Do Any Of The Duggar Family Members Drink Alcohol?
Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar have always had strong opinions on lifestyle choices. For instance, they absolutely do not endorse drinking alcohol. In Touch Weekly shared information from the book "Growing Up Duggar" that explains their objections to booze. The duo referred back to readings from Proverbs to enforce the decision. For instance: "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." Other objections include high school anecdotes and "horror stories" the parents have shared with their children about drug and alcohol use.
In fact, Michelle is so anti-alcohol she once campaigned against a local business getting a beer license. Celebitchy reports that, amid the health struggles of their 19th child Josie, Michelle made an appearance at the local Alcoholic Beverage Control board in 2009. Her goal was to get them to deny the beer license of a Springdale, Arkansas EZ-Mart. She was successful. "I was told the Duggars were there protesting it, and that Mrs. Duggar was up there crying," assistant manager Tomie Labeff said. "And she said that she didn't want alcohol in her neighborhood or her town, so we got turned down for it."
With such strong opinions from the parents, are the Duggar "kids" listening when it comes to drinking alcohol?
Jill Duggar Dillard made headlines for drinking a piña colada
When it comes to rebel Jill Duggar Dillard, the answer to that question is clear. Duggar followers were blown away when Duggar Dillard posted a 2020 Instagram showing her at a restaurant drinking a piña colada — which she later confirmed was indeed alcoholic. Opening up to People on the topic, she shared, "We have boundaries. 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."
The fact that Duggar Dillard is willing to cautiously "test the waters" on things like alcohol really shouldn't come as a surprise. The U.S. Sun reported on the "Counting On" alum's "transformation" as she has grown up and away from her parents. Instead of following their rules, she's choosing her own path with her husband Derrick Dillard on ideas like modesty, family planning, public school, and more.
It's unclear if Jinger Duggar Vuolo drinks
Jinger Duggar Vuolo and her husband Jeremy Vuolo may indeed be some of the more modern and liberal of the Duggar couples with their sunny California life. Vuolo doesn't share the same Puritanical upbringing of his wife and has definitely drank alcohol in the past. In the couple's book "The Hope We Hold: Finding Peace in the Promises of God," Vuolo writes about his "hard partying" past (via The U.S. Sun).
"I joined my soccer buddies at party after party, the whole time thinking, I'm not gonna drink, I'm only going to hang out with the guys," he wrote. "I might as well have walked to the edge of a cliff and hoped I didn't fall." Giving in to peer pressure, Jeremy did indeed drink and even ended up arrested in 2008 for "harassment against a police officer" at a bar.
Showbiz Cheatsheet shares that while the couple definitely isn't partying like that, it's possible they both drink in moderation as a married couple. An anonymous tipster reported that the couple enjoyed alcoholic beverages with dinner on Instagram in 2020. While unconfirmed, so is their total sobriety. Considering Vuolo already has significant theological differences from Jim Bob Duggar, it wouldn't be a stretch to think he has different opinions on the consumption of alcohol.
Josh Duggar never admitted to drinking
We don't know that Josh Duggar has consumed alcohol — we only know that his "good boy" image has been proven false over and over again. First there was the hidden issue of Duggar molesting five girls when he was underage, according to The New York Times. The scandal, once it was reported, resulted in the cancellation of "19 Kids and Counting."
Next there was the Ashley Madison scandal (via The New Yorker). We can assume that joining a professional philandering site and sleeping with women who aren't your wife would involve at least some level of lying. The publication shared a statement from the elder Duggar which said, "I have been the biggest hypocrite ever. While espousing faith and family values, I have secretly over the last several years been viewing pornography on the internet and this became a secret addiction and I became unfaithful to my wife."
The cherry on this liar cake is the 12+ year sentence Duggar received for receiving and possessing child pornography (via CBN News). All this evidence doesn't mean Duggar drinks, but it does mean he isn't limited to his parents' moral and ethical values. Also he has a history of falsifying his actions. We can only say with some surety, that he's likely sober for now.
Amy Duggar King doesn't see anything wrong with drinking in moderation
Amy Duggar King is only kind of a Duggar. She is technically a cousin, not a Duggar sibling. As such, she has many different values than the rest of the family. The wife and mother has recently been widely outspoken about her cousin Josh Duggar's scandalous acts (via ET). These statements reflect her more modern values in many ways. Duggar King regularly posts photos of her family and the fun she's having, and these photos sometimes include things like a glass of wine with dinner.
The Sun described a 2021 video posted by Duggar King that explains her thoughts on drinking alcohol. "So here's the first one, cause I'm feeling a little salty today — you can have a glass of wine, a glass of whiskey, some Bourbon, a shot, a cocktail, and still be a good person," she said. "Just because you have a drink does not mean you're going to become an alcoholic."
In a parting thought the outspoken "19 Kids and Counting" alum shared, "My gosh, everything in moderation. Seriously people."
Jessa Duggar Seewald did not enjoy alcohol in the past
We can confirm that Jessa Duggar Seewald was not a fan of alcohol in the past. In a 2014 interview with Cosmopolitan, Duggar Seewald made it clear she had only ever tried alcohol by accident. Jill Duggar Dillard clarified that, when at publicity events, sometimes one of the girls would accidentally be served an alcoholic beverage, which they would not enjoy.
Times have changed for the Duggar family since 2014; however, and we think Duggar Seewald may have changed a bit too. On a recent visit to see the Vuolo's in 2022, she and sisters "scandalously" wore pants out in public, which they were previously not allowed to do (via Instagram). Fans wondered if the rebellion extended to the siblings enjoying a drink, too.
Duggar Seewald's Father's Day post showed her husband Ben Seewald pictured with what clearly appeared to be a cocktail on Instagram. It's assumed that the couple would follow the same rules on drinking, although obviously this is only a guess. While his drink could, of course, be a virgin cocktail, these recent pics have fans wondering if more Duggar siblings are breaking away from their parents' strict rules.