To allow my 11 y/o DD to have a small cup of coffee every now and then?

[RafaellaNhaKyria]

Among my friends and family there is general shock and disapproval that I let her have coffee, ever. Regardless of amount or frequency, which is low on both counts.

Most of the. Wouldn't blink an eye if I handed her a coke, though. IMHO, isn't a bit of coffee with cream in it less potentially harmful than all the crap in a coke?

She has it maybe once a month. She adores coffee. Even when I was pregnant, all I could stomach eating for months was Haagen Daaz coffee ice cream! Maybe that's why, though.

YANBU. I remember my first cup of tea - making it myself! - at age four. My parents saw an opportunity to have a tea-making serf at an early age...

I also remember a friend in primary school having a flask of coffee every day for dinner.

YANBU. It is strange that cola seems more acceptable to many people as a drink for children, but not coffee!
If she has it so infrequently, surely there's no problem. My DS (aged 15) drinks about 3 cups of tea a day, and has one in the evening before bed. I was a bit concerned about caffeine late in the evening, so i've bought decaf tea bags, and he can't tell the difference. If your DD was having coffee more often, you could always give her decaf?

YANBU

My 7 and 9 year old have a small glass of latte before school in the morning. About half an espresso in each.

At my junior school we were given milky coffee in winter along side school dinners.

When did it stop being acceptable and why?

I was drinking tea from 2, coffee from 4 and my son drinks tea about twice a week...we're still alive.

My 8 yo has just discovered the wonderful world of lemonade, thanks to his dad. But I only allow him to have it when we go out for a meal which is every couple of months. He has no interest in coffee and I'm glad, he likes warm milk or hot chocolate. I would probably use decaf coffee if I had to.