Would You Allow Your Teenager to Drink Alcohol?

Personally, I wouldn't buy alcohol for my child or her friends (but then, she's only 4 right now).

Seriously, I don't believe in throwing parties for teens and giving them alcohol. It's a set-up for disaster.

On the other hand, when I was growing up, my parents gave us small sips of drinks. We were pretty young, but I remember those times, because the drinks tasted so HORRIBLE to me. I couldn't understand why anyone would WANT to drink an alcoholic beverage.

This attitude lasted until college when the legal drinking age was 18. Then I drank way too much. I didn't have a car, so never drove, but still it was not a good thing.

I really wished my parents had taught me more about the effects of alcohol and the truly awful problems that could occur. I had no foundation or insight to be able to make better decisions.

I'm teaching my daughter NOW about the health issues around alcohol and smoking. If I start now, maybe by the time someone tries to introduce her to either, she'll have enough knowledge and wisdom to say no.

I have 2 points of view. Yes its illegal, yes its not something we should condone others to do but on the other hand, I was a teenager once and I attending parties where the parents provided alcohol. I'm not there yet and hope when my kids are that age I will say no but right now I can't say that. If I can have a controlled environment where I can get keys and I can control what and where they drink I feel I would be more responsible. There are too many kids dying on the roads drinking and driving and not being responsible because they are being banned from alcohol. I would like to see statistic on drunk driving deaths in Europe where teenagers are allowed to drink alcohol. I know my younger sister did not engage in drunken parties in college because she had her fill in High school when I provided alcohol for she and her friends and had them crash at my home. So when my kids are teenagers will I provide alcohol, again, I'd like to say "no" but on the other hand I don't want them to sneak off to parties and drink anyway and get into a car and be killed. If we are open enough with our kids I would hope they would either be responsible enough not to drink or call me to come get them if they do decide to drink. This is just a very tough call. I would be more concerned about the drunk driving then the affect it may have on their growing brains. Just my opinion.

You know we all grew up in different eras. I can say at 17 my M. told me very sternly "you think you need to drink? Then you do it at home, under my supervision and without driving!!!!". If my friends were there they had to call their parents, talk to my M. and my M. took everyone's keys away. I got champagne for my 18th birthday party. May sound wild and crazy but it wasn't. That was the 80s however. I never got into trouble, rarely ever did drink as it sucked the fun out of it, but it kept me on the straight and narrow during my teens my M. being at least open enough to realize it was something I was going to try and I could talk to her about. Your friend is right as if you forbid something, more then likely the teenage brain is going to want it more. Yes, you can educate them, show them what happens if they drink and drive and take them and show them the wreckage of vehicles! My M. beat it (not literally) in my head about NEVER to drink and drive and if I went to a party and did drink at least I knew I could call her. I would get a lecture however she kept that line open with me. When I was out on my own in my 20's my M. even told me if I was going to drink to take a cab and she would reimburse me for the cab fare! I actually took her up on that many times!

HOWEVER, that said, I WILL probably never do that with my kids feeling like I do as a parent now. Not to mention it is illegal!! I will be open and let them know they can come talk to me, that there are rules in my home they must abide by and why I have these rules. Do you read the papers about moms getting arrested for this behavior? I say if you know of parents doing this, call the police!!!!! They are knowingly putting other kids in danger as well and taking on a lot of uncessary responsiblity providing alcohol to minors. It is one thing to have open rules with your own children, however not okay to think you can dictate what other kids do.

What you are saying makes total sense, and what you're doing is right. It is surprising that other parents are offering their kids alcohol, but I wouldn't dwell on it too much, if you can help it. You are doing a great job. The more that your son is engaged in pursuing a meaningful life, the less he will care what dingbats the other kids are! ;-)

I think teens should have jobs and learn about the world before they get out in it. They should be volunteering for causes they care about, contributing income to their families, learning to budget, buy groceries, do all the chores necessary to prepare them for living on their own, etc. They need more stimulation and responsibility, not parties and numbing substances (like drugs and alcohol)... Those things propel them backward in maturity, not forward.