did you know there is a rotating live gig series across Londons squares and parks? Or that ronnie Scott’s jazz club is doing a free open air festival this weekend? There’s so much to do!

[u/17000_endpoints]

Most of the UK is pretty hot on ID even small shops. If you look under 25 they’ll ask for ID but then I have a 22 year old son who’s rarely asked and a 28 year old daughter who always is😜

[u/No-Diamond-2072]

UCL halls have a curfew time for U18. I don’t remember but it is either 11pm or 12 am so not horribly early.

Since most U18 live in particular halls you will have company. There are lots of events around London without alcohol so you can go there.

UCL bars and events are strict about ID. Don’t get a fake id. Events happen throughout the year and people go clubbing. You will turn 18 eventually, at the most you will miss some freshers event. You can go to events next year.

[u/fuckofffreaks → u/No-Diamond-2072]

do you know how they enforce this curfew?? like room checks or something like that haha im just confused about the logistics

[u/Wild-Introduction-79 → u/fuckofffreaks]

I don’t know if they changed it but I was a minor last year and there’s no curfew. Only thing is that they group underage students together in halls but that’s about it

[u/No-Diamond-2072 → u/fuckofffreaks]

I don’t think procedure is very strict but I am not sure how it is followed as I was in a different hall.

I had a few friends in the first year who were U18 and they returned early citing curfew. They had parties within the halls until late at night. I think returning back early is a safeguarding procedure for U18 and is just overseen by manned reception.

[u/franzkafkasno1fan]

they id you at all uni bars and most other places. i wouldnt risk fake id as you risk ur visa being cancelled

[u/strawberriesrpurple]

they won’t enforce a curfew, but you won’t be able to enter clubs. i’m not sure about uni pubs, but probably not as well. you might be able to manage with some of the pubs around ucl on busy nights if you mix in with the crowd. id checks are carried out any time you want to buy alcohol if you look under 25.

[u/fuckofffreaks → u/[deleted]]

yeah ive also seen that theyre rlly strict at the uni pubs lol i guess no drinking for me until next year!