To think an 8 year old doesn’t need to try beer

[ntsure]

Today ds has come home from his dads saying his dad told him to try his beer.
I obviously know a sip of beer in itself isn’t physically harmful but i don’t understand why he would need to be introduced to beer at age 8.
I really see his dad as being the kind of parent that will be letting ds drink early teens and it worries me a lot.
I understand the argument of teaching children moderation etc but my parents tried that with me and it did not go well. I was allowed tastes of alcohol at that age and I was borderline an alcoholic by the age of 11, the first time I got into trouble with the police for drinking I was only 11, and alcohol ruined my life from the age of 11-21 (when I became pregnant)
DS dad was also drinking at a young age too.
I think 8 year olds should just be told they alcohol isn’t for children and that’s that. I don’t want underage drinking normalised to him.
DS is also autistic and needs clear rules he doesn’t always grasp things like a sip is ok, but any more isn’t etc

He’s hardly handed him a bottle of vodka and a crack pipe

[quote Porcupineintherough]@FirewomanSam that's your experience. In Spain and Italy children routinely try alcohol from and early age and most grow up to be thoughtful occasional drinkers. The pressure to go out and get wasted in the park at 14 just isnt there.[/quote]
They don't in Italy. Unless you mean being offered a glass of spumante at Christmas when they're about 16.

It was probably a case of 'Can I have some, Dad?. Aww, why not. Pleeeeeeeeeeease. Pretty please. But whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...' ad nauseum. Dad likely 'told' him to try it when he could take the pestering no longer.

It is silly, IMO.

My own (alcohol-dependant) parents often offered me sips of beer/wine when I was a kid. I wonder if it made them feel better about their own choices or if they just assumed everyone wants to drink, but maybe they just wanted to be cool parents.

Lucky for me I pretty much hate the taste of alcohol. I don’t even drink now as an adult except on a rare occasion and only stuff I like the taste of.

A kid having a sip of beer isn’t a huge deal, but a parent who has historically been a big drinker offering alcohol to a child should think about maybe why they’ve done that.

@RobertaFirmino

It was probably a case of 'Can I have some, Dad?. Aww, why not. Pleeeeeeeeeeease. Pretty please. But whyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy...' ad nauseum. Dad likely 'told' him to try it when he could take the pestering no longer.

That's just as bad as offering it unprompted. You don't give in and give your child something they shouldn't really have because they're nagging and annoying you.