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How much alcohol would you let your 17 year old take to a party?

31 replies

ScarlettDarling · 28/05/2021 12:44

My seventeen year old is going to his first proper house party this weekend. He’s told us he’d like to have a drink but has never had more than one bottle of cider at home with us.
I’ve bought four cans of cider for him but am now worrying that’s too much! What would you allow your seventeen year old to take?

OP posts:
Brens13 · 28/05/2021 12:47

I’d say that seems ok. Better he has enough lower alcohol options to last him the party rather than having his one can and then maybe moving on to someone else’s spirits! I was probably trusted with a 4 pack of alcopops at the equivalent when I was that young!

Frenchfancy · 28/05/2021 12:47

4 cans of cider sounds about right, but I would make sure that it wasn't the string stuff. The weaker the better.

CoffeeWithMyOxygen · 28/05/2021 12:48

At 17? None.

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ScarlettDarling · 28/05/2021 12:49

It’s Rekorderlig, I think it’s 4%?
He’s super sensible and have made him promise he’ll not start on anyone else’s vodka but I can’t help but worry.
I suppose I’m lucky to have got him to 17 without having to worry about it!

OP posts:
IHaveBrilloHair · 28/05/2021 12:50

That sounds fine to me.

ApolloandDaphne · 28/05/2021 12:50

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen

At 17? None.
Why none? Surely it is better to provide a small amount rather than risk him getting someone older to get them a bottle of vodka or whatever.
SirSamuelVimes · 28/05/2021 12:51

Yeah I'd say that's about right. But to be honest it's not the cider you need to worry about, it's the cheap bottle of vodka someone else is bringing.

Mumdiva99 · 28/05/2021 12:52

Better that you provide drink rather than he goes in on others spirits or unknown alcohol.

Remind him about sharing - whilst it is normally done at adult parties if there are younger kids there he shouldn't share.

JesusInTheCabbageVan · 28/05/2021 12:54

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen

At 17? None.
Out of interest, at what age would you allow your DC to have a drink?
Hoppinggreen · 28/05/2021 12:55

My 16 year old is going to a House Party this weekend but isn’t taking alcohol because “she doesn’t drink” . Not sure whether to suggest she takes soft drinks instead.
If she wanted to take a can or 2 of cider or similar I wouldn’t mind.
Better than the inch of the top off every bottle in my parents booze cupboard mix I used to take in a pop bottle

Waxonwaxoff0 · 28/05/2021 12:56

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen

At 17? None.
They will be drinking anyway, so better to provide them with stuff rather than let them get it off other people.

4 cans sounds fine.

ScarlettDarling · 28/05/2021 12:57

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen

At 17? None.
I get what you’re saying, he’s not officially old enough yet. But I’d far rather he came to me and told me he was wanting to have a drink rather than sneak off and neck a load of smuggled in vodka.
OP posts:
FelicityBeedle · 28/05/2021 12:59

If rekorderlig is that the tiny cans? If so that’s possibly not even enough, but depends what he’s had before

OldTinHat · 28/05/2021 13:00

@CoffeeWithMyOxygen So if said 17yr old was turning 18 the next day, you still wouldn't allow it?

Talk about thread hijacking...!

OP, that sounds very reasonable to me - hope they have a great time!

TheLeadbetterLife · 28/05/2021 13:01

He is old enough. 18 is just the legal age to buy. 5 is the legal drinking age in the UK.

OrangeSharked · 28/05/2021 13:05

Hes 17, its abolsutely fine to provide him with some alcohol, and I think 4 cans of cider is about right.

Soon he will have completely unlimited, unrestricted access to alcohol, its better he learns with a limited amount now.

TheSaltLine · 28/05/2021 13:06

@OrangeSharked

Hes 17, its abolsutely fine to provide him with some alcohol, and I think 4 cans of cider is about right.

Soon he will have completely unlimited, unrestricted access to alcohol, its better he learns with a limited amount now.

I agree with this, it's what we did with ours when they were teens.

hamstersarse · 28/05/2021 13:07

I don't give any to mine. That isn't to say that they never drink, but I feel they have to work that one out themselves!

Londontown12 · 28/05/2021 13:07

Please warn him about the effects of drinking alcohol to fast thou ! I remember my son at 17 he went to his first party with friends from college they were All older I let him have 4 bottles of Budweiser.
He ended up in A& E because he drank those then started on vodka and anything else that was kicking around !
I had warned him and he promised he would behave but once they in that alcohol state they bloody lose their brain cells I reckon !!
Hope he has a fun time x

IHaveBrilloHair · 28/05/2021 13:07

Yep Hoppinggreen, I did that too.
God it was vile, still drank it anyway.

skippy67 · 28/05/2021 13:29

What you've allowed sounds about right. Dd at that age would've taken a bottle of wine though because she didn't and still doesn't like fizzy drinks!😂

SirSamuelVimes · 28/05/2021 13:35

Better than the inch of the top off every bottle in my parents booze cupboard mix I used to take in a pop bottle

That takes me back! Used to do that at about 13. Mix with coke to take the edge off and drink it on the way to the school disco Grin

Samsurrey · 28/05/2021 13:36

Half a bottle of Vodka usually

amusedbush · 28/05/2021 13:37

That sounds about right. When I was 15/16 my parents let me take two bottles of WKD or similar to house parties, slightly more when I was 17. It didn't do me any harm - I'm now 31 and I have one or two drinks maybe twice a year.

Endofether · 28/05/2021 13:37

4-8 cans cider

But he is 6.3 rugby player ))