I'm 21 and I don't drink – I'm glad to hear my generation is making this the norm

I don't face judgement or peer pressure – people my age are willing to accept everyone's individuality and right to their own choices

I don't need to get drunk to have fun with my friends (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Anyone who knows me wouldn't be surprised when I say that I don't fancy drinking on a night out, and it's not uncommon for me to nominate myself as the designated driver. But, as a 21-year-old who's fresh out of uni, surely this doesn't sounds normal?

I've been questioned more times than I can count, and of course I get my fair share of stick for my love of being sober. But I don't care anymore. I'm not afraid to admit it that I just don't like getting drunk that much. I like a night out as much as the next person, but honestly most of my best nights out are when I've been completely sober. I often find that I have a much better time because I actually feel in control of my actions. Not to mention I wake up feeling fresh and hangover free the next day, which is always a bonus.

However, when it was announced today that drinking among young people has fallen greatly I was quite surprised. I find myself putting up with so much hassle due to the fact that I prefer a sober night out. I just thought that there was nobody out there in the same boat as me. But apparently there is – there just must not be as much of an appeal around getting blind drunk as there used to be.

This makes sense – not only are sober nights out more enjoyable, I feel a lot more alert the next day. When I was a student this was a huge benefit as I could live the best of both worlds – out on the night, yet still able to work hard in the library the next day.

I don't drink because I don't really feel the need to, simple. I have a personality which means I can still have a great time on a night out without alcohol. Since around two years ago, in my second year of university, every time I have a drink it just makes me feel sick, so I find it best to avoid it all together.

Luckily I have great friends who'd never let me get left out, but I can see how for others it could lead to social exclusion. It's no surprise to my peers if I order a Diet Coke instead of a cocktail when we're out for drinks – they don't think any less of me because of it. In fact, I think on they're often grateful to have someone sober there just to make sure everyone else is alright. Perhaps this is a generational thing – people my age seem a lot more willing to accept people’s individuality and right to their own choices, and peer pressure of any kind is frowned upon.

My mum isn't a big drinker either, so I wonder if this is where it stems from. I think we'd both rather opt for a'mocktail and feel alert and aware when we're out as opposed to unwell and disorientated. Neither my nights out nor my social life never suffer from this – believe it or not you can still have fun and not drink.

In fact, since I bid excessive drinking goodbye I've actually felt it benefit me a lot. My second year of university (when I went out much less than the first year, and went sober more) saw my grades dramatically increase. I also found myself eating better and exercising more, which made me feel and look healthier than I had before.

That said, there are always people who think you're strange for not drinking and there's always a worry that people don't secretly want you around because you're always 'the boring one who orders a soft drink.

I hope that more coverage of young people like me will normalise our choices and make people recognise that there are different ways to be a fun, sociable person – and they don’t all involve getting blind drunk.