What age did you let your children start trying alcohol!

[Whoopsywoo]

asking as I feel it shouldn’t until they are 16 my friend says I’m asking to be lied to

DS now 14 had a few very weak shandy's when he was 12. Once a month now, he might have an bottle of Smirnoff ice or something similar.

If he asks I'll let him try it.

We all know those kids who parents didn't let them drink at home, and they were the first having their stomachs pumped out when going at it too hard too quickly. I'm hoping by not making alcohol 'taboo' it takes the excitement out of it.

I'm not stupid enough to believe that he won't ever be drunk, but I hope he feels that he can call me/ tell me.

I think I was about six. I had one sip, pulled a face, and needed the loo. I think 12 or so is ok.

Grow up. Imagine giving a five year old a Jaegerbomb.

Weird.

I was open to her trying at 16, as that's the age my DGF gave some to me infamily
Situations. DF has a banking deal (apparently, I've no idea if any money has hit the account) that he puts money in an a/c towards a car when she leaves uni for every month show doesn't fmdrink or use drugs, including smoking.

Considering 3 of 6 DCs of same DGF currently smoke (and 1 gave up but occasionally relapses in times of stress - relapsed and a current smoker being asthmatics!) and really all 6 have an issue with too much alcohol...it's a bit rich.

But Dd is very much a sportsperson so observes classmates enjoying (or just trying without enjoyment) her classmates trying it out.

And while I know I definitely can drink too much at times, (she's never seen me smoke), we also have a fair amount of 0% alcohol drinks, like beer and gin, not just nice mixers. So I hope she'll try it somewhere within reason but not go overboard.

She being about to turn 17.

Mine haven't. I don't drink or go out so they don't really have drinking on their radar.

Also, as a teen myself, I drank in local pub but halves of beer with my peers and I Conallain y of a lot of local parents. Whereas a few
Siblings learned bush drinking nagons of vodka on the local pitch and putt course.

Strangely, I am the black sheep of the family
And NOT the pillar of the community I grew up
In (same P&p
Course sibling was
On company of a number of local teacher's DCs and is themself
A teacher now....

Text looks odd as I am finally Fi she work for Christmas so have had wine tonight.

12 Yr old Dd has recently discovered she likes a Snowball with a bit of Advocaat and lots of lemonade - a Christmas drink. She's not tried anything before now.

16, my 16 yo dd got drunk for the first time this year at a family friends wedding! She's allowed a can of cider, if she what's one, at the weekends.

@hotdiggetydog

Grow up. Imagine giving a five year old a Jaegerbomb

no one has suggested anything of the sort

My primary aged kids can have a sip if they want to try something. I don't think it's a big deal. I don't want it to be a complete mystery and when they are young teenagers if they want a small occasional drink they can have it at home.

I was doing vodka shots regularly clubbing at 14. That's not great but then again I have never had any problems with alcohol, then or since. I don't think trying alcohol young means you are more likely to develop a problem with it, probably the reverse.

Ds about 12 just sips. Dd is 12 now and hasn't asked .

Ds 12 likes a tiny amount of Baileys and I mean a tiny amount.

She literally said it (alcohol) was allowed for 5 year olds, so yes someone has suggested something of the "sort"

Ours kids tried alcohol around 12/13

yewt 11 they definitely had plenty of parties same at 18/18.

now 22 and 20 - both at uni neither seems to drink other than occasional.

I asked for a sip of lager as a child, was allowed not sure how old I was. It tasted foul.
I had a babycham sip at around 12. I asked though, it depends. My parents were open with alcohol, they rarely drank though. A few at Christmas or at a pub lunch. It was a novelty for me.

They smoked, they were strict on this and would smoke outside or in another room (they quit when I was about 14). They would let me try a puff. So I stole a cigarette and smoked it. Point is, as they let me try alcohol under supervision I had the odd sip, smoking was banned, so I smoked the whole thing! Smoked occasionally with friends too as it felt off limits, naughty, grown up , taboo, the banning of it made it more attractive.

In England, Scotland and Wales, it’s not illegal for someone between the ages of five and 17 to drink alcohol at home or on other private premises. But this does not mean it is recommended.
www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/alcohol-and-the-law/the-law-on-alcohol-and-under-18s

It isn't 'underage' in your home with parental permission 5 year olds are old enough to legally drink.

I'm not suggesting you start plying small children with alcohol but it is legal.

Jewish children often have sips of wine at Kiddush.

This makes me think of the Inbetweeners. What's that bit about mead?!...

Secondary age, but odd sips/small shandy. DD (16) isn’t interested / doesn’t like it but DS (12) is a bit too interested. We’re trying to normalise and discourage excess basically.

I offer my teens every now and then but they aren't interested and it is rejected with the whiff of disapproval that I asked at all. It makes me feel a bit Edna-esque but I think the occasional drink at home is fine for teens. It builds a more humdrum relationship with it than is possible when the first experience of it is at a party/pub/club.

All these parents saying their kids have no interest in it crack me up...probably no interest drinking with parents as company but most likely will when hanging out with friends when you're not around!

Sorry- they wouldn’t let me try a puff! Hence why it became a challenge 😂

Grow up by not pointing out the truth to someone who'd stated an untruth?

It isn't illegal for someone under 18 to drink alcohol (at home), that's just a fact.

Of course nobody is advocating giving 5 year old's a couple of beers with their dinner but in a lot of cultures small amounts from a young age is normal.

I am definitely with the normalising of it being a part of life on occasion, not 'required' however. Thinking of all the young adults I know, the ones with the more sensible attitude to drinking are the ones for whom it wasn't banned at home. It's also much safer to allow them to try it safely at home rather than it be a taboo-making it more attractive and coaxing them to do it outside of the home and not dare call parents if they do end up needing any (alcohol related or otherwise) help.

I think that is your own issue if you believe alcohol is needed to have fun. Many things can add to the enjoyment of life, without being "needed".
You could apply the same to restaurant meals, TV, social media...pretty much anything.
In fact I wonder whether the number of young people reported on this thread as having no interest in drinking alcohol is due to the effects of social media addiction.

I've offered my 11yo a sip of wine or beer recently and he's declined. His 5yo sister has been promised a splash of wine in her water on Christmas Day - it'll be barely perceptible and I'm sure she'll still say she doesn't like it!! My parents let me have wine and alcopops with a meal occasionally from age 13, and I was the only one of my friends not buying Diamond White and getting drunk on the beach on a Saturday!!