How much alcohol for a 15 year old?

Dramatic · 2025-07-31T19:29:17+00:00

If your 15 year old was going to a party (supervised by parents at the house) how much alcohol would you allow them to take with them?

Tryingtokeepgoing · 07/08/2025 18:09

99bottlesofkombucha · 05/08/2025 23:47

Over 5?!!

Show quote history

Yes, that’s the law. Doesn’t mean I agree with it. But I think it’s important to differentiate between what the law allows and what’s sensible. What’s proposed by the OP insofar as the private party being talked about is not illegal.

It’s illegal for someone under 18 to buy alcohol
It’s illegal for someone to buy alcohol for on behalf of an under 18. That’s to prevent what used to be prevalent way back, where kids would stand outside shops and ask adults to buy them alcoholic using the kids money.
It’s illegal to give children under 5 alcohol.

It’s perfectly legal for 16 and 17 years olds to drink in licensed premises with food, but not to buy the drinks themselves
It’s perfectly legal for children between the ages of 5 and 17 to drink at home or on private premises.

www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/information-about-alcohol/alcohol-and-the-law/the-law-on-alcohol-and-under-18s#/overview

Jhigs · 06/08/2025 15:00

Lemniscate8 · 06/08/2025 08:45

Alcohol does not have to be abused long term to cause damage- around 10% of deaths in teens are alcohol related accidents, mostly falls, some drownings, some RTAs. And that is without factoring in the risk of death or long term disability through alcohol poisoning.

Never mind the risk of alcoholism, and other long term damages, such as poorer educational outcomes, unwanted pregnancies, etc

Show quote history

Almost as if it's a poison. Best to avoid completely.

Lurina · 06/08/2025 12:21

Lemniscate8 · 06/08/2025 08:45

Alcohol does not have to be abused long term to cause damage- around 10% of deaths in teens are alcohol related accidents, mostly falls, some drownings, some RTAs. And that is without factoring in the risk of death or long term disability through alcohol poisoning.

Never mind the risk of alcoholism, and other long term damages, such as poorer educational outcomes, unwanted pregnancies, etc

Show quote history

The post you quoted didn’t say it had to be abused long-term to do damage though.
PP said it had to be consumed in excess to cause long-term damage.

Lemniscate8 · 06/08/2025 08:45

Dramatic · 05/08/2025 22:57

Paracetamol can easily be a poison, as can almost anything if consumed in excess (which alcohol has to be to cause any real long term damage) even water.

Show quote history

Alcohol does not have to be abused long term to cause damage- around 10% of deaths in teens are alcohol related accidents, mostly falls, some drownings, some RTAs. And that is without factoring in the risk of death or long term disability through alcohol poisoning.

Never mind the risk of alcoholism, and other long term damages, such as poorer educational outcomes, unwanted pregnancies, etc

NeverDropYourMooncup · 06/08/2025 07:25

99bottlesofkombucha · 05/08/2025 23:47

Over 5?!!

Show quote history

Yup. It's illegal to give an under 5 alcohol.

99bottlesofkombucha · 05/08/2025 23:47

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/08/2025 23:23

It’s illegal to take money from someone under 18 and purchase alcohol for them. It is not illegal to for those over 5 (!!) to consume alcohol at home or on private premises, purchased by an adult with their own money.

Show quote history

Over 5?!!

Tryingtokeepgoing · 05/08/2025 23:23

BlueMum16 · 03/08/2025 20:53

It absolutely is illegal to buy a child alcohol.

https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-young-people-law

Edited

Show quote history

It’s illegal to take money from someone under 18 and purchase alcohol for them. It is not illegal to for those over 5 (!!) to consume alcohol at home or on private premises, purchased by an adult with their own money.

Original poster

Dramatic · 05/08/2025 22:57

Jhigs · 03/08/2025 22:08

Paracetamol causes pain reduction. Alcohol is a poison.

Show quote history

Paracetamol can easily be a poison, as can almost anything if consumed in excess (which alcohol has to be to cause any real long term damage) even water.

OP posts:

dca860 · 05/08/2025 17:52

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 17:37

So because it's legal it's perfectly fine and not damaging? Life would be so much better without alcohol.

First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.

Show quote history

And moving back to reality, the vast majority of people enjoy alcohol with no ill effect. Is isn't fine because it's legal, it's fine because it's fine. There are a minority who abuse it or whose addictive personality lead to reliance on it. That doesn't mean the majority should refrain.
I have high cholesterol but enjoy crumpets with a wedge of butter on them - best we ban them then and the world would be a slimmer more healthy place!

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 17:37

dca860 · 05/08/2025 17:31

Absolutely rediculous. For a start, one is illegal, and secondly, it isn't inevitable kids will try Class A drugs at all. Your analogy is nonsense and if you align the two in that way to your kids, I truly not they're is another better influence in their upbringing!

Show quote history

So because it's legal it's perfectly fine and not damaging? Life would be so much better without alcohol.

First the man takes a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes the man.

dca860 · 05/08/2025 17:31

ClareBlue · 05/08/2025 13:18

It shows how much the destructive drug of alcohol has created an insidious grip on our society that there are numerous responses basically saying parents should wean their children onto it because it's inevitable they will be taking the class A drug behind their backs.

Absolutely rediculous. For a start, one is illegal, and secondly, it isn't inevitable kids will try Class A drugs at all. Your analogy is nonsense and if you align the two in that way to your kids, I truly not they're is another better influence in their upbringing!

dca860 · 05/08/2025 15:18

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 15:07

Not exactly healthy is it?

Show quote history

I think it rather depends, but 12 is certainly a little young even for my relaxed approach.

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 15:07

dca860 · 05/08/2025 14:44

Ahh, that explains the discrepancies in legislation.
Kids drink wine at 12 in France!

Show quote history

Not exactly healthy is it?

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 14:44

dca860 · 05/08/2025 14:44

Ahh, that explains the discrepancies in legislation.
Kids drink wine at 12 in France!

Show quote history

Not exactly the healthiest thing to do

dca860 · 05/08/2025 14:44

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 13:22

She's in Canada

Show quote history

Ahh, that explains the discrepancies in legislation.
Kids drink wine at 12 in France!

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 13:22

dca860 · 05/08/2025 12:30

What country are you in with that legal drinking age?

Show quote history

She's in Canada

ClareBlue · 05/08/2025 13:18

It shows how much the destructive drug of alcohol has created an insidious grip on our society that there are numerous responses basically saying parents should wean their children onto it because it's inevitable they will be taking the class A drug behind their backs.

dca860 · 05/08/2025 12:30

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 05/08/2025 07:10

Almost 15. Legal drinking age is 19.
Let them? No.
Not naive enough to think they never will though. Still doesn’t mean I’m buying them alcohol! Wouldn’t buy them a joint either.

Show quote history

What country are you in with that legal drinking age?

Retro12 · 05/08/2025 12:07

I would give mine 2 of the small cans of weak pre-mixed cocktails.

Saying zero means that they are 99% going to share other peoples drinks more than likely to "fit it" They do not know what they are drinking or the strength of the drinks.

In an ideal world it would be zero, but if their peers are doing it, you can bet your bottom dollar the child without permission from their parents will...... Has having kids erased your memory of what it was like being a 15 year old???

LarkspurLane · 05/08/2025 10:08

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 04/08/2025 20:14

Those who allow this, if you lived somewhere where cannabis was legal would you buy them weed in order to introduce it to them yourself?

I use marijuana and it’s legal here. I would never buy some for my kid in order to teach him moderation.

I know a couple of people who allowed their kids (15/16) to smoke cannabis at home because it was preferable to them being out and about with it (as it is illegal in England). I don't think they would have sent them to a party with a couple of joints though.
One set of these parents were cannabis smokers, the other set were fairly horrified but felt it was the best way through. Now at 19, both of these young men are doing very well and seem to be managing their intake.

I hate the smell of it so it would be a no from me at any age.

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 05/08/2025 07:26

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 07:21

Canada?

Show quote history

Yep!🇨🇦

Jhigs · 05/08/2025 07:21

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 05/08/2025 07:10

Almost 15. Legal drinking age is 19.
Let them? No.
Not naive enough to think they never will though. Still doesn’t mean I’m buying them alcohol! Wouldn’t buy them a joint either.

Show quote history

Canada?

Princessconsuelabananahammock9 · 05/08/2025 07:10

Drivingthevengabus · 04/08/2025 20:50

How old is your kid now?

What is the legal drinking age where you are?

Would you let them try alcohol before that age?

Show quote history

Almost 15. Legal drinking age is 19.
Let them? No.
Not naive enough to think they never will though. Still doesn’t mean I’m buying them alcohol! Wouldn’t buy them a joint either.

dca860 · 05/08/2025 06:22

CGaus · 05/08/2025 03:22

Absolutely none. I’d never allow my 15 year old to drink, and I would be appalled if other parents did.

Appalled you must be then!

CGaus · 05/08/2025 03:22

Absolutely none. I’d never allow my 15 year old to drink, and I would be appalled if other parents did.