Can't believe what I am reading...

[SmileItsANewYear]

Some people think that it's ok to give a child alcohol (as long as over the age of 5)

What the actual fuck?

I didn't say anything about 'Groundhog Day' MakeEveryDayCount. I just didn't understand why you needed to labour the point when you already had seen the measure of the thread, and my previous posts.

Could you answer my question about %ABV please. It may help me to understand your thinking.

Do you have a link giving evidence towards the damage you claim my daughter will have suffered?

I have no problem with people disagreeing with me, none at all. But I would like to know why those people think it is 'disgusting' and 'repulsive' rather than simply something they would not do. What makes it 'disgusting' and 'repulsive' and all the other emotive phrases used?Why would you 'question my sanity' which is pretty poor form. Especially when 'ooh, I would have waited until XX age' would have done the job.

I think (less my rather emotive second post) I have been quite polite and measured when faced with a thread that is actually against talk guidelines (TAATs are usually deleted, and threads directed disparagingly at other MNers are just not cricket). So I have no issue with being disagreed with (or would have reported the thread, as is my right), but haven't actually learned one single thing that may have changed my position or given me food for thought for next Xmas Day.

I have a 6 yr old and I certainly would not offer her her own glass of alcohol at all. A taste is different.
I have to say though that I have very 'straitlaced' views on drinking. I think that in this country most adults drink to excess and don't realise or admit as much. I think as a nation we are utterly screwed up when it come to drinking and in denial about the metal and physical health problems it causes. So you can understand I won't be 'normalising' drinking as part of social occasions for children.

lteve

making aimed that post at me not you

Lt Alcohol is a drug it may be legal but it is still a drug.

Why anyone would give this to a young child who is still developing is truly beyond me. It is normalizing alcohol to a very impressionable child. Just because something is legal doesn't make it less dangerous that something that isn't.

There is no physical need for a child to indulge in even one glass of alcohol. You have every right to your opinion. So does everyone else on this post.

Is this a good time to say that I was just thinking at Xmas that DD1 will be 5 this year so next Xmas I may give her a very wee glass of something.

But sod that, after all the judgy pants on here I'll give her a can of strongbow as a birthday gift joking about the cider in case anyone has any room left in their arse crack for a tighter pull

As children we were allowed a glass egg cup of very weak sparkling cider with dinner on a Sunday from quite a young age and none of us have turned into raging alcoholics. As a student I would have one or two and help my fellow students nurses home and, quite often, into the recovery position. These were the ones who had never been allowed to drink at home and when let loose went for it.

My child, my choice.

VoteYes. As is caffeine, and I see many young children drinking coke. Do you have the same aversion/reaction when you see that?

What about aspartame?

Alcohol is normal. There is no getting away from it. DD knows that some adults drink alcohol. She knows that I don't drink alcohol at home, but will drink Vodka if I go out. She knows I rarely go out.

She knows that Baileys is my 'Christmas' drink, and knows that MIL buys me a bottle every Christmas, that I then share after our dinner.

Had she have got drunk, had she been swigging back the bottle or had I been doing this every weekend with her then yes, I agree that it would have been dangerous. But it wasn't like that, it's a one off, one time a year, so I don't see the danger.

And again... I've never said that no-one else was allowed an opinion.

Actually I don't and wont give my DD coke either. I have never drank it and won't give it to her, what she chooses to do in future is her own decision.

I think the difference between the drugs you mention and alcohol is that alcohol can much more easily change someone's entire personality in fewer quantities therefore making it more dangerous.

Having a child aware it is a normal thing for adults to do is great. But in my opinion making it normal for her to be aloud alcohol at a special occasion is not.

I don't think seeing eye to eye is possible so I'm going to bow out now. off for a Bailey's I think

Much less shock horror at children having minute amounts of alcohol when I was small, in fact it was often medicinal. I remember having whisky rubbed on my gum for a toothache (worked too) and gripe water used to have alcohol in it until a few years ago. When I see the absolute rubbish some kids live on every day of their lives I'm not going to get upset about a little sip of baileys at Christmas. I'd be more worried if my dcs saw a Happy Meal as a 'treat' tbh.

Chemical sweeteners can vastly change a child's personality.

I wasn't allowed any alcohol when I was younger, until about 17 when dad would buy me a bottle of beer at a weekend.

I wasn't allowed down the park at weekends, when my mates were all drinking cider.

I am an alcoholic, in recovery now, and all my cider down the park friends are all normal drinkers.

Whether to 'break your kids in' or not, if they are going to be alcoholics they will be.

Why do they get it because they want it? I don't understand why you wouldn't just say no. My parents would get us something special to drink at midnight or whatever that was non alcoholic.

I also don't see why they need to have alcohol on special occasions. Isn't that just setting them up to associate alcohol with occasions?

There are some very uptight people on this thread. I am actually shocked at the amount of people that agree with the op. but perhaps I am odd!

not at all. drinking alcohol is part of the culture i grew up in and having a drink with friends is a social ritual. alcohol isn't something magic that becomes part of life at the age of eighteen. bringing up children to know what it is and how/how not to use it is part of preparing them for adult life. parents would be irresponsible if they chose not to do that.

cider drinking in the park isn't normal or acceptable - partly because of the amounts consumed but mainly because children should already know not to hang around in playgrounds. that's just like the groups of teenagers hanging around outside asda every night - evidence the two girls sitting by the shopping trolleys last night. sad waste of life. they'd be better off in a restaurant, with their parents, having a glass of wine with their meal.

Can I ask a sensible question here?

Neither DH or I drink alcohol. I used to but don't enjoy it enough to bother with the hangovers (was only a social drinker, actually don't like the taste of alcohol at all) and dh has never drunk.

So going on the basis of this thread - are our dc now going to be rabid binge-drinkers or alcoholics because they aren't being introduced to drink.

We never say drink is bad and they know I used to drink and they do no what being drunk means (and some of the consequences). They see other people drinking around them (friends and family) - I asked my DS if he wanted a sip of his uncle's beer the other day when we were there and he said no. We do not demonise or disapprove of alcohol. So what now. Should we have booze in the house so they can try it when they are a bit older?!

I was given a small glass of bucks fizz on christmas day with my lunch at that age. I would've loved a baileys though :P

shirtysocks if you are not demonising it and your children are aware of alcohol but not fussed by it then I don't really think you will have a problem.

In an earlier post I mentioned a lady whose mum refused to have alcohol in the house and who is now an alcoholic. I truly believe this is because she was forever being told of the 'evils' of drink and so therefore it was a forbidden fruit. Ad she had a very contrary attitude in her teenage years!

It's interesting, but as a child, at parties and the like, I always remember my father ordering coffee and not drinking alcohol. Possibly this was because he was a professional lorry driver at the time. That stands out for me more than those people over-indulging in the dreaded alcohol. Or perhaps I never saw anyone drunk when I was younger.

I was only ever properly drunk once. I've never been drunk since because it wasnt a nice sensation, I didn't like being ill, and I just don't think it's ladylike.

Shirty no I don't think so, carry on doing what works for you that's what I say. Everyone has got their own parenting methods and as long as you are doing your best that's OK. Obviously I'm not saying let them go off to bed with a litre bottle of smirnoff/20 superkings but you get what I'm saying. I'm sure your doing fine! Your not the only parent to not have any alcohol (i had many friends that's parents didn't have the special occasion rule either) and they all turned out fine to! :)

The fact that there's no need to give a child alcohol is not a good argument. As someone pointed out there's no need to give them coke or even chocolate (which btw is also addictive).

What you have to show is that it is harmful to do so and that's not been done.

As I said earlier I am not a fan of alcohol at all. I'd be just as happy if it ceased to exist, but that's because of those who overdo it. It's not dangerous in small quantities.

For those saying they would choose not to that is fine. Those claiming it is a terrible thing to do and being nasty about it need to come back with some evidence.

The fact that it is legal doesn't automatically make something 'right' but it does show that the vast majority of people consider it perfectly ok. Those getting worked up about it might want to ask around because you will find you really are in a minority. Not because other people don't care, but because other people have thought it through.

shirty - if you don't drink, its not part of your culture. but if they show an interest, will you let them explore that safely at home or will you leave them to drink cider in the park?

Wow long thread! I hope I'm sensible about alcohol and I hope I'll teach Ds to be so too, but who knows about how easily addicted he ll be as a character, I suspect that's a major factor.

The fact that it is legal doesn't automatically make something 'right' but it does show that the vast majority of people consider it perfectly ok.

Like smacking

Those getting worked up about it might want to ask around because you will find you really are in a minority. Not because other people don't care, but because other people have thought it through.

I have found that I'm in the minority in real life too but I'm still happy with my stance on this. To insinuate that parents who let their kids have alcohol have thought it through and the parents that don't let them haven't thought it through is very patronising.

I was called a 'child abuser' who should have the police called because I said I would give my 4yr and 7month DS a sip of alcohol for New Years.

People were 'literally shaking' at the thought of it!

AllDirections Yes like smacking. The careful taps that we decided are ok and which are legal despite those who would make it illegal to even go near their own child.

As for patronising have you seen what a small number of posters have been saying? Let's hear what you have to say about those calling it repulsive and insane. You will presumably be outraged at them.

Did the 7month old like the taste??

Ooops! I see now your DS is 4 and a half i did think 7 months was a bit young!