What do you think about parents who let their teens drink alcohol at home/under their supervision?

[beebella]

Did you have those kind of parents? Would you be that kind of parent?

I think something about it

I think nothing about it

I didn't know this was a real thing

Something else/Results

[lilyanony1]

My parents introduced me to alcohol at 13.
I was allowed a small amount with my dinner although not every dinner.
They did this to normalise drinking sensibly and for me to build up a tolerance I guess.

I did have my wild days but my threshold was high, some guys were actually shocked that I didn't get drunk until some started to get stupid.
Putting too much alcohol versus the chaser.
I started to realise the dark side of some men and their ego.
But I wasn't the type to come home falling over themselves drunk.

Maybe if I hadn't had my drink spiked or I wasn't subjected to people claiming I was an alcoholic or trying to claim I was easily manipulated when drunk, I would still be drinking today.

But since 2016 I haven't had a drink.

It's no longer a desire.

I go out and can enjoy the evening without a drink, as I always could. I realise back then I drank because it was a sociable thing.

Maybe a part of me wanted to prove I wasn't a drunk.
But I don't think about it nor miss it.
I won't lie and say I've had nothing, I have had a drink for celebrations and it's been fun to remember the light buzz but one glass truly is enough.
I just don't want more.

[lilyanony1]

Also I have a bottle of barcardi, and glenfiddich sitting in the cupboard and it's been there since 2015 untouched.
I could have a drink at any time. But I don't.

[pleasestopthis]

I think it's fine as long as long as the children are not too young. My parents let me have some wine while we were having lunch, and sometimes I could drink champagne in special occasions from 14 onwards. I didn't turn an alcoholic, and drinking didn't have the allure of a forbidden pleasure.
When parents are too forbidding about things it has the opposite effect.

[pleasestopthis]

I prefer to have my kids drink at home than having them do it behind my back and getting wasted while risking their security.

[ChrisMaster69]

I am one of those parents.

The UK drinking laws are different to the US.

there is this thing about learning respect for alcohol.

Look at France, Italy etc, it’s common place for entire family to have wine with a meal.

The legal age is 18 for buying and drinking alcohol.

however 16, 17 can have alcohol with a meal if bought for by an adult.

there is no age limit other than no under 5 for drinking at home.

https://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcohol-and-the-law/the-law-on-alcohol-and-under-18s

from about 14/16 most kids have access to alcohol via their friends, parties etc.

from 16 kids especially girls start getting in to pubs.

which is why it’s important to learn respect for alcohol.

If a parent does not do this, their first drink is likely an opened bottle of beer (opened by some unknown person) at a party.

also you can add lemonade to white wine to reduce its strength…

[dolemite89]

i think letting ur kid have a glass of wine or sneak a beer is fine in that circumstance just so they don’t view it as taboo and won’t have the drive to over indulge cuz it’s “forbidden”. Those parents that genuinely let their kids get shit faced in front of them is a different story tho lol

[Minerate]

Like everything, it depends on the time, place and frequency. Overall, exposing them to alcohol at a younger age (ie: before 21) can be a smart move, as it demystifies it. They are able to try a new thing that often (at least in the US) gets abused, with proper supervision (as opposed to friends) and can help remove some of the impulsiveness around it. (Being told "No" often only increases the desire to get what you can't have... which can build over time)

A few sips or teaspoons/tablespoons to start (ex: around middle school or so, if they ask), then maybe a 1/2 glass of wine with a meal/new years, etc. If they are really interested in something (for me, daiquiri was a weakspot of mine growing up, since it looked awesome and delicious) consider making an alcohol free/virgin option for them to enjoy. This is NOT the same as say, allowing the kid a can of beer after work every day. Again, more special occasions or family events and even then, there are limits based on their level of maturity.

This can allow them to experience not the effects of alcohol, but also the environment/mentality about consuming it in a controlled environment. Nothing that will get them drunk, but can learn to appreciate it for what it is without abusing it. If you start early with discipline and remove the shine/excitement around it, it becomes more ordinary and not as big a deal.

[ohshee]

On the weekends in summer my mom aunt and uncle and cousins would go out to the lake my cousins and I used to steal beer on the ice chest at night time. And we get in trouble. And of course we would say we didn't do it LOL every summer. We noticed that they were buying are bringing Extra beer and this is from age 13 maybe 17. And maybe at the age of 15 I would do it just ask my mom to buy extra beer or I would give her the money she would buy the extra case of beer. But we never really got in that much trouble it kind of gave us the green light that it was okay to drink. I started getting into clubs when I was 17 and that means I could buy alcohol in the clubs. After work we go to a bar have Martini beers. When I was 18 I got married and believe me in at a full bar it's also when I met my real father 4 about an hour and that's when I found out about his father him his brother all alcoholics so in my mind I had to put a stop to my drinking because I do not want that 3 months later my wife was pregnant. Fast forward 15 years later my son was asking me to buy him beer. My answer was no don't ever ask me again because it will be no. Just like me just like any other kid on this planet they want to experience and experiment some can handle it some can't do parent knows I can predict what's going to happen. I say it's one of the stupidest moves a parent could do that's just for me though the younger than a person starts more likely it's going to go from alcohol to drugs it's just common sense but it also depends on what thank you g e n e s you're born with how strict your parents are and who you are good night for me I just say it's bad idea I have a lot of friends that have the same type of parents some of those friends made it some of them didn't do for me I chose not to introduce alcohol to my kids they're grown right now and I don't even like it when I see them drink but they have a mind of Their Own they're going to do what they're going to do

[Lliam]

It's not uncommon for certain cultures to have wine with meals and to allow children to have sips. I suppose when kids reach their later teens, they can have a bit more. But it's not about getting drunk.
In a way, allowing them to have modest amounts might be a way of teaching them moderation. It's also a gradual rite of passage; a way of acknowledging that the kids are becoming young adults and earning more trust. It allows monitoring and requirement of adult responsibilities and behavior.

I, personally, don't think teaching kids to drink hard liquor or even beer is a great idea. But if the parents are in the habit of drinking in front of the kids, I suppose it's not a horrible idea to let them have a sip now and then for the purpose of learning moderation.

One way that kids can go off the rails is to be forbidden from doing things that their parents do. It will make the kids curious and experiment on their own without full knowledge of the potential dangers.

[Shizunk]

We were allowed to drink at home fairly early on. I ended up drinking about one polite gulp per year if even that as an adult and the rest of the family only slightly more. I think it depends on the context and general parenting style. As children we drink less than our parents did. Other factors influenced that more than the permission. I know a mother who is a heavy drinker, who tries to prevent her children fron drinking and it's completely futile... They learned it's a way to get revenge on their mother, while we learned instead that drinking is bad in excess, but our parents don't care either way. So it was never something we as teens would care about much.

[DizzyDesii]

Everyone can raise their kids as they please. I personally am not a fan of alcohol although i’ve tried it and realized how much i hated the smell, taste and everything about it. My child is welcome to “try” it when they turn 21 and are in a safe, responsible setting

[DJB72]

The USA allows kids of 16 to join the armed forces. They can get married and vote at 18. But they can't buy a beer with their squad or toast their wedding with champagne.

Just think for a moment. These children can be given automatic weapons and taught to kill other human beings, but they're not "mature" enough to have a drink?

I'm British. English to be specific. I'm from the Westcountry. Cider country.

We brewed our own my whole childhood. Not that nancy-boy shit. Minimum 20% proof or it's not ready.

I'm 49 now. I brew once a year at most and drink about a pint a month. That's all I want.

[Cherry234]

I think it's okay if they let their kids try a little bit but they shouldn't be drinking alcohol regularly. My mom let me try some wine when I was under 21. I don't really like alcohol that much anyway. I'll drink some alcohol occasionally like beer or sangria. I dislike wine

[melanieeeB]

My mom already allowed me to sip some beer here and there when I turned 14, but I started drinking alcohol just with 18/19 .. I was a late bloomer for German standards lol


Anyway drinking with your family is an controlled environment, also I do believe you learn to have a better uhm relation to alcohol itself.
It's definitely better than making it something forbidden, that way kids will drink with the wrong people and who knows what might happen

[Sarahr123]

I don’t care what they do with their children. It doesn’t concern me. I’ll still go about living my life.

If they were getting drunk and driving drunk and killing people and myself or someone I cared about got injured or could potentially get injured then I think they should arrest the parents for allowing it as well as the children.

[hahahmm]

Not a crime if it's only to taste/minor amounts. In many cultures it's normal for little kids to have wine but not to get drunk. If the parent is letting the kids get drunk that's really bad. Especially bad if they're letting other kids come to the house... and it's illegal then.

[Nomina]

I know some people think it's responsible behavior. By having the parents supervise, they can monitor how much the kids take in, but I see it as teaching kids to drink, honestly. I prefer the view to teach by example, in not drinking too much and for the kids to wait until they're adults.

[wittymilf]

I was that mum, I still am great friends with many of my children’s old friends now and they still pop around for drinks when they’re struggling with life and we all talk it out.
I have great relationships with my three daughters as well.. who actually all still live at hone and we all still like to have drinkies together and go clubbing 🤔

[Subarugirl]

When I got married at 19 I could legally drink with my husband on private property since legally he was considered guardian. Honestly, I think if you’re older enough to drive, but a house, join the military or get married, you should be old enough to decide if you want to drink.

[siseñor]

i think it's cool as long as it's just the weak stuff. it's not too overconfident for the parent to expect the kid to drink responsibly under their roof.
however it's another thing for kids to drink somewhere else without supervision. my sibling can legally buy alcohol but the number of times they've come back drunk at 4am in a state having my parent going crazy is bad.

[Aeyes]

My Sis and I, grew up with a shotglass at the dinner table filled with grape juice in order to feel part of the drinking culture. Occasionally filled with liqour. To join drinking as a teenager is apso part of the general culture where I am from. Two siblings; two results. She drinks daily, I dont drink at all. Stop trying to control people and tell them what and what not to do. Educate them. In my case, I educated myself earluly one through life experience and later studies and I chose how I wanted it to be for myself and so did my Sis.

[SmokinAces2000]

My parents never just let me sit up downing alcohol but every now and then my dad would give me a sip of a beer or something and I don’t think there’s really anything wrong with that but I do think there is something wrong about parents who just let their kids do whatever, I knew this girl in high school who would post her drinking alcohol and smoking weed with her mom on Instagram and I just couldn’t believe the ignorance I was seeing

[TallAnon]

Everything in moderation, but it's best to get introduced to the effects in a safe environment. I remember my sister trying beer and champagne at home (holidays and such), giving them a few sips is no problem, just don't give a 10 year old a bottle of vodka, lmao.
Personally I'm 26 and never tried alcohol.

[KrisPW]

Dad allowed us within reason. I honestly became less exciting. And we didn't feel like we needed to binge drink "cuz' who knows when we'll get to again". You certainly didn't want to drink so much that you did something stupid at home.

[KrisPW]

IT became less exciting. LOL. I think I was still pretty cool :P

[dustybiker]

My parents offered my sister and I small amounts during holidays and special occasions from the earliest age I can remember. I agree with the others that it does teach children to respect the drink. It also demystifies it, which is important.

[Livewire3]

Many cultures have different ages in which they believe it is okay at different ages. I'd say that content matters, it can be an educational experience socially, physically, and mentally. But it can just be stupid and create addictions and bad behaviors like a coping mechanism which mostly I've seen leads to addiction and depression. To each their own... but try not to be stupid about it.