Should i report this or stay out of it?

Question

My niece is friends with my neighbor's 15 year old daughter and her 12 year old brother. The 15 year old was visiting today and she told my niece that they had a New Years Eve party and that their parents gave them alcohol and they were bragging about how tipsy they got. I couldn't believe it when my niece told me this. I went to talk to the parents to find out was this true, and much to my dismay, they both told me yes! I asked them, how can you give minors like that booze, and they both just laughed and said hey, it was New Years Eve, it's not like we give it to them every day. I couldn't believe what i was hearing. The daughter told my niece that her and her little brother got pretty drunk. They are 15 and 12!! I want to report these parents to someone because this is just not right. What should i do? What would you do if you were in my shoes?

Answer 1

I just had to answer this question when i came across it. I can't believe some of you folks attitude towards this subject! When did it become ok for minors to drink booze? If it's ok then why is it illegal? Just because it's in the privacy of their home makes it right? What the hell is wrong with you people!? THESE ARE 15 AND 12 YEAR OLD KIDS! And we wonder why this world is so screwed up! Irresponsible parents like those should be reported. And this 15 year old is a year away from being able to legally drive a car, so i wonder will she end up drinking and driving? It's a good bet that she will. Don't listen to some of these crazy people on here, report this asap!

Answer 2

Wow, that's a really hard place to be in. If i were you, I would. I would not want that to continue because it might affect your niece. I am 15 myself and though i have never gotten drunk, I always hear my friends bragging about driving drunk, getting wasted at parties, etc. because their parents don't care. I am just glad my parents are not that irresponsible. Sorry I'm going off subject, but basically this is how I see it:
If this is only a one time thing because it was New Years, then i wouldn't worry. If this continues and you hear more about the parents' irresponsibility, then most definitely report them. This is a matter that could possibly affect your niece so don't feel bad reporting them.

Answer 3

Keep in mind that kids tend to exaggerate stuff like this. To them, getting lit might mean that they got a little goofy more so on the atmosphere than the alcohol. Talk more with the parents. If you honestly feel that they are being negligent, then you really have no choice, but discuss it at length with them and don't let your own "moral code" determine this. A lot of people allow their kids to drink alcohol in the safety of their home, especially on special occasions. Frankly, if I were in your shoes, I wouldn't worry too much about it until those kids start asking you to buy the beer for them. Of course, you also want to explain to your niece why you don't approve of this behavior.

Answer 4

Most kids get alcohol from their parents instead of from the stores. This fosters an attitude that allows the abuse of alcohol to flourish and causes underage drinking problems that affect the whole community. I'm not sure what kind of response you'd get if you told the police, probably a my-dad-gave-me-beer-too look. i know there wouldn't be any prosecution. If you are really ticked off, I'd say that your best bet is to join MADD or a similiar group. Maybe with enough people, we can show that parents with lax attitudes towards alcohol abuse, esp. by minors, are outnumbered and that their peers, other parents, are sick of it and want it to stop. Changing social attitudes is an uphill battle, but sitting by and allowing this to go unnoticed isn't acceptable. Good luck.

Answer 5

By all means report them! That's against the law. If you don't do the right thing, in this case I know you know what's the right thing to do, you're just as guilty as those parents who gave 15 and 12 years old KIDS alcohol. Do the right thing and pick up that phone and report them!

Answer 6

It is not uncommon at all for parents to allow their minor children to drink a little wine or champagne on holidays and celebrations. In Europe, most children this age have wine with their meals. They are at home, not going any where, celebrating New Years Eve with their parents. They are in their own home. I really don't see any thing wrong with this. My parents allowed me to have wine on special occasions when I was 13. I had really good parents and I did not become an alcoholic. I allowed my children to have a little wine on special occasions and they are all grown up now and 2 of them never drink. I think you need to stay out of it unless they wonder over to your house drunk on a daily basis.

Answer 7

Stay out of it, sometimes parents let there teenage kids have a bit of drink at a special occasion. At least the 15 year old was not out on the streets drunk with their parents not knowing about it. (normal behaveyer of kids that age!!)

Answer 8

I thought I heard that in America that you are not allowed to drink until you turn 21.Is that right?The researchers were comparing American and Australian children. Yes I would report it becauseyou might save their lives.They could beome addictedand lead them to alcohol abuse down the track.Younger and younger children are drinking alcohol.We need to stop this rising epidemic of disaster.

Answer 9

this is a personal moral situation. I think that 12 to 15 is a bit young. But despite the law i do think a 17 to 18 year old should be able to have a few beers , if he is old enough to die for his country, its only fair.

Answer 10

Definitely report the parents, they're contributing to the delinquency of a minor, among other things!