What Age Should Children Be When They're Allowed To Drink Alcohol At Family Meals?

[humbersloop]

Your thoughts?

[DTCwordfan]

In summary, it's called moderation and (continual) education - and each offspring is different, therefore adopt accordingly.

[Psybbo]

adopt? DT

[queenofmean]

I used to have a glass or 2 of Champagne every Christmas/New Year Since I was 8. I'm now nearly 25 and I barely even drink. I have never been a huge drinker and I never will be. I asked mum on her 40th birthday when I got home from brownies if I could have a sip just to see what it tasted like. If they want to try it I say let them try it.

[humbersloop]

I didn't just mean wine though and it's interesting people have also mentioned beer and cider

[DTCwordfan]

My ex was like you Queenie, twice or thrice a year and only if an outstanding wine was on offer, like a Burgundian La Tache or a Chateay D'Yqem....

[DTCwordfan]

oops, sibs, pulled up, adapt......! Back to the wine, I'm not pished enough.

[netibiza]

Although on Sundays over here in Spain we do have wine with our meal, we always mix it with lemonade but didn't give any to my daughter, she still doesn't drink when with us, but she certainly does when she's out!

[daffy654]

I just find it very odd that people don't see a problem with giving alcohol to children, the same people would be horrified if I suggested introducing them to cigarettes or drugs as well.

[DTCwordfan]

and what age, nettie?

Château back there....

[Zacs-Master]

You seem to be in the minority daffy.

[DTCwordfan]

moderation, daffy, moderation.

baccy, I would discourage as the studies indicate problems, mild and educated consumption of C2H5OH is believed (proven?) to be beneficial. Drugs (virtually all of them) are illegal - that is the difference.

[daffy654]

I do seem to be in the minority Zacs and I don't care. :)

I am not against an adult consuming the odd glass of something alcoholic as they wish. When they have it with every meal, or a bottle of wine every night then to me that signals they have a problem.

[gness]

Daffy..I no longer smoke and have never taken drugs but I am a social drinker. It was more acceptable to me as a parent to discuss drinking with my children and to let them have a taste than it was to forbid and make them curious to perhaps go behind my back.
It worked very well for me and I am sure others. Alcohol is not a problem or a demon...misuse of alcohol is.....my children know that.

[Iluvspikey]

On the special occasions we did drink we let the kids have 'watered' down (Usually with lemonade) wine from about 13 - made no big deal about it, and now all three of them can take it or leave it. - And by that I mean any type of alcohol

[ELVIS68]

Don't let them drink any, it leaves more for us

[Psybbo]

Elvis, my sentiments exactly!

[FredPuli43]

Watering wine for children is a common practice in France but what is universal in families is not drinking outside mealtimes. That is key. The child grows up to associate wine and beer with eating. Spirits are hardly drunk in France, certainly compared to Britain, but they too are associated with eating; the aperitif and the digestif. The result has been that the sight of youngsters in groups, reeling around, drunk, in the streets is unknown. A few years ago, this did appear briefly in a few places and was immediately slated by the popular press as an Anglo-Saxon abomination ! The fad, if that is what it was, imported from here seems to have been very short- lived.

France has alcoholics, as we do, which is, and always been a concern, but alcoholism is not the product of cheap or available alcohol. One of the lowest rates of alcohol related illnesses and fatalities in Europe is that of Greece, which has abundant supplies of wine and spirits but also has a similar drinking with meals culture. The highest rates are generally found in northern Europe, in spite of some governments there taxing alcohol very highly.

[nungate]

The aim of giving Queenie alcohol when she was younger was to demystify it, to remove the air of "naughtiness" from it. She should also have mentioned that the champagne she had at special occasions was diluted with orange juice! The plan seems to have worked as she doesn't drink much or at all

[DTCwordfan]

Very true, Fred.

Belgium had 'van der Velde's' law that prohibited bars and cafés from selling anything stronger than a Martini or Campari - special licences under a "Club" recognition were needed for drinking anything stronger. I understand that it hasn't been that long since this law was repealed, having been introduced in WW1 so that the troops went to the front line semi-sober rather than plastered on gin (genever) etc.

They follow the French in terms of family behaviour and education.

[Eve]

From a pretty young age I remember being allowed wine with Sunday lunch, mulled wine at Christmas concerts, sherry before Christmas lunch, the odd shandy etc...

I have never been a big drinker as an adult. I never have it at home to drink generally and it wouldn't occur to me to get to have with a meal at home. I usually don't drink unless I'm on a big night out, if I'm in the pub for a quick or lunch I'd usually have a soft drink. Similarly with meals in restaurants.

My parents are the same. I have never seen them remotely drunk.