DS got very drunk - punishment or not?

[slyfa]

Posting here for traffic

My son is 15. In the past, he's had sips of alcohol but never enough for him to get drunk. Today, he went out with a couple friends and they went to a field. Sons friends said that a few boys about 16/17 that go to their school went up to DS and asked him if he wanted to drink with them, DS said yes and left his friends. When he went back to them they said he was acting drunk which they thought was funny but then he told them he didn't feel well and he threw up, he wouldn't let them have his phone to call me or DH so one of them texted DD. When I got there, he was laying on the grass, drooling and he’d also wet himself and his friends were next to him asking him if he was ok etc. They don't know what he drank as he wouldn't tell them.

When we got home, he went to bed and we've been checking on him. DH thinks that tomorrow, when he's sober we should give him a punishment for getting so drunk, but I'm not sure if we should as surely this would be enough to stop him from getting drunk again (well for a while at least!).

Would you give him a punishment this time or just leave it?

His friends sound really good. He’s lucky they were there. I wouldn’t count on a hangover being punishment as I have never had a hangover no matter how drunk I’ve been.

I wouldn't go for 'punishment' as such, but definitely a conversation about his safety on a few counts:

Leaving his friends (don't want this to become the norm when he is going out to clubs
Accepting drinks from 'strangers'
Drinking so much when he hasn't yet learnt his limits.

I am sure this situation is enough punishment, but it's still important he understands he could have ended up in a dangerous situation.

@Horehound

Yes, where are you and DH on the punishment front? I think the not wanting to call you speaks volumes.

You really need to toughen up quite a bit concerning fair & balanced discipline and maybe stop with the subtle digs of "why the child didn't want to contact the parents". He got drunk and didn't want his parents to catch him out making bad choices/wetting his pants. It happens to all kids.

@Horehound

Yes, where are you and DH on the punishment front? I think the not wanting to call you speaks volumes.

Volumes of what ??????

The older boys sound like bullies. I think they purposely tried to get him into that state.

Poor boy, he'll be so embarrassed.

Does he remember why he thought ditching his friends to drink with practical strangers was a good idea?

I think the hangover and wetting himself in front of his friends is probably sufficient to teach him the error of his ways. He needs a good talking to about the danger of alcohol though. Kids think just because it can be bought in the supermarket, it can't do them any harm when actually alcohol is quite capable of killing you when you drink irresponsibly.

I wouldn't punish him this time but he put himself in a incredibly vulnerable position and I'd let him know how dangerous his actions were with a good talking too. He peed himself and was drooling, sounds like a lot more than basic alcohol.

I definitely wouldn't punish him.

he will most certainly have learnt his lesson