To give your teenage children alcohol?

[WineGetsMeThroughIt]

My husband and I don't drink much. On the very rare occasion at home. I'm not originally from the UK so I really don't understand the British drinking culture. It often seems excessive to me.

I was very surprised to hear a friend say her husband gave her teenage boys alcohol to 'prepare them' so they know how to handle their alcohol when they get a bit older and go out with friends. She said they started giving their children the occasional beer at age 13/14. The older son is now 16 and they purchase alcohol for him and know he (and are ok with it) goes down to the park to drink with his friends in the evening. They now say the older boy is having relationship troubles and they think he's drinking to cope with it all. He has come home drunk several times And even been found drunk at home.

Obviously they're not my children and they think they're doing the right thing by educating their children about alcohol, but I just don't see a need in giving them alcohol at such a young age and normalising it. I Bec an understand a small one for a special occasion, but I just don't get the regularity and encouraging of it. But then again I'm not British and don't understand the drinking culture as I too find it excessive and is one of the only countries I've been to where getting wasted is so normalised and such an integral part of life.

AIBU to think it's unacceptable to regularly give your young teens alcohol?

I was allowed a Christmas glass of fizz or bucks fizz and the odd small glass of wine as a teen. This didn't make me treat alcohol sensibly as I became an older teen as some suggest.
I still went out with my mates to college parties and pubs and drank stupid things like vermouth until we were wasted.
As many have said its about the young adult themselves and the peer group.
I let my DD 15 have a smaller glass of wine or half a can of cider sometimes but it's not a regular thing.
I know as soon as she is independent she will do whatever she fancies no matter how I have introduced or not.
Only thing I hope makes a little difference is the willingness to allow her to feel mature and that I am listening so that our relationship is a bit more open. I do talk to her about bad drink experiences I've had and how foolish I felt etc and how dangerous spirits are.
I aways knew I could call my parents and I was not afraid for them to know I was drunk so it wasn't all done in secret which can lead to more danger.

Here in Belgium 16 yr olds can legally buy beer in shop or bar and mine definitely does! I don't buy my kids alcohol but do offer the occasional drink at home. They don't actually drink very much, even when they go out!