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Original poster

What age to try a sip of wine?

159 replies

DidIMakeaMistake · 26/12/2023 12:30

I need to add my father was an alcoholic and died in his 40s as a result of his heavy drinking.

I was a binge drinker and probably tried alcohol around age 14. I don’t drink alcohol anymore. Members of my family are also alcoholic.

DH family are your middle class functioning wine drinkers, I think drink in excess and I’d say FIL is a functioning alcoholic. I’ve seen him drink in secret at family events (eg hiding a bottle of wine and going to the utility to drink it). I obviously grew up seeing these behaviours with my dad.

Yesterday Xmas day my 12 year old niece asked for a sip of wine. Just a try of her mum’s wine. They allowed it, my eldest is a similar age. My eldest didn’t ask.

It got me thinking as to what age to normalise drinking? Or if at all? My DH drinks.

I know there are zero health benefits to this sort of drinking but I don’t want my kids to grow up with drinking issues and seeing their cousins of a similar age drinking and they’re not.

OP posts:

Nineteendays · 26/12/2023 13:39

My ds is 11 and has had sips of whatever we’ve been drinking eg wine beer prosecco. He thinks it’s rank and goes back to his fanta. I don’t think it’s a bad thing to introduce slowly to alcohol so they don’t go mad and binge drink in fields like I did at 14. Well that’s what I’m hoping anyway! We rarely drink in the house though so it’s not like he has had many sips

SherrieElmer · 26/12/2023 13:41

OchonAgusOchonOh · 26/12/2023 13:37

Funny how the scientific research completely disagrees with you.

Show quote history

I am willing to hear about any scientific research that proves me wrong. My opinion is based in personal experiences with me and my family but I am more than happy to educate myself with more depth in this subject.

anothernamechangeagainsndagain · 26/12/2023 13:41

Mind had wine from 10, started in France where it's perfectly normal and allowed at special occasions. As young adults o e barely drinks, the other makes up for her sister but happily goes without - making alcohol a coveted commodity by saying no is a major problem. Make it just normal but in small quantities as they get older to prevent binging

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OchonAgusOchonOh · 26/12/2023 13:42

SherrieElmer · 26/12/2023 13:41

Show quote history

A quick Google will find it for you.

DeliaWilliams · 26/12/2023 13:43

16 for my son. He hated it though!

NoTouch · 26/12/2023 13:44

When you say "sip of wine" are you literally talking about a small sip/taste from an adults glass? If yes you are really overthinking it at 12 or even much younger.

Serving a small glass of wine to a 12 year old, for me, would be too young. I've never known a 12 year old genuinely interested in the taste of wine or beer and I don't understand why adults would be encouraging it as a special/grown up drink by watering down, or mixing to make it alchopop like to be palatable for them. But each to their own.

TheGhostOfTheOpera · 26/12/2023 13:44

No issue at all at 11~12yo to have a sip Imo.
Before that, you can try but they are more likely to spit it out 😂😂. Same at that age too tbh.
My dcs had a glass of one with a meal by the time they were about 16yo.

More important Imo is your own behaviour (how much do you drink, have your dc seen you drunk/merry etc…), discussions around alcohol (what signs can yu get when you start to be merry, drink driving etc…). All in a relaxed atmosphere, like talking about the weather.

PGmicstand · 26/12/2023 13:45

DH doesn't drink. I do, but not regularly, and not bingeing. DC has seen me have a glass or two of wine or similar, over an evening, without me getting drunk.
At new years celebrations I've offered them a taste of my drink but they're not interested. DC is 13, and I've offered them a taste the last 2 years.

Mumaway · 26/12/2023 13:45

I have always allowed my DDs a sip of wine, as soon as they asked. I think making anything 'forbidden fruit' makes abuse more likely.

CrispsandCheeseSandwich · 26/12/2023 13:46

I think showing responsible drinking is more relevant than the age. My parents barely drink, I barely drink, I did have a sip of their wine from about 12/13 probably.

MolkosTeenageAngst · 26/12/2023 13:49

My parents only drank red wine and real ale. We were allowed a sip at 12 but to be honest it tasted so awful at that age don’t think I asked to try it more than once! Put me off alcohol until I was much older so I’d probably just do this and offer a sip of something they’re unlikely to like rather than giving a taste of something like Buck’s Fizz/ alcopops or anything otherwise watered down that they might actually enjoy!

Ilovegoldies · 26/12/2023 13:50

I never gave mine alcohol. They don't drink even now at 20 and 18. As a pp said, training them is all a load of bollocks. These threads all end up with anecdotal stories of how Hugo wasn't allowed any at home so went wild at university. Believe me, they all go wild, I work in a students union. Maybe Hugo pukes up before the rest of his friends but they all drink harmful levels and behave in ways that aren't safe.

bumtrumpet · 26/12/2023 13:51

I have DS aged 15 and 13. The eldest is not interested at all. The youngest has an occasional sip if we're having something more unusual like amaretto and coke, but he isn't interested in having anything himself. If they asked and it was at home with a meal I'd probably let them have one drink of something relatively low alcohol, but they haven't asked

coodawoodashooda · 26/12/2023 13:52

Seeline · 26/12/2023 12:35

We started offering sips of wine, beer, cider at around that age. We rarely drink ourselves, so it wasn't frequent. I think that not forbidding alcohol at that age means that kids are less likely to go mad when they have access to it at teen parties etc.
My DCs are now late teens/early 20s and whilst they enjoy a night out at uni/with friends they don't seem fixated on alcohol like some of their friends. Asked what they wanted me to get in for Christmas and neither of them were that bothered.

This is perfect I think.

MacLaine · 26/12/2023 13:58

I really think the more of a Thing you make it, the more of a Thing it will be.

TastesLikeStrawberriesOnASummerEvening · 26/12/2023 14:02

I'm with friends and they have a 7yr old, he was allowed a tiny sip of bubbles and hated it!
I was allowed at a similar age.
It's a taste, that's all.

festivetinseling · 26/12/2023 14:18

The first few times I tried the occasional sip, I thought the stuff was vile. It certainly didn't make me want to drink it.

WesselCups · 26/12/2023 14:23

Mine were allowed watered wine with our evening meal from six, as were I.
They're adults now and drink moderately, but still have a glass of wine with their evening meal.

MrsSeveride · 26/12/2023 14:24

I've read that alcohol damages immature brains, even in quite small quantities, so I am personally taking the view that 18 is when my kids will be allowed a drink, and I've told them why

Brains aren’t fully mature until mid-late twenties.

Gwenhwyfar · 26/12/2023 14:31

FreezyFord · 26/12/2023 12:57

I would never offer my dc alcohol, but a sip of they asked would be ok with me.

I don’t think, from experience, that it makes any difference how you approach this, problem drinking doesn’t stem from a sip of wine, nor a ban on drinking until 18

I agree.
It makes no difference.

Doggonames · 26/12/2023 14:40

I first asked about 6 or 7, tried it once or twice, just a sip. Hated it, never had it again.

my parents were never really alcohol drinkers, just the odd glass of wine or whisky. I’m late 20s, and maybe have one or two weak cocktails a year.

Original poster

DidIMakeaMistake · 26/12/2023 14:42

Yes just a sip, but as a PP said with problem drinking on both side of the family I’m worried!

OP posts:

TinselTitts · 26/12/2023 14:42

Letting a curious 12 year old taste their mother's wine isn't 'normalising drinking'.

It's letting a curious 12 year old taste their mother's wine.

ChristmasAgainWTAF · 26/12/2023 14:44

*'Santaisscouringindeedfornewjob · Today 12:36

'My under 18's would never dream of asking.'

As far as you know, when they're with their friends...

TheaBrandt · 26/12/2023 14:46

Lower 6th? 16/17. Giving kids booze younger has been proved to be harmful and to encourage problematic drinking. The “inoculation” theory is bollocks.

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