At what age did you taste your first alcholic drink?

[JonnyBoy12]

As the title suggests I am asking you all when you had your first alcoholic drink. I have heard that it is fully legal to give a child alcohol at home by the age of 5, but clearly not in a public house. Is this correct and can anyone explain why the novelty wears off when you get older. I do not wish to drink booze any more as find water and soft drinks more thirst quenching.

Can anyone here explain this odd phemonenon and thanks very much for your kind and ever helpful replies?

[erin-x]

I think I must have been about 12 and it was a babycham and lemonade at new year lol. I'm only 20 now and I don't drink much.. only at parties. Most of the rest of my friends are drunk from the end of work on a Friday til Monday morning.. and then a couple of times during the week as well.

[sara3]

I remember tasting cherry brandy, babycham, snowball, martini type drinks when I was a child.. but not downing whole glasses.

I've never been much of a drinker, but I've allowed my kids alcohol in the house once they reached about 14.

[cazzz1975]

I remember tasting some that was leftover when I was about 8, I dont drink but I am not anti drink.

[sara3]

hang on, when I say I allow the kids alcohol, I mean in small measures!

[petal54]

I'm not sure,have heard my sister crawled around at som family do drinking the dregs

[cazzz1975]

lol sara, I had a vision of them shopping with you in tesco age 14 casually putting their 12 pack of stella in the trolley..

[sara3]

lol cazzz :o)

when my girlie (17) went to her first no-parents party when she was about 15, she ended up tending to the pukers, and had to call the parents when the party-girl fell unconscious. I think it put her off drinking for life!

[Arksided]

I think, I was about five when my Grandad gave me a tiny sip of 'Olde English' (much to my Grandma's dismay) it was only on occasion.

I know I drink too much now but I don't believe that had any influence on my drinking habits as I got older. I Wasn't bothered by drink until I hit Eight then party time!!! (I jest sorry.) not until about fifteen even that being too young.

[Buenchico]

The law on giving alcohol to children under 5 years of age clearly reflects first aid practices at the time it was introduced (1933). It's legal to give alcohol to such a young child as long as it's under medical supervision in an emergency! (Can anyone imagine a doctor today saying "Quick, fetch the brandy bottle for your toddler"?).

I think, JB12, that you'll be in a minority here if you've found that the 'novelty has worn off'. I'm 58 and there's still renewed novelty whenever I can afford it ;-)

My parents might have let me try an occasional sip of beer before secondary school age but I think that I was probably around 12 or 13 when the old man would bring a bottle of 'Pony', 'Cherry B' or 'Babycham' home for my mum, and a bottle of Barley Wine or 'Cobnut' (a sweet brown ale) for me every night.

I remember that the first party I attended with booze (and with parental approval) was my friend's 14th birthday party.

Chris

[sara3]

you've splashed out tonight then, bft!

[sherrardk]

butterfly tattoo - are you in the medical profession maybe?