What do 16 year olds drink?

[jo90]

My son is 16 this w/e and he's having a party at home. The boys will be drinking beer (in moderation) but what can I give the girls (most of which are only 15) which will get them in the mood without getting drunk. Dont want to get alcopops or vodka shots - is there a punch that I could give them to make them get a bit silly and think they have loads to drink without actually doing so?

[pericat]

You may feel like that lottie and I may but what about parents who don't and respect for their opinions

[LoftyLottie]

Peri, That was my opinion. I didn't say anybody else was wrong to have theirs! I will go back and look..........

[LoftyLottie]

Well, perhaps I should have said "I think it's best for them.................... etc"!

[smudge]

No matter how responsible 'you' feel you're being by asking on here jo - the trouble with allowing 15/16 year olds alcohol at a party, is that some of the parents might turn up to collect their kids & may not be too happy with them being either tipsy, or drunk come to that.

May be best to ask some of your son's friends parents what they think about laying on booze at the party, whether it be shandy, cider or punch, etc.

[cazzz1975]

I dont know what 16year olds drink, but I think something light would suffice, I remember having a little bottle of babycham, aahhh good times xx

[pericat]

Everybody is entitled of course to their opinion but their doesn't seem to be any answers as to whether the other parents are aware. I just feel as a parent these days that the biggest fight I have is against other parents who let their kids do whatever out of wanting to seem cool or out of lack of ability to argue with the kids any more. I have seen all sides of rearing kids at this stage and I don't say no to everything, I do consider everything first just in case I get accused of not living in the real world - I do believe me - LOL rant over

[cazzz1975]

i agree with smudge, it gives you an opportunity to see how the land lies with the parents, they may make some suitable suggestions. however I do think fruit cocktails/punches sound brilliant

[LoftyLottie]

If my 15 year old was invited to a party at a friends home and I didn't know the parents I would actually check with the parents first to see that it was a bona fide party. I remember being 16/17 and going to some very dicey parties where there was a lot of alcohol, etc and that was 40+ years ago. My parents had no idea!

I THINK (and it's only my opinion) (I am being very careful) that we need to let kids experience the adult world on a gradual basis rather than treat them like children and expect them to behave sensibly when they reach the age of consent.

[smudge]

Thanks cazzz - I wouldn't have hesitated to have phoned some of our daughter's friends parents first to ask their opinions on supplying booze, of any kind.

I'd have been mortified if some of the kids got tipsy or drunk & I had to face their (unaware) parents at the door!

[smudge]

Having said that, I remember tasting Babycham when I was 16. I didn't like it very much & I still don't like fizzy wine or champagne! Now I'm 'older' I prefer brandy & lemonade! lol ;o)

[LoftyLottie]

I hate to say it, but I drank Vodka and Lime at 17 and Merrydown Cider!! They were the in vogue drinks!! I can't actually remember every getting drunk though. Very merry perhaps, but not drunk. In fact I have only had 'too much' on a couple of occasions in all my life.

Funnily enough I drink very little nowadays. Just the odd lager or a glass of wine at home and a white wine spritzer with lots of soda if I drink out.

[pericat]

I have allowed my kids drink in friends houses and I really don't think I am keeping them as kids until
18 - far from it but also we cannot compare the world out there to the world of 30/40 years ago

[Sqad]

My ideas:

1) "Getting them in the mood, means happy to the parent, but to the kids it means "heavy petting"....which will happen anyway.

2) Contact the parents first for the go-ahead for serving alcohol........which will be available because the boys will have it.

3) Coke and Pepsi could be offered to the girls, but it is likely that the girls will sneak in vodka to add to the "non alcoholic" drinks"

4) Not to have a party and to ban alcohol would be looked upon as "spoil sport"

5) Good luck and keep your fingers crossed.

[LoftyLottie]

Peri, it's only my opinion! My son and his friends are actually a lot more sensible with their drinking than I was 30/40 years ago, and with their drinking and driving!

I also think that we tend to coddle our kids too much these days and be over protective. Again, my opinion. Most of us do what we think is best for our children and I am pleased to say I haven't had any problems with mine - now well into adulthood - perhaps shear luck!!!

[smudge]

I must admit, I really can't remember seeing any of my friends 'drunk' when I was 15/16, even though we had lots of fun at parties, or at the local youth club - but things have changed so much since then.

Alcohol 'used' to be sold from behind a counter back then - now it's readily available on supermarket shelves for all & sundry to buy - even though some assistants do thankfully bother to ask for identity.

We've never 'coddled' our kids either, but they've turned out level headed & are passing what we taught them onto their children.

You can only do your very best & the rest is up to them to do what they will with the advice.....

[crisgal]

I'm sure jo is winding us all up!

[Locke21]

I am sixteen next month and, like every teenager, I do have a couple of drinks at partys ect.. I think WKD / Bacardi is a good idea, Vodka / Cider not a good idea unless you want hysterical, uncontrollable teenagers being sick every five minutes, on your hands !

[munchie63]

i don't think peolpe are over reacting here at all.
maybe it's double standards ? did some of us drink at 15 ? share some cider over the park maybe ?

but, party or not, actively offering those girls at 15 alcohol.....oh boy, you're asking for trouble.
How much is too much ?
and if something happens to one at the party or on the way home ??

if my daughter came home remotely smelling of alcohol I'd be asking questions, and I consider myself pretty relaxed and modern

[carron81]

better to drink in the house supervised than on a street corner or local park