MANCHESTER students are swapping cheap booze offers in the union bar for a champagne lifestyle, according to city centre club bosses.
Fred Booth, managing director of entertainment complex The Printworks, told the M.E.N: "Across all our bars, it's clear that students are buying into the champagne lifestyle. More students are buying luxury gallery seats in the cinema as well as taking up membership of Holmes Place gym. It's really great to have students back as they bring in a lot of revenue."
Judith Raffety, sales manager of Tiger Tiger nightclub, said: "We have over 2,000 students in every Monday night. They are increasingly looking for a classy night out as we sell more cocktails and champagne than cheap beers and alcopops."
Manchester University's NUS president Steve George added: "Because of the personal cost of education, students are much more likely to want to treat themselves to a classy night with expensive drinks, rather than stick to the traditional image of the scruffy undergraduate with a pint of cider and blackcurrant.
"Some students used to view the city centre with caution but now that we have merged with UMIST they find themselves spending more time in town than ever before, which is beneficial for them and city centre businesses.
"It's a two-way street however - pricier city centre bars get more students in because they target them aggressively with promotions and events. They are well aware of the student pound."
Are all students Champagne Charlies or are they scraping their pennies together for a half pint of mild?
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I was lucky, I got money to study as I was a student during the 80s. This change in lifestyle may also indicate that with tuition fees now being charged, the students nowadays could more than likely be the wealthier ones. It probably won't be long before you will have to have some kind of privileged background before you could afford to go to university.
Are these the same students who are constantly crying poverty and say that they can't pay off their student loans??
This article is an indication of the fact that studying at unversity has become the easy option for children of wealth parents rather than student's tastesin drinks changing. Sadly as a result of fees and grants being paid by the student, a degree is a lot less likely for students from poorer backgrounds. Another Moet on Daddy's Gold Card? Chin Chin darlings!
Sue, I agree with you. When I was a teenager I drank cider and black and have never been a student in my life! Also, how many ex students do you know have got a job where they actually need to use their degree?? Its a chance to not do any work, live off daddies gold card and to not have a job.