Don't Drink and Drive

Most 16 year old girls would boast about how they spent the weekend drunk with friends but not me. From a very young age I have always said I will never drink. Although I do have the compulsory champagne at Christmas, I pride myself on not drinking alcohol.

I recently found out my Grandpa John died of liver damage (caused by alcohol) when I was only 4. This has spurred me on to think responsibly as a teenager and to not let others push me to drink.

When I was about 10, my Dad brought home some kind of chocolate liquor which I was obsessed with and I would have a little cup everyday but as I got older I started to dislike it and now we don't have it any more, but with my 18th birthday next year (OMG!) I have asked my best friend to promise not to let me get drunk in the return for my promise to have a drink on her birthday - we'll see how that works out!

Don't worry though, when we turn 18, we'll be legally able to drink in the UK - which I think makes no sense. At 10 years old, I got to pick a name that will stick with me forever (my Confirmation name) which nearly ended up as Vanessa because I was crazy about High School Musical. Then at 14, we start choosing subjects to specialise in that could affect us right the way through to adult life. At 16, you get this choose again but with much harder subjects (or you could start a family!) and then at 18 you're finally able to drink. It really doesn't make any sense that we are making life-changing decisions at age 10 but are restricted in what we can drink for another 8 years!

Please drink responsibly.

georgiadaisyiv