Male teens turning 18...

[AllTheGoodOnesAreTaken]

Just trying to gauge if I should worry about this or not, but DS seems to turn up to birthday parties empty handed. I feel like he should contribute to the party with a drink at the very least, but he says they've said not to bring a drink, then surely a gift is customary? What do other male teens give each other for their 18th birthdays?

Alcohol

My DS tends to take a case of ale to house party birthday celebrations. If the celebration is held in a venue he doesn't take anything although, if it's a close mate, he will get them a joint booking for an escape room, cider tasting or something similar.

They all give each other a tenner

DS 17 and his peer group don't particularly drink so would probably bring a gift more specific to the birthday person - depending on what they're into.

Just alcohol . None of them ever bought a gift as such.

My DS just turned 18 and was given a mountain of booze by his mates, and a cigar. That's about it.

Drink or as others have said my son and his mates would give each other a tenner in often very rude cards.
For close / family friends I would normally buy a gift myself.

Men do not but other men birthday presents.
They should however buy them a pint.

Against the norm here but DS has bought presents for his friends for their 18th. Only the close friends though; otherwise it's simply alcohol as others say.

T*hey should however buy them a pint
*
How helpful for people that choose not to drink.

Men do not but other men birthday presents.

Some of us do. Not necessarily every year but we do if we see something appropriate.

My DS2 got mail-order donkey shit from "the boys" on his 17th. Never seen him take anything other than booze or a stupid novelty thing to a party.

Oh, that's fine OP. Teens aren't your typical Smartshow 3d birthday video type of people, just alcohol is enough. From what I've seen male teens don't really care about gifts from their friends, it's about fun time not the gifts.