Kids and alcohol?

Question

What do you think are the pros and cons of letting kids taste of alcoholic drinks before they are pressured by peers to try it?

Answer 1

Children under the age of 15 no.

If we want our children to drink responsibly, we need to teach them how to drink reasonably, letting them have a drink with a meal, such as a wine or light beer is fine (no spirits).

We also need to lead by example and not get so blind drunk that we make a fool of ourselves, and embarrass our children. So drinking with a meal, and limit the amount we drink is the trick.

It worked for us, and our daughter was one of the very few, who did not go on a bender when they came of a legal age to drink. Yet some friends who refused to let their kids drink even a drop, went on to have benders and binge drinking sessions.

But I guess it depends on the situation, and your children's level of maturity and understanding.

Answer 2

There are many cons to it. Children and teens should not be drinking, there are many studies that it damages there brain. I can't remember the entire article but there was one in my last magazine of Teen Vogue(strange I know) but they printed one on the dangers of teen drinking and what it does the teen brain and how it does NOT recover from the damage. It wouldn't do damage if they were over the age of 21, but since they were a teen there brain was still developing. You can find stuff about it all over the internet, it's really scary since most teens do a lot of heavy drinking today.

This is why I'm completely against teens and children drinking. I have tasted drinks in the past and didn't know about the harms from it and neither did my parents. And since then I've chosen to never take a sip again until I'm old enough.

And to the guy above who said everything disgusted him, the same thing happened to my brothers when they were around 6 years old. My dad gave them a sip of beer they basically spit it out and cried "EW". Now both of them are basicaly alcholics, they grew up in there teens drinking heavily and are adults still the same way. They learned to like the taste to just get drunk, peer pressure, or just adapt to it.

Answer 3

I've heard before that letting your kids taste a little alcohol before the age of 21 actually reduces the changes of them becoming an alcoholic when they're older. I know it's weird, Just what I heard o.O

Answer 4

personally i think bringing kids up with alchol in family situations is really Gd for there long term attitude to alchol. this is from my own personal experience from a young age drinking watered down wine with meals, family etc then when i got to the age when my peers were drinking,alchol wasn't a 'taboo' subject i knew bout it, had drunk before so it wasn't anything special.
i think if you ban your children from alchol never let them experience alchol in a family situation as soon as drink does become a part of their life its something new and exciting something their parents have always told hem not to then their going to just to rebel and cos its something special.
but on this matter again if your child does get so drunk they have to go to hospital, no this isent a good thing but they now know the consequences themselves and can make a informed decisison. half of underage drinking is just the experience, what will happen not the whole social side but if you teach children from a young age that alchol is social and acceptable this is how they will view it, not a way to push against society
this is just my own personal feelings but i feel very strongly that this creates a Heathy respect for alchol in children and total abstention is not the way to educate your child
hope this helps xx xx

Answer 5

as a former alcoholic and at the age of 16, i would let your kids try alcohol and let them talk to someone who was an alcoholic. It messes up lives so much. Let them taste the things that would make them not like alcohol. Use a strong whiskey or a very strong alcoholic drink.

Answer 6

I think that it is fine to let kids try it. If alcohol is forbidden to teens, it will simply make it much more desirable. Though some people's answers tell you not to let your child be associated with children that will pressure them into trying alcohol, parents aren't in complete control of their children at all times.

Though all parents tell their children not to experiment with alcohol, most teens do. Most teens go through a 'rebelious' stage in life. During that stage, alcohol is one of the first things that they will try, as everybody tells them not to do it. By drinking they feel like they have succeeded in doing something 'rebelious', which makes them feel powerful.

If you let your child try alcohol, I believe that they are less likely to want to drink alcohol on a regular basis.

Answer 7

Now there has been research done into giving kids the taste of alcohol that they will become addicted to it.Very confusing.Not all kids will try alcohol. There is no easy answerParents just need to supervise their children more.

Answer 8

Look to be quite honest i think that you all are just i dunno whats the answer we have nerds who don't wanna drink mite i add its ( legal ) we have guys who think there cool because they drink i believe i read one before may i quote ( i drink every day 6 pac a night ) and his 14 that's just stupid mate grow a brain besides i think pots better its more mellow but that's just me, i think all drugs including alcohol is a stupid stupid thing to do when your at a young age 16 and under so you nerd are in the clear ;) you good little boys and girl don't wanna be drinking, look your not cool okay YOUR NOT COOL if you drink lol your an individual , don't try n be cool in front of your mates you end up acting like a ******** any way especially u girls who can't handle it

Answer 9

I don't think there are much pros if any but one, they get a taste and it is bad so that don't like it.
I think it is is a whole learn from your mistakes kind of approach with some kids and you really should just talk to them.

Answer 10

Well, societies that allow adolescents a glass of wine with dinner don't tend to have the kind of pathological alcohol-related behavior we have in the US of A and UK. Italians serve wine to everybody in adolescence or beyond with dinner. I believe that custom models civilized and healthy drinking behavior, i.e. one or two glasses with food, as a grace note to good company.

When alcohol is forbidden and at once presented as very bad and very glamorous and pleasurable, that prompts any susceptible teenager who can get hold of some to drink as much and as fast as he/she can, which is a pathological and dangerous habit.