Being 19 And Teetotal


Hello Lovelies! When I tell people I don't drink, I get a whole range of reactions. 95% of the time people react badly, and look at me like I'm crazy or something. There are so many assumptions made about you when you don't drink, so often it feels like a bit of a burden to tell people even though for me it isn't a big deal at all. Before I saw people talking on their own blogs about being teetotal, I was even nervous to tell my followers. But I think it's a good thing to talk about because honestly I don't understand why it's such a big deal to people. As far as I'm concerned, if you like drinking - drink! If you don't that's fine too! 

One of the things that people always seem to assume is that I don't like socialising or I'm boring - but honestly I love a good party and I love letting my hair down (and if you saw me at one you'd probably think I'd been drinking). Although at the same time I love spending quality time with friends, going out for dinner or staying in and watching a film. I know that drinking can help you feel more at ease, but I've never felt like I've needed to drink to enjoy myself or really been curious about how alcohol would make me feel. And honestly the main reason I don't drink is that I hate the taste. I've only really ever tried sips of alcohol (all kinds) or glasses of champagne at New Years, but every single time I've wanted to throw up. Me and alcohol just don't get along.

That's the thing really, I'm not lecturing anyone if they drink, I just personally don't like alcohol at all. Maybe I will one day when my taste buds adjust but for now I'm perfectly happy drinking mocktails. I've always felt peer pressure to drink, but I learnt from a young age it's much better to do what you want rather than what others want you to do. Often being different is hard, especially when everyone seems to be doing something but at the end of the day you can always make the choice. So if you don't like drinking like me, then don't feel pressured to, but if you do, do! 

Thank you for reading lovelies!

18 comments

  1. When I was 17 I got ill and I wasn't allowed to drink alcohol (and a bunch of other things) for a long time. I so often got bad reaction when I said I wasn't drinking. Now, I can but when I go out I almost never do. I don't think you need alcohol to have fun. :)

    XX

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    1. Aww sorry to hear that :( Glad you agree with me though, you definitely don't need to drink alcohol to have fun! :) xx

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  2. I don't drink at all, which made the first year of university quite difficult for me. Being around drunk people all the time isn't all that fun when you're sober, I found. Thankfully, everyone I meet is quite considerate and understanding about my decision to not drink, but it does feel awful sometimes to be so different! But like you said, it really is not a big deal, and it shouldn't be treated as though it is :) great post x x x

    kassiella.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Yeah I've learnt to just really let myself go when I'm around drunk people, makes it all much more entertaining :) And yes exactly the pressure and stigma can be so hard! xx

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  3. It's interesting how drinking is expected by teenagers these days, at 16 my friend is surprised that I have never tried any! I wasn't planning on trying any until it is at least legal for me to do so, also it stinks! ^_- x

    ratherstrangeblog.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Haha yeah it is interesting how even when it's not legal people expect you to! Good on you though for sticking up for yourself haha x :)

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  4. Good for you! If someone doesn't like drinking they should never feel pressured into it. Although i've drank plenty of times, I really don't care for it at all. I may drink once or twice a year now and even then i'll probably only have one cooler. At 25 I still get the odd person trying to peer pressure me into drinking. It makes you feel like you're doing something wrong by declining, its really terrible sometimes!

    Renee | Lose The Road

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    1. Yeah that look people give you when you decline is the worst. Thanks for the comment Renee :) x

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  5. I know plenty of people who don't drink, be it for health reasons or by choice like yourself and to be honest fair play to ye! At least when you're at a party you know everything that happened etc. I personally drink, but I don't like to drink too much cause it can make you feel sick especially if you're tiny like myself. I think it is admiral that you can stand by yourself and be different and proud of who you are.

    Ellen
    My Blog
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    1. Haha I'm surprised you actually know a lot of non drinkers - I'm the only teetotal person I know! Yeah it's always best not to go overboard with alcohol and also thank you Ellen :) x

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  6. Really admire how you did a blog post on this. I completely agree - there is so much peer pressure to drink. I feel like it's ingrained it most people that if you go to a party you 'have' to drink. I'm not teetotal but I rarely ever drink. I don't mind a glass of wine or cider here and there but I don't like making it a habit. Just the other night me and a few friends were going to a bar and they kept trying to pressure me into drinking and it made me quite uncomfortable because I just didn't feel like drinking. It's kinda lame how we live in a society where you have to justify why you're not drinking. I don't need alcohol to have a good time. Great post lovely you've hit the nail on the head x

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    1. Aww thank you lovely :) And yes I completely agree with you, I just don't get why it's seen that you have to drink to have fun. It's so unnecessary - surely you should only drink if you want to? Thanks for the comment Holly!

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  7. I don't drink either, I've had sips of drinks to try but I hate alcohol because it feels like I'm drinking acid or something. I've only been to two parties and everyone was drunk and I was there with a glass of soda. I personally love a good glass of coca cola at a party because the caffeine and sugar makes me really hyper anyway haha.

    franalibi.blogspot.co.uk

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    1. Haha that's true sugar and caffeine can give you a similar kind of rush! :)

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  8. So much respect for you on this, Vicky and yes, completely understand the peer pressure. It was the same when I was in college, everyone around me parties and drinks so it was almost expected of me too. Me and my husband personally enjoy a couple of beers over the weekends, it's just something that we like doing but we don't understand how others can be a raving drunk. Maybe we're just old?

    Shireen | Reflection of Sanity

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    1. Haha that's just like my parents. And yeah there is really so much peer pressure indeed x

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  9. I drink, but I don't drink A LOT. A glass or two of wine is enough to keep me PERFECTLY happy for a whole night. I can't do shots, and I can't drink a lot, and when I was younger I barely drank at all. And I do remember this being a BIG DEAL. Luckily, it gets less as you get older. Now I'm 27 and people don't care as much. We also don't really go clubbing as much, but that is because we are elderly.

    I do often think about giving up alcohol but, like I said, I drink so little of it, it's a bit like "what's the point?" But I definitely don't drink if I think it's going to make me feel ill!

    Aisling | aisybee.

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    1. That's good to hear that it gets better as you get older :) Haha and yes for me now it really is a big deal for a lot of people!

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Thanks for your comments, I love reading them and will be sure to visit your blog soon :) have a lovely day!