Not All the Duggars Abstain From Alcohol! See Which ‘Counting On’ Stars Enjoy the Occasional Drink
The Duggars abide by a long list of strict rules, and one of those includes abstaining from drinking alcohol. However, that doesn’t mean none of the Counting On stars have ever had a cocktail. Over the years, some of the Duggar daughters have inadvertently imbibed at events — and others have made the decision that the occasional drink here and there is OK after all. Get the details below.
The Duggars talked about the “foolishness of drinking” in their book.
In Growing Up Duggar, Jana Duggar, Jill Dillard, Jessa Seewald and Jinger Vuolo shared a story dad Jim Bob Duggar told them about a man who “eventually became a drug addict” after hanging out with people who encouraged him to have a beer at a party. They also wrote about a “top honor student” Michelle Duggar knew who suffered brain damage thanks to “an alcohol-related rollover accident.” The girls even admitted they avoid listening to country and rock music in part because the lyrics may be “glorifying” behaviors like drinking and using drugs.
They pointed to a few specific Bible verses to underline their point. “Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise,” reads Proverbs 20:1. Another Proverbs quote continues, “Who hath woe? Who hath sorrow? Who hath contentions? Who hath babbling? Who hath wounds without cause? Who hath redness of eyes? They that tarry long at the wine; they that go to seek mixed wine. Look not thou upon the wine when it is red, when it giveth his colour in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. At the last it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an adder.”
The Duggar girls have tried alcohol — accidentally.
Back in 2014, a couple of the Duggar daughters revealed they broke a Counting On commandment. In an interview with Cosmopolitan, Jessa revealed she and her sisters have tasted alcohol, but “not on purpose.” Jill explained, “We’re really heavily involved in politics, and sometimes it’s one of those fancy, ritzy events and they serve you what you think is punch, and it’s not. You’re like, ‘Oops, yeah, that wasn’t punch. That was champagne or something.’”
Some of the family members do choose to drink.
As a self-described “foodie,” Jeremy Vuolo is a fan of many restaurants that serve alcohol. He’s never shared a photo of a drink on his Instagram page, but fans suspect he enjoys the occasional glass of beer or wine. Regardless of whether or not he drinks now, he definitely used to. Back during his college days, he even got in a little trouble due to alcohol. In 2017, Radar Online obtained a 2008 police report from the Oneonta Police Department that stated Jeremy was “intoxicated” when he was arrested after confronting a cop while “acting belligerent and shouting obscenities.”
Derick Dillard also sometimes drank in college. In 2018, he told a fan on Twitter that he and Jill “don’t believe the Bible teaches that drinking is a sin.” In 2020, he further clarified his stance during an interview with the Without a Crystal Ball YouTube channel. He shared that he had alcohol once he was of the legal age and that they don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, though he doesn’t drink regularly.
Jill first sparked some drinking speculation after the Dillards met up with cousins Amy and Dillon King for a meal in July 2020. The four shared a photo after they went out for a double date at Dillon’s whiskey and cigar lounge restaurant in Arkansas. “Thanks for treating us!” Derick commented on the picture. “We had a great time! Good food, drinks and company.” He didn’t specify what kind of “drinks” they shared, but fans were all too happy to connect the dots. Later that summer, Jill enjoyed a piña colada on a date night, and when fans asked if it was “virgin or regular” she didn’t hesitate to come clean: ‘regular,” she responded. In September, she opened up about what alcohol consumption looks like in her little family.
“We have boundaries,” she told People. “In our faith, we believe like we’re not supposed to get drunk. So, with drinking, it’s not like we’re just like going crazy. It’s more socially here and there, or at home, for a date or something. Our kids are pretty young right now, but I think it’s good for them to see a healthy balance.”
While her kids may be fine with it, Jill knows other members of the family might be a little more judgmental. “Growing up, the whole idea of drinking was not encouraged,” she added. “I know my parents would not be happy with it, and I know that my siblings, some more than others, would probably have an issue with it. Other ones would probably be like, ‘Whatever’s good for y’all, that’s fine. Live your life.’ So far nobody’s said anything to us about it.”
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