How much alcohol for a 15 year old?

It’s mad to me because I was certainly pissed off of a bottle of lambrini at 15 but now I’m a mum to a daughter I feel so strongly that she will not be drinking at 15 😂

None!

And yet…

It's legal:

• for over 18s to buy beer, wine or cider for 16 and 17 year olds if they're having a meal together in licensed premises, like a pub
• for 5 to 17 year olds to drink alcohol at home or other private premises.

When is the last time SS got involved because a 15 yo had a beer at a bbq?

This. Exactly what we did with our kids.

I think reading your updates I would supply something low or no alcoholic so she will hsve an excuse to say : I have my own drink thanks.

However I don’t know how practical this plan would be.

Is it your genuine belief that social services intervene if parents allow a 15 year old to drink alcohol?

On what do you base this belief?

Just to support my earlier post.

What the law says....NSPCC

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/talking-drugs-alcohol/underage-drinking/

What kind of safeguarding (and social services) do you think is available to someone whose 15 year old has had a drink?

None

Dear OP,

After reading all of your posts, I think you've got this.

You've had the 'safe drinking' talk which is the first step. DD has tried alcohol in a safe environment (bbq/celebrations) which is the second step and you are picking her up. Don't rely on the birthday girls parents to police the party unless you know them well. She can call you & leave early if things get out of hand or she's uncomfortable.

I would suggest something that's low alcohol that she has already tried at home...cider, WKD or similar. She could also take a canned soft drink in case she decides not to drink the alcohol.

Does she want to take alcohol or is it because her friends will be taking it?

Another consideration is...will there be food provided? If not then ensure she eats something (non creamy) an hour or two before going out.

It's all a learning curve for teens & parents. I did all of the above with my children at the same age, they are all in their twenties now. It's important that they can talk to you to sound things out rather than taking unsafe risks.

I hope the party goes well!

Legally and morally none. If you're allowing your 15 year old child to drink they need safeguarding and social services as you're an unfit parent. Are you the kind of parent that allows boyfiend/girlfriend to stay over at this age too!!??

What does supervised mean in this context ?

I remember being 15 and my parents never thought to give me alcohol to take to a party nor did I think to take alcohol to a party myself because there these things called laws and I didn’t want to get arrested if police were called or have been said to have brought alcohol in the first place.

My parents were aware of the possibility of there being alcohol at parties but trusted me to be smart and was told if I needed to leave or get home, to call regardless of the state I was in. Still didn’t take the chance nor was there peer pressure for me to do so.

Just google ‘age in England to consume alcohol private residence’ there are multiple places to look.
The gov.uk site does NOT mention drinking on private property. It only mentions the law in public places which, yes in public, under 18’s cannot drink except 16-17 in pubs with a meal.

It's illegal for them to purchase alcohol but not illegal for them to consume it on private premises. So at 15 they can drink alcohol either at home or someone else's house provided an adult (someone over 18) has bought it for them. Actually the law says that children from the age of 5 can drink alcohol on private premises.

none. however 15 year olds probably have already drank.
I don't believe as the parents you can be seen to condone it.

It’s illegal to purchase alcohol under 18 and it’s illegal to drink it on licensed premises (I.e. in a pub or restaurant licensed to serve alcohol) under 18 or under 16 if it’s wine or beer with a meal that is purchased by an adult. On private property it’s only illegal if under 5, however obviously if you’re enabling a child to regularly get drunk that could be a child neglect issue. A couple of drinks at a party is absolutely fine and legal.

On this page it says it's illegal to give alcohol to children under 5. I guess that extrapolates back to being fine if they are 6!
Alcohol and young people - GOV.UK

May I ask for the source of information please?

I just double checked and according to gov.uk (alcohol young people law) its illegal for under 16 to consume or purchase alcohol. The OP DD is 15, isn't she?

Flipping heck, what is up with everyone on here, I think people have forgot you were 15 once! Not that I condone under age drinking but the bottom line is here, if you don't provide them something sensible to drink they will find it somewhere else, with a potential of being dangerous! Both my girls once hit 15 were allowed have a small alcohol beverage in the house with us, and when going to a party they took some pre made cocktail cans! They have both grown up to be the most beautiful and sensible girls . With great careers, both got pretty drunk once at a said house party! It's the only way they will realise alcohol isn't big or clever, but it's either controlled drinking with your approval, or getting wasted down the local canal/park or wherever they go these days., and then it becomes dangerous! So I would say have the conversation with your child and set some boundaries with them. Good luck. Xxx

I'm really surprised anyone is buying their dc alcohol at this age, it's really bad for teenage brain development.

I assumed when dc drank at this age they were accessing it themselves, not that adults who are meant to protect them are encouraging it!

it depends on the child, I know my 15 and 14 year old can have 4 cans in an whole evening and are fine. But I know my other 14 year old and my 17 year old would have a very different reaction.
For those saying none. It isn't illegal to drink at any age, only buying it, if we try and control them they will rebelle and do it anyway. I rather they take 4 weak cans of cider than down bottles of spirits as I did as a teen.

They're becoming young adults and need to be respected and treated like it.

When I was younger, I asked my mum if I could have a 1 WKD at parties. She always said no, so alcohol became this big, forbidden thing. Not long before I turned 15, I ended up in hospital after drinking a bottle of vodka in a field with friends. I had no clue about limits or how to be sensible because I’d never been given the chance to learn safely.

My younger siblings (my dad’s children) were brought up differently. They were allowed the odd drink at home, and now that they’re old enough to drink legally, they’re very sensible with it, they might have a couple, but they know when to stop. It was never something to rebel against for them.

With my own daughter (14), I’ve taken a more relaxed approach. She’s been allowed a drink now and then at home or if she’s asked before a party. The most she’s had is two WKDs, and to be honest, she’s shown very little real interest in drinking, I think because it’s not a “forbidden” thing.
If she was to go to a supervised party, I’d probably let her take up to four WKDs or one of the big bottles, nothing too strong. But I’d also have a very clear conversation beforehand: she’s only to drink what I’ve given her, and if she starts feeling off or unsafe, she must ring me straight away, and she knows she won’t be in trouble if she does.

Whatever you think is reasonable, we have allowed our 15 DD to take alcohol with her to partys with adults supervision, 1. Is it not safer them drinking the drinks you have provided in a safe environment? Rather than getting smashed in the local park.
2.they are going to do it anyway.
3.They are very less likely to do it behind your back in future.

We would prefer our children have a good relationship with alcohol rather than abuse it behind our backs.

And I absolutely do not buy spirits of any sort, some alcopops etc.

Not sure what the norm is these days but I remember going to a friend's 16th birthday party and his mum would only let us drink shandy, which was fine. We were still regularly taking 2l bottles of shite lightning to the park though. If teenagers want alcohol they'll get it themselves somehow. I think taking them home yourself at a reasonable time is probably the only way to make sure it doesn't get out of hand.