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Original poster

Does your 15-year-old teen drink socially?

178 replies

Shallowhallowpool · 16/04/2026 18:53

DC is Year 10. Doing well at school. Does lots of team sports. An age appropriate pain in the butt, but overall great kid.

This academic year he's also started going out a lot more. Hanging with a big group. Parties. Parks. people's houses.

I know he drinks - he tells us - when he goes to parties or hangouts. He comes home mostly and he's not drunk. He says he has a couple of beers - but that they all drink. It's not all the time - at all. Every few weeks?

He swears he doesn't vape - he likes his sports too much - and I know he's tried weed because it didn't agree with him.

I guess my question is - how many Year 10 students drink socially? I try to be quite firm with boundaries, but also open so he'll talk to us about stuff. Just curious about others.

OP posts:
Twoshoesnewshoes · 16/04/2026 19:03

Yes all three of mine drank socially at that age.
i think 14 was probably the age when they all tried it, got it wrong, threw up, learnt their limits.

Pricelessadvice · 16/04/2026 19:06

My mum knew I drank socially from 14/15 onwards. She used to buy my drink for parties and gatherings at friends.
Got a bit too drunk on a few occasions but nothing dangerous.

IPM · 16/04/2026 19:06

3 DS here.

One did, one didn't (and as an adult still doesn't) and one who started a bit older than 15.

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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 16/04/2026 19:09

No but I have it on good authority from her that most of her year claim to and I've seen some drinking at parties where there are lots of parents too. Most have been sensible but one completely overdid it, vomited everywhere as a guest in a schoolfriend's parents house and has never lived it down. Taught a lot of them a lesson in moderation it would appear.

She's what I'd describe as a late bloomer though and very young for her age in many ways. She won't be 16 until after her GCSEs. Knows her own mind though and just isn't into it. She'll probably be like me and develop hollow legs at uni. 🤔

heatdeath · 16/04/2026 19:13

I've had four 15 year olds (currently 25-15), none of them drank at that age/year 10. It was year 11 (particularly summer post GCSE) before they started having booze regularly at parties (& there was carnage - not my kids thankfully but my house!).

FoundAUserNameDownTheSofa · 16/04/2026 19:16

Not mine (year 10 and year 11)

SpiceGirlsNeedAComeBack · 16/04/2026 19:18

Nope mine doesn’t but he doesn’t like it says it tastes vile. 😂

dementedpixie · 16/04/2026 19:19

My ds is 19 and doesnt have interest in drinking. Has had a taste but chooses not to drink. Dd didn't really choose to drink until 17/18. She is 22 now and will have a few drinks but ive never seen her drunk

GhoulWithADragonTattoo · 16/04/2026 19:20

My year 11 doesn’t drink but i know some of his friends do. My year 13 (still doesn’t drink) as she usually drives but most of her year are 18 anyway…

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:22

To my mind if they are drinking socially as young as 15 there is something wrong in their lives.

It's one thing to be allowed an occasional glass of wine with a meal at that age but if they already see alcohol as necessary to enjoy themselves with their friends when they are so young then it is very sad .

I also would not be happy about parents allowing my child to drink alcohol in their homes.

Barrenfieldoffucks · 16/04/2026 19:22

No!

I know she had a cider at a party a while back because she told us, but that's the only house party she's been to. She's pretty sporty and most of her group are as well, they tend to love fairly healthily

WonderingWanda · 16/04/2026 19:23

My ds is y11 and some of his friends drink a bit, he is less keen as he does a lot of training. They don't seem to be binge drinking like I did as a teen, a bit more just a few beers at someone's house, we did have to drive one lad home with a bucket on his lap. There seems to be less peer pressure as well. Ds doesn't get left out because he doesn't drink.

heatdeath · 16/04/2026 19:25

there are a lot of non drinkers - two of mine have never drunk, eldest drinks a glass of wine but, after a really nasty episode at university, hates being drunk (she was the only one to get drunk as a teen). Number three will have a mouthful (peer pressure) but hates the taste.

IPM · 16/04/2026 19:26

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:22

To my mind if they are drinking socially as young as 15 there is something wrong in their lives.

It's one thing to be allowed an occasional glass of wine with a meal at that age but if they already see alcohol as necessary to enjoy themselves with their friends when they are so young then it is very sad .

I also would not be happy about parents allowing my child to drink alcohol in their homes.

but if they already see alcohol as necessary to enjoy themselves with their friends when they are so young then it is very sad .

Thankfully no-one has said or implied their 15 year olds think this is necessary.

Personally there are many ways I enjoy myself both with and without alcohol.

I don't imagine the teens being spoken about here are any different.

Franpie · 16/04/2026 19:43

Yes, my teens started drinking in year 10 at parties etc.

They had grown out of thinking it was fun to get drunk by year 11 though.

SomedayIllBeSaturdayNight · 16/04/2026 19:45

Nope. Way too young.

doghasnoteeth · 16/04/2026 19:46

My three all drank alcohol at parties at that age. All adults now and one hasn’t had alcohol for about 5 years and the other two very occasionally. It’s just a phase that many of that age group go through.

SpringAndSunshineIsHere · 16/04/2026 19:51

No. But has started to a little bit now 16. Much better behaved than I was!

WeAreNotOk · 16/04/2026 19:52

There seemed to be a lot of parties the last year of school and a lot of msg's from parents asking for consent to drink alcohol. My DS was already 16 so I was happy for him to experiment. I'd rather he did it in a home than sneakily down the park.

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:57

IPM · 16/04/2026 19:26

but if they already see alcohol as necessary to enjoy themselves with their friends when they are so young then it is very sad .

Thankfully no-one has said or implied their 15 year olds think this is necessary.

Personally there are many ways I enjoy myself both with and without alcohol.

I don't imagine the teens being spoken about here are any different.

Show quote history

Yes but I assume you are an adult.

15 year olds are children. So chosing to enjoy themselves using alcohol shouldn't even be an option.

Original poster
Shallowhallowpool · 16/04/2026 19:58

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:22

To my mind if they are drinking socially as young as 15 there is something wrong in their lives.

It's one thing to be allowed an occasional glass of wine with a meal at that age but if they already see alcohol as necessary to enjoy themselves with their friends when they are so young then it is very sad .

I also would not be happy about parents allowing my child to drink alcohol in their homes.

With respect, you sound very judgemental. I don't think they drink because there's something wrong in their lives - I think they see it as part of being a teen, experimenting with life. I can't imagine him having a glass of wine with dinner 🤔That feels equally bizarre to me - he never drinks at home. I don't drink and my husband drinks rarely, and when out.

I think it's also really really hard to control what they do when they're out - wherever, or in someone else's house - and my worry is being so controlling will make him want to do a whole load of shit on the quiet, without telling us

OP posts:
Original poster
Shallowhallowpool · 16/04/2026 19:59

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:57

Yes but I assume you are an adult.

15 year olds are children. So chosing to enjoy themselves using alcohol shouldn't even be an option.

Edited
Show quote history

A fifteen year old does not see themselves as a child. Therein lies the problem. It's irrelevant how I see DC, they don't see themselves in the same way.

OP posts:
IPM · 16/04/2026 20:02

Classiclines · 16/04/2026 19:57

Yes but I assume you are an adult.

15 year olds are children. So chosing to enjoy themselves using alcohol shouldn't even be an option.

Edited
Show quote history

Right but that's completely different to you saying they thought it necessary, as if they can't enjoy themselves without it.

At 15 I enjoyed a drink with friends, I enjoyed playing sports, I enjoyed going to the shopping centre, I enjoyed going to friend's houses for dinner.

Just because a person of any age enjoys alcohol, it doesn't mean they can't enjoy doing things without it.

TheHouse · 16/04/2026 20:02

Not at 15 but yes at 16.

jellyfish798 · 16/04/2026 20:05

Shallowhallowpool · 16/04/2026 19:58

With respect, you sound very judgemental. I don't think they drink because there's something wrong in their lives - I think they see it as part of being a teen, experimenting with life. I can't imagine him having a glass of wine with dinner 🤔That feels equally bizarre to me - he never drinks at home. I don't drink and my husband drinks rarely, and when out.

I think it's also really really hard to control what they do when they're out - wherever, or in someone else's house - and my worry is being so controlling will make him want to do a whole load of shit on the quiet, without telling us

Show quote history

😆 am I the only one cackling at those who think this is surprising. Me & most ppl I know had snuck booze to friend's houses or to the park! Imo this is just realistic about teens - if you don't think they're drinking they're probably just covering it up well! It's all part of the experimentation when you're growing up. Yeah maybe it isn't the most wholesome experience knocking back blu wkd's in the park on a Wednesday night but I've turned out just fine and so have my friends 😆 all about not overdoing it and being realistic x