should we teach youngsters (5-12) to drink alcohol sensibly before they go mad as teenagers? how?

Answer 1

It is a good idea to introduce children to alcohol in a controlled way - say wine with water during dinner on special occasions, not daily - but not at the age of 5 to 12. This is unnecessarily young and I think 12 upwards is a better bet. I was brought up with this European approach, there was wine at lunch and dinner, and I was allowed wine and water from about that age. I think this puts alcohol into perspective and might help prevent the binge drinking trend so apparent in the UK these days.

Answer 2

I think it's a good idea to children to learn 'when to say when' at home with family, instead of learning 'the hard way' by binge drinking with their peers. When the adults are having 3-6 ounces of wine for a toast, give the children half an ounce or a full ounce in their own tiny, festive glasses. When they are older teens, say 16, have sleepovers where drinking is allowed. (Make sure the other parents understand and approve.) Waking up with a dry mouth and pounding head is an excellent learning experience. Also the teasing and ridicule heaped on anyone who "overdid" the boozing. Remember, the key is to make sure young people view drunkeness as a badge of "idiot-hood" not a badge of adulthood.

Answer 3

I used to get a sip out of my parents glass if I asked for it as a child, from the age of about 12 i was allowed to have a glass of alcohol at new year etc if i wanted it. I never went drink mad as a teenager and I am not too bothered about alcohol now and I believe its because there was never any mystery to it when I was a child as it was not forbidden.

Answer 4

Ages 5-12 .. are you kidding me? You should be teaching a child age 5-12 to be a child, to live, learn, play.. to have a childhood. You shouldn't be teaching them how to drink alcohol sensibly. You should teach them NOT to drink any sort of alcohol until they are legally of age.

Answer 5

Europeans let their children drink watered down wine from about 10 years old. If it's done this way, with parents drinking at meal times, it instills a sensible attitude towards alcohol. Making it bad to drink (as we do here) simply makes them do it because they think it's wrong. Hence more binge drinking and not sensible consumption. The French, believe it or not, drink more than us, but have les alcohol related problems, less related violence, and less health issues.

Answer 6

That is the dumbest question I have ever read! Why would you want to teach a child such thing?!? Alcohol kills cells no matter what amount you drink. Do you want your child to not do well in school?!? What you should teach your child is NOT to drink. Tell them what alcohol can do to their brain and other organs. Giving them a taste of alcohol at an early age will turn them into drunks later on in life. Trust me I have been there and now I am recovering from it. Don't do something you will regret later.

Answer 7

I always allowed my girls a small drink at Christmas and on special occasions. From the age of 5 -10 it was well watered down. That was the only time I drank alcohol as well.

Answer 8

i'm turning 19 next week, and that i don't drink. regularly merely via fact i think of maximum alcoholic drinks are gross. I hate the scent of beer so I doubt it would flavor solid. i've got tasted wine formerly via fact of going to church and doing communion, and that i do in comparison to the way it tastes. I took a sip of my mom's drink at a marriage some weeks in the past (ignore what it became, in spite of the undeniable fact that it became alcoholic) and it tasted quite bitter besides. If I did drink, i wouldn't in any respect do it just to be "cool" and get wasted, it quite is merely stupid. So considering that i don't unquestionably get excitement from the flavor of the beverages, there is not any element in eating.

Answer 9

Oh and while we're at it, should we also teach them not to share needles when they are firing off a shot of heroin into their veins?

Jesus... I think the education needs to start to teach these children how to be parents, as it's clear that their own are not role models.

Perhaps the only way forward is to make people apply for a licence to have a child, that way only the decent folk can have them, creating a better society and eventually eradicating the low life scum of this country.

I mean how often do you see really little ones with foul parents.... and think to yourselves that those poor little b@stards don't stand a fecking chance.

Answer 10

Why do we need to each anyone to drink booze? I know the French let their kids drink wine at a young age. But life can be fun without having alcohol, teach them they dont need to have it.