17 year old wants to try alcohol

[Inniu]

DD is 17 and quite sensible.

She is going to a function in a few weeks and wants to have a drink with her friends before she goes.

I would prefer she didn’t especially going out to a function but I am not going to try to stop her.

She is clueless about alcohol though and I don’t want her trying something too strong.

What is a fairly light alcoholic drink for a 17 year old?

I think I drank West Coast Cooler at 18 or 19. Would teens today drink something similar or is that an old person drink?

[PantTwizzler]

Fruity cider seems to be the tipple of choice round here.

(And vodka but I don’t think that ticks your boxes.)

[Poppyfields21]

Are you in the US OP? It’s quite unusual for a 17 year old not have ever tried alcohol in the UK. I’d advise a homemade cocktail probably, using a half measure of spirit rather than whole if you’re concerned.

[Northernsoullover]

I really wouldn't encourage it. You have to be realistic and accept that she may try it but I certainly wouldn't facilitate it. I'd talk to her about the dangers of spirits and sensible drinking.
We live in such an alcohol driven society. Its ok not to drink.

[OhTheRoses]

Eh? Has your 17 year old never had a glass of wine, pimms, beer, shandy, weak spirit and mixer?

Shouldn't be an issue imo

[cavendish4]

I remember throwing up from drinking stolen vodka from my parents at 15. Turned out to be an alright adult.

Stopping alcohol makes it more elusive and desirable as a result which leads to misuse

[Toomanycats99]

I remember throwing up out my dads car window at 15 after drinking vodka and orange. 17 does seem quite late.....

[dementedpixie]

I remember being in the pub age 14. Dd(15) has been offered a taste but so far has declined. Has she never tried anything? It was things like Smirnoff ice and bacardi breezer that I used to drink

[Northernsoullover]

I agree with you on that Cavendish which is why I haven't banned my teens from drinking. They don't at home because I don't drink but I have warned them about the dangers. At the moment they have chosen not to drink.

[Daddylonglegs1965]

I would go for cider or wine with a lowish strength maybe have a drink or two at home in a safe environment the week before and try to encourage her to be sensible and avoid the spirits. Cross your fingers she doesn’t go wild 😜 on the vodka or something. Although she probably will sooner or later.

[Inniu]

We are in Ireland and some teens do drink very young but I do think DD hasn’t tried alcohol yet.
She is quite clear she wants to now though.

[DoubtingMyPatience]

I was in town with a fake ID at 15 getting aboutelt mullered. Would regularly have a civilised glass of wine or a Smirnoff ice/WKD with my mum on the weekends when my siblings went to dads house.

I’m 23 now, did all my drinking and being silly before I was about 19/20 and now I’ve got a mortgage, good career and starting our family.
Yet I know a lot of the much more refined girls who I knew at school are currently coked up down the local every weekend and skipping job to job. I know it depends on the persona do their attitude.

But don’t assume because people drink young means their going to grow up a shitebag. IMO it’s quite the opposite.

Give the poor girls a G&T. Parma violet gin with lemonade she will absolutely love! Probably not tonic water though..

[dementedpixie]

www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2015/08/28/21-drinks-thatll-bring-back-terrifying-memories-of-how-we-used-to-get-drunk-in-the-90s-5252470/amp/ think I've had most of these

[titchy]

A couple of bottles of San Miguel or similar would do the job wouldn't they?

[TrixieFranklin]

Archers, southern comfort or Malibu with lemonade were my drinks at that age, before that it was Smirnoff ice and white lightning

[Drum2018]

Smirnoff Ice has about the same % alcohol as a beer. It's easy to drink - though maybe too easy. Fair play to her for getting to this age without alcohol.

[joystir59]

Bloody hell. I would never have involved my parents in my social life at that age. She is old enough to drive, get married, leave home.

[dementedpixie]

Red bacardi breezer was a favourite at one point. Turns your tongue red though

[pontiouspilates]

Fruit cider or those Smirnoff Ice drinks would fit the bill.

[dementedpixie]

You get fruit cider in wee bottles too as well as cans

[CodenameVillanelle]

Why is she asking you what alcohol she should drink? That's very odd.

[WatcherintheRye]

Is it the same in Ireland as in the UK, where a 16 year old can legally have a drink in a pub with a meal in the company of an adult? If so, why not have a couple of pub lunches before the event she's due to go to. She can try out some drinks (not spirits though!)

[WatchingFromTheWings]

Why is she asking you what alcohol she should drink? That's very odd.

I did this! My best friends 18th was 2 months before mine. I'd only ever drunk sherry and rose wine at home. Had no idea what to ask for in a pub or club! Probably wasn't a good idea to ask my mother though, who suggested Babycham. All my mates were on Malibu/Taboo/vodka. I learnt quick enough!

[Daddylonglegs1965]

Don’t berate the OP and her DD. Things have changed it is now much harder for teenagers to buy drink these days than when we or certainly when I was under 18.
In a local supermarket this week a cashier was telling me about challenge 25 whereby cashiers can ask for ID if a person doesn’t look 25. As if they get caught serving alcohol to under 18’s its a massive fine.
So if OP’s daughter wants alcohol she’s asked her mum.

[LimitIsUp]

My 17 year old dd favours Smirnoff Ice - quite a low alcohol content by volume

[cricketmum84]

Personally I would facilitate it and let her have a drink with you rather than a friend turning up with a bottle of vodka...

White wine spritzer, or a low alcohol sparkling wine maybe? I'm always a bit cautious around alcopops as they just taste like pop rather than alcohol. (Even though I drank them as a teenager)