Thread: Give me your opinion on teenage drinking!

How old are these guys?

15, 10th grade

I don't think kids should drink until they are out of high school, 18 just like everything else, IMO.

On a completely different note- DO NOT, NOT serve them alcohol. It *will* get out and you could wind up completely screwed. If they must do it, let some other parents get caught doing it, but don't allow minors to drink in your household.

Sheesh Butterfly, it does get tougher doesn't it?

I know it is easier to say it now since I'm not in your shoes. I agree with Trump, do not do it. It's different if you let your own kid have a sip of wine (like in France) e.g at dinner with the family, but to give other kids alcohol in your own house.... is a different story...

I'd only do it, at 15, if all the other parents knew. At 17 I'd allow it. I'd rather my kids drink under my roof, then god-knows-where with god-knows-who.

I dunno B, 15 is kind of young...I'd say wait til next year. If you do it now, what will they expect to be allowed to do next year? Just my .02. Its really a cheapened 2 cents since I have yet to bear children of my own

Originally posted by Twin Peak
I'd only do it, at 15, if all the other parents knew. At 17 I'd allow it. I'd rather my kids drink under my roof, then god-knows-where with god-knows-who.

I'm only worried that the word will get out the next day and the kids will be bragging that they drank at B's house..to be and this may lead others to doing the same. Not everyone has the same responsibility level as B. Parents should set an example for other children, parents, ...the community. It has to start somewhere.

Plus, come on TP, what if your son wants to become, god-forbid a lawyer? There goes his squeeky clean record if someone finds out...

What record? You can't get arrested for drinking underage at your parents house with parents permission?

You can if you are caught in a park or beach though.

I see.

Still don't agree.

Funny, we didn't have drinking age where we grew up. So nobody drank at parties since it wasn't a 'biggie' All we did was drank soda or pop or whatchamacallit

In the presence of friends thats asking for a run in with the law. When your son and you are at home with no friends then its up to you I think.

My dad let me have the occasional beer but I never abused it and you can rest assured I was not boozing it up when my friends came over! I think that would be disrespectfull to even consider putting him in that position, no I am not making a judgement

When I was around 19-20 I drank once every friday, honestly after 21 I just didn't care about it much.

It's funny, they went out and played football for awhile and when they got back it's like they forgot all about it.

I told fade to put his foot down and tell them no if they asked again. We just feel like they are too young and it's not our choice if they should be allowed to drink or not.

Thanks for everyone's input!!!

Err, not EVERY friday but you get the idea, now and again

Originally posted by butterfly
I told fade to put his foot down and tell them no if they asked again.

Uhm...she actually left the decision up to me and I decided not to let them.

Busted

I agree that it is a bad idea to let that go on, if it happens then so be it, but you don't want to be the culprit. Kids at that age are not mature enough to handle the responsibility that comes along with all of that.

I'm 19, 20 in November, and my thoughts on this are NO! Parents should definitly not allow their kids to drink, especially not serving them alcohol, when they are that young. Maybe some wine/beer with dinner at 17.. At least that's what my parents did and I think that worked well. I drank sometimes when I was with my friends, but I was never a big drinker since I respected my parents. None of the parents of my friends EVER served us any alcohol, not my male friends either..
It may happen anyway, but I really don't think parents should allow it.

I have never seen my parents drunk, they never have more than a few glasses of wine/beer, and I think that rubbed off on me as well.

Originally posted by Fade
Uhm...she actually left the decision up to me and I decided not to let them.

I think you guys made the right decision. It is your house and you should do what is right within your belief system and how you want to raise your son. What other parents do doesn't matter, because it's not their house and their rules.

More parents should follow your example!

Originally posted by Twin Peak
I'd only do it, at 15, if all the other parents knew. At 17 I'd allow it. I'd rather my kids drink under my roof, then god-knows-where with god-knows-who.

I personally don't feel comfortable with the idea of fifteen year olds drinking, but I couldn't possibly take an absolute stand against it because I would then be a hypocrite.....since I drank quite a few when I was fifteen.
However, the laws (at least here in SC) are nowhere near as lenient as they used to be, and I'd hate for any of those guys to get into trouble unnecessarily....or worse.
If given a choice of two evils, I would much rather my guy drink here at home than out somewhere where he, or his buds, could not get behind the wheel.
Teenagers are tough, but sometimes it's hip to be square.

What deprived childhoods you have all had. I started drinking when i was six.

And that's not a lie.

That said, i did have a bit of a drinking problem between the ages of 13 to 15 and it was only lifting that made me kick it.

Jeeze, R. Six?

The only real trouble I ever got into while drinking was the time the police pulled myself and a buddy over at 3:00 in the morning with.......in my front yard.
Wouldn't have been so bad had my mother not just started a chapter of MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) a month before.

Oops.

Yep - first full pint of Guinness aged six.

Sort of brings a new meaning to the term "six pack" eh?

One of which I could absolutely nail about now.....oh well.

I think 15 is a little young. Perhaps next year, or in a couple of years. We had a drink or two at a friends house when we were 16, but like TP said, all the parents knew about it and we didn't abuse the priviledge.

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
Yep - first full pint of Guinness aged six.

Yes, but you're British. Guiness is breakfast cereal for you guys.

Under no circumstances would I give a 15 year old alcohol unless it was my own son/daughter.

Do you realize the liability you're taking on by doing this?

Originally posted by The_Chicken_Daddy
I started drinking when i was six.

And that's not a lie.

I do not doubt you for a second!

Well, chances are he/they will do it on their own soon enough, so i'd say supervising them and allowing it would be acceptable.