Should parents let children under 15 drink alcohol?

Question

Recently in the UK it was suggested that parents who let children under 15 drink alcohol should be fined (At the moment UK law states that children over 5 are allowed to drink in the home so long as they are supervised). A few days later a study was released claiming that children who where allowed to drink with their parents tended be more responsible drinkers.

Answer 1

I respect both sides of the argument. However, if it were my child, I would hope that I raised them properly so that they would not see the need to drink socially, nor want to drink to excess.

When I was a kid, my parents always had alcohol in the house. My dad was a weekend alcoholic (drank after playing golf and would come home pizzed...) His dad was the same. I did not want to fall into the same pattern. I was curious about drinking, and tried a few sips, but never a full drink. To this day, I can count on one hand the amount of times I've had "a buzz", and I have never been so drunk that I threw up or lost my ability to walk.

I think that a child needs to be old enough to understand the social aspects as well as the dangers of drinking, and at 15 some kids may be very mature, but there are a lot that are not too. The question is do you make a rule and set a particular age limit?

I tend to agree with the second study. Drinking at home along with responsible parents is probably the best way to help kids understand and be responsible themselves. If they want to drink, they would be less prone to drinking behind their parents backs at a friend's house or at some party where they can be taken advantage of.

However, in today's society we have parents who do not have control of their kids or who suffer from alcoholism themselves, and therefore cannot be considered supervised or responsible.

I believe that 5 years old is much too young to be allowed to drink, even if supervised in front of parents. I think 12 years old would be more appropriate.

However, we need to understand the difference between taking a sip of Daddy's beer or Mom's wine versus chugging a couple of Gin & Lemonade and then getting back on their Big Wheel for a lap around the yard.

Responsible parents would know that due to the age and size of a child, it would take much less alcohol to affect their judgement and actions. Parents who would allow their children to exceed a certain blood-alcohol limit should then be considered guilty of child endangerment. So now you are looking at a fine line between caring parent showing kids how to drink responsibly vs ignorant parent who just wants the kid to get drunk because it would be funny or he/she will fall asleep earlier.

Answer 2

In some other countries in Europe, families start drinking with their children at an early age, but it is in a controlled way. When children start drinking with their family such as a glass or wine/beer at dinner, alcohol is taught to be taken in moderation. When kids learn to drink by binge drinking at parties with their friends, they tend to binge drink all the time. Plus alcohol is looked at as something "cool" when it is forbidden, so when these kids get their hands on it they don't really know how much to drink and think getting wasted is cool. If kids were taught to take advantage of the "positive" effects of alcohol (relaxtion, small buzz) which is about .05-.08, then they wouldn't drink to the point of puking or blacking out. We just have too many closed minded people who don't think kids should be taught how to handle alcohol. Most kids are going to drink whether it is legal or not, it is better when they are well supervised and taught the limit.

Answer 3

No you are doing everything right... both my brother and I (college age now) were given alcohol the day we were brought home from the hospital, it was always available, never locked and never hidden. If we wanted some we took some. Our parents were never carefree about it and used it responsibly and we took on the same ideas. I drink moderately now and I know my limit so I don't get wasted like my friends that didn't grow up this way do. And my brother won't even touch it unless it's a special dinner with the whole family. On the flip side I was never allowed to dye my hair and as soon as i moved out that was the first thing I did. So thanks for showing good parenting skills. EDIT: there is some chatter about it being illegal... I don't know about the laws where you live but where I live if you are serving to your own kids and are in your own home it is not illegal as long as they do not get 'drunk' and wander into public areas.

Answer 4

No. Part of the reason for not drinking until someone is an adult is because of the affects on growth alcohol can have. It is unhealthy for a youngster to drink. Maybe it would be ok for someone 18 over to drink if supervised by a parent, but not 15. 15 years old is just a child (and if you're 15 years old, get over it. You'll be old enough before you know it, and before too long you'll be wishing you were still young.)

Answer 5

I think there are strong arguements on both sides. I personally feel that providing that the parents restrict the childs consumption to sensible levels and encourage the child to drink responsibly in a social environment it will do the child some good. I also believe that anything which brings children and their parents together for a fun time is a good thing - the more time kids spend hanging out with their parents rather than on street corners, the better :)

Answer 6

I think that it's fine to allow a kid to have a small amount of wine or beer with a meal or a taste of a mixed drink but they should not have much more than a half glass in an evening. It helps them to appreciate alcohol as a beverege not as a means to inebriation. This becomes bad advice if either parent has an addiction to anything as their child is likely to be an addict also. Children should not have large or even moderate amounts of alcohol as it does cause growth deficiencies and learning problems.

Answer 7

Sure and crack addicts should allow there kid to do this activity with there parents as well....makes no sense to me!

Since alcohol is such a dangerous drug I can not see giving it to kids. I have no clue what it is like in Europe for I do not live there... here in the states the parents should be fined and brought up on charges of child endangerment. Nothing like seeing a five year old drunk hu?

Children who are allowed to drink with their parents are no more responsible drinkers then the next guy, though they do give one heck of a party! Oh and real popular with there pears....

Answer 8

Calm down and read the question! It does not ask if parent should let children under 15 get drunk!
To teach children how to be be responsable is a tough balancing act for parents. Say no and we all know what will happen!

Answer 9

yes, if they are with adults, it makes the children more responsible with alcohol so when they are finally allowed to drink un supervised in clubs etc it is not so much of a big deal and they wont go so crazy
in most european countries drinking small amounts with the family is part of childhood and they have less alcohol problems then the rest of the world.

Answer 10

Personally, I feel that kids that are supervised drinking are more responsible. But it's not your own kids you are worrying about when they go out. It's who they are getting mixed up with. I feel that it's not an age that determines when you should drink, it's your maturity level. I have seen 23 year olds act a fool b/c there was alcohol at a company party.