I Don't Drink: An Update

I wrote a post almost four years ago about the fact I don’t drink.

I think it’s less unusual now than it was then.

Times are changing in the world of health, food and drink, and I’m no longer greeted with the same level of shock when I say I don’t drink alcohol.

I think a part of it is also because I’m no longer at university, a bubble where such a big part of the culture is nights out.

I’ve never drunk, and I don’t plan on changing that.

I still go out. I still enjoy myself, I’m happy being around others who are drinking. I’m just not interested myself.

There are so many reasons why I don’t drink, or maybe why I didn’t start when I was younger.

Now, at 24, the reason is simply that I never have, and I don’t regret that.

I can see the appeal of a glass of wine with a meal, but I don’t feel like I’m missing out.

I should make it clear that I’m in no way an adventurous person when it comes to drinks in general.

I drink water most of the time, occasionally apple juice, orange juice, cranberry juice or to push the boat out a Apple and Raspberry J2O.

That’s it.

No fizz. No tea. No coffee. No hot chocolate.

Call me fussy, call me crazy.

I’m happy with what I do drink, and to be fair it saves me money and calories to spend elsewhere!

What I don’t miss about being at university was how many people would ask me why I don’t drink.

In what way does it affect anyone else?

People make personal choices about all sorts of things, all the time, and this was one of mine.

I still socialised, I thought no less of anyone who did drink, so why did it matter?

To be fair, no one ever really pressured me or tried to make me drink myself, but I just found it odd how brazenly people would question me and look at me with such shock.

Now the reaction is more often ‘I wish I could do that’ or ‘Good on you’, and then the conversation moves on.

It’s so refreshing to feel like I’ve reached a point where I’m allowed to be my own person without explaining myself.

There will always be some people who believe they deserve to know everything, but they will never change.

What does change is your confidence in yourself.

I no longer feel embarrassed to say that actually no, I don’t drink.

I don’t get embarrassed only asking for orange juice on an evening out.

You do you, I’ll do me.


It’s a really nice place to be.

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