Q&A With Avril Lavigne

Growing up is complicated for Avril Lavigne, 19, who releases Under My Skin this week, a follow-up to her hit 2002 debut CD, Let Go.

Your new single, Don't Tell Me, stumps for sexual abstinence. Is that something you believe in?

I wrote that when I was 17, and I was going through the phase in high school where every guy has ulterior motives. I don't think I would have written it now. I thought it was a good message, for girls to be strong.

Have you gone back and listened to your first album recently?

When I was making this record I did. I was like, Oh, my God, I sound like a little kid.

Rumor has it you don't like your big hit, Complicated.

I hate it. It's hard to sing. My voice goes really low in the verse, and it always cracks. But I have to sing it because everyone likes it.

You've developed a reputation as someone who enjoys a few drinks. Is that deserved?

My last tour I was drinking all the time. I'm superhealthy this time because I'm watching my sugar levels. My diet before was just a mess. Pizza, mozzarella sticks, pancakes.

Back to the drinking ...

I only drink now when there's a party. I don't drink every night after the show anymore. That makes me sound like I was an alcoholic, which I wasn't.

But you have been in a bar fight.

That's true. Some girl came up to me and started it. She said, You ruined punk rock. I said, What? Then she said it again. So I kicked her and punched her, and she got tossed out of the bar. The pathetic thing is, I heard she wanted an autograph too.