How much beer for 18yo male?

[LaChatte]

DS is about to turn 18 and would like to start drinking alcohol, more precisely beer. DH and I dont drink at all so have no idea what is 'normal' and dont even know where to start looking, I've read about advised maximum units for men and women but doesn't it depend on you height and weight too?

He is also learning to drive so is there a way he can work out how much he can drink over a certain period without it being dangerous (not talking about having a few beers and then driving straight away, more like if he has a drink in the morning will he be ok driving that afternoon/evening/following day)?

So as not to drip feed, I will add that DS's dad was an alcoholic and died as a direct result (fell down the stairs while drunk).

Also, we are in France, but I think the drink driving limit is the same.

No, the limits aren't the same. Don't drive after drinking alcohol.

"France has very strict drink driving laws . You are allowed a maximum of 0.5mg/ml of alcohol per litre in your blood, compared to 0.8mg/ml in the UK."

Yeah we know that he can't drink just after driving, but how long does he have to wait? Hours, days?

(Also we know the limit's 0.5 in France, just assumed it was the same in all the other EU countries).

I think you have to wait 1 hour per unit of alcohol for it to wear off/be out of your system

morning-after.org.uk/drink-drive-calculator/

@VeniVidiWeeWee not the UK. Scotland is not the same as England. It is the same as France.

more like if he has a drink in the morning will he be ok driving that afternoon/evening/following day)?

When will he be having a drink in the morning? That's not the norm at all.

Why would he have a drink in the morning?!

Has he even tried beer? Does he know what it tastes like?

While it's very good you are looking into this, I would suggest you tell him to do his research. If he wants to be a grown up, ie: drink beer and also pursue driving, he needs to act like a grown up and take responsibility. I would suggest he gives driving a miss for while after he does start drinking , to learn his limit before getting a buzz, getting drunk, learn how soon after drinking he is ok to drive according to law etc.

He has had the occasional beer at my parents' house and he likes it. This morning he got up at 10 and went to get a beer out of the fridge. I told him I didn't think that was normal so he had a cup of tea instead. I asked him to go and look up how much he should drink max a week (limit, not target). The only reference he has is what his dad used to do (bottle of wine for breakfast type behaviour).

@SamAndSmith

Why would he have a drink in the morning?!

Has he even tried beer? Does he know what it tastes like?

You can still be over the limit in the morning.

He went to get a beer at 10 am? Well that's not normal and is worrying. I thought you were over reacting but perhaps not.

Firstly you should not be finding out his limits with regards to driving after drinking. That should be a straight NO. Especially as he's only 18, so a relatively new driver and one who doesn't yet know his tolerance to alcohol and who has to be told that having beer at breakfast is not normal behaviour.

Surely an 18 year old, even one who has seen extremes of alcoholism and being teetotal would know a beer for breakfast isn’t the norm? Sounds very odd that he would think that’s ok.

Why not suggest some basic 'good habit' guidelines:
e.g.

• After 6pm only with or after food
• Only Friday-Sunday
• No more than 6 cans in a week
• Never when driving the same day

Drinking at 10am is not a good direction to be headed.

Is the early beer as it's a hot day? In some countries, mostly latin, on days off and warm weather, if you know you are not going to drive that day, it can be seen acceptable. 10am is a quite early.

I don’t think the OP has indicated she is in a country where morning beers are the norm. Talk about clutching at straws.

I would be considered a heavy drinker by MN standards, but 10am beers are a complete no no! Even on holidays I’d wait to until at least lunchtime

If he has a drink in the morning will he be OK to drive later that day?

You may not be a drinker but you have experienced alcoholism. I can't believe you have to ask this question?

Airport before a flight then maybe a 10am beer would be ok, but any if time it would be a no from me.

You don't start you drinking career with a beer at 10am

If you're worried about driving then buy a home breathalyser test.

Also if he thinks it's normal to have a beer at lunchtime at 18 then he's got some hard lessons to learn

Is this for real?

Can he not just go for a pint with his mates like most 18 year olds would do? I feel that asking your mum to do online research into 'beer' and cracking one open at 10am are ... not compatible.

I do wonder if people actually read what is written.

She did say France I think, they have a more relaxed view of drinking, they will have wine with lunch for ex. Imthis is just a generalisation, not everyone is the same obviously. We are romanian, same for us, beer/wine acceptable with lunch if you are not planning on driving, especially on a warm day. When we go on holiday to Romania, my husband and that might be seen with a beer as early as 11 on extremly hot days. Not as a rule, just some days. Again, no plans to drive, not doing it to get a buzz, just social drinking so to say. Was wandering if maybe he saw that in his French friends and inhluenced by their approach to drinking. Just spinning ideas really, was not trying to skew her mind in any way.

Admittedly there is a typo in my 2nd post which should read drink before driving.

Husband and dad, was meant to say.