Do/Did you let your under aged kids drink alcohol?

[square1]

Let? No. Force? Yes. Was much easier to keep track of them when they were passed out drunk j/k

 

[CobyRupert]

. Even the one-a-day drinker is controlled because they have one-a-day. No different than tobacco or any other "drug," illegal or legal, socially acceptable or not.

Sure, I agree. Just like the addicts who hang around the company supplied drug dispensary at work and talk about how they can't function until they get their fix. I mean coffee machine.

Here's something from WebMD (if it's on the internet it must be true!):
Moderate alcohol consumption seems to offer protection against heart disease for some people.
Specific suspected heart-related benefits of alcohol include:
Raises HDL, or "good" cholesterol level.
Lowers blood pressure.
Inhibits the formation of blood clots (this can be good or bad. It may prevent heart attacks but could increase the risk of bleeding).
Helps prevent artery damage caused by high LDL, or "bad " cholesterol

 

[aczlan]

Interestingly, pretty much all the benefits claimed by drinking a glass of wine each day can also be achieved by drinking a glass of grape juice each day...
I have never had a drink, never will and hopefully my kids never will. I have seen too many people who do stupid things while drunk (or drugged, or both) that they would never do while sober.

Aaron Z

 

[dakotagun]

no. they toasted something else when we had a glass of wine for special occasion, but most special occasions were toasted by all with non-alcoholic drink. when it was mixed ages and alcohol present, they were not included, because it was for adults only.

growing up, dad was an alcoholic and I became intensely aware, and resentful of, the thing that caused him to be the "other guy" at a very early age; it wasn't pretty. today, I have beer and wine in the fridge, I drink on occasion so not 'anti-alcohol', but usually didn't have any in the house when raising our three kids.

 

[mikehaugen]

I feel it pretty naive to think that "sheltering" children (whether that means not letting them drink or not wanting them around grown-ups that are drinking) will have much influence on what they do in high school/ college. I think it is more about teaching them self-control and giving them confidence. Kids lacking those two things are much more likely to succumb to the peer pressures that they will inevitably face. Teach them what is right and wrong and give them the courage to make decisions based on that.

 

[rtimgray]

Back in the day when I was in high school, and had already decided that drinking wasn't for me, I still went to the field parties that we high schoolers had. I even provided a couple of 5 gallon coolers filled with fruit punch (I did not provide the PGA that was added). I did this for two reasons - my friends were at the party and I wanted to hang out with them, and I wanted to do whatever I could to keep them and others from leaving the party in a vehicle. Typically, we would all gather at a remote farm, have a bonfire, have music and drinks and the other shenanigans that teenagers in the country to. My friend Bob and I, usually the only ones abstaining from alcohol (Bob had lost his father when he killed himself, and thankfully no others, drunk driving) would collect keys from everybody and lock them in my truck. Generally, no one left until morning of the next day when they had slept off their drinking.

No, prohibition didn't work because the majority of the populace overwhelming loves to imbibe, and I can certainly live at peace in an alcohol-fueled world. Our area had always been "dry" since prohibition, but has recently voted to be "wet". I don't like it, I voted against it, but majority rules, so I'm okay with it - but I don't have to like it.

I applaud those, who I believe are the majority, that can handle their alcohol responsibly. I detest those who tell me that they drink beer for the taste; if that were true, O'Douls and Coors Cutter and others of the like would be much more prevalent. The reason people drink alcohol is because they enjoy the altered state of mind and body that is induced - and I'm fine with that - just don't pi$$ on me and tell me its raining.

I avoid alcohol (like 7 up - never had it, never will) because I believe I have a tendency to become addicted to things, and I am not going to gamble with that.

My children and I have regular discussions about alcohol and they know well how I feel. I will not condemn them if they choose to drink responsibly as adults, but neither shall I condone it, nor will I join them.

I don't expect to bring anybody over to my viewpoint, because I don't know how many times I see "...bring a case of beer over..." in terms of when people help neighbors and the like, and sometimes friends will "pay" you in beer for helping them move, etc. Beer/alcohol has permanently stained the fabric of our society and I think its a pity for all of those who have died because of it....

Good luck and take care.

 

[azranger]

Interestingly, pretty much all the benefits claimed by drinking a glass of wine each day can also be achieved by drinking a glass of grape juice each day...
I have never had a drink, never will and hopefully my kids never will. I have seen too many people who do stupid things while drunk (or drugged, or both) that they would never do while sober.

Aaron Z

I agree with you, I have worked many DUI checkpoints, and its never ceases to amaze me the young kids that you find who are either drunk or high on drugs or both.

 

[s219]

My parents let us have a taste now and then, say at special ocassion dinners if there was wine (which was about the only time there was wine). My dad would also let me have a sip of his Michelob when he sent me to fetch one after he got in from working outdoors at the end of the day. Neither my brother or I were frantic about alcohol like most of our teen/college friends, and it was no big deal to us.

I'll probably raise my daughter the same way, giving her a taste when she's old enough. At age 1, if she sees a beer bottle (or any bottled beverage, really) on the table next to me, she will grab it and hand it to me and watch earnestly until I take a drink. She also likes feeding me and watches closely to make sure I chew and swallow. It's pretty sweet.

 

[Dr_Zinj]

I work in a hospital, so I can understand some people's misgivings or outright distaste for alcohol consumption. I see our fair share of assaults, accidents, injuries, and occasional deaths from alcohol abuse.

Some people don't have the right genetics to process alcohol through their livers the way others can. Some folks brains operate differently and encourages the formation of addictions while others never seem to form addictions to anything. (There are some people who simply can't form an addiction to cocaine, heroin, or even tobacco - lucky them.)

I guess rtimgray detests me because I really do drink beer for the taste; and prefer the dark brown, nutty, opaque ales with a strong head. (My all time favorite is a beer brewed in Belgium called Chimay. I've seen it here in the States, but it doesn't taste exactly the same as it does in Belgium - probably doesn't travel well.) And yes, the alcohol sensation on the tongue and sides of your mouth are an active component to the taste. I abhor the taste of O'Douls; cow urine tastes better. (I grew up working on a dairy farm so I have the misfortune of actually being able to compare the two.) Learn to keep your mouth shut when walking behind cows.

 

[Deere Dude]

I don't expect to bring anybody over to my viewpoint, because I don't know how many times I see "...bring a case of beer over..." in terms of when people help neighbors and the like, and sometimes friends will "pay" you in beer for helping them move, etc. Beer/alcohol has permanently stained the fabric of our society and I think its a pity for all of those who have died because of it....

Good luck and take care.

I agree with most of your post. I just moved to an area that just allowed a bar in town, so I know whence you come.. What I found over the years is as you help people help you, they generally will say, "Bring a box over. Or a six pack." I never have or will ever enable anyone to drink so I give a gift certificate someplace nice or cash and they can do what they like.