15 / will any of you be allowing your 15 year old some Drinks on Xmas day eg sup of desert wine?

[ZeViteVitchofCwismas]

As above inspired by other thread...maybe hot milk with a Tony shot of bailey?

Or is it a no no.

No, absoloutely not.

@knittingaddict

No!!

Hot milk with a dash of baliys is delicious!

Not to make it more drinkable at all! Just a nice winters drink!

No, I also think what they end up doing is more to do with the friendship group. DC16 doesn’t drink at the moment and neither do her closest friends but she comes home from parties with tales of kids crying and green puke up the walls. Maybe she will join in herself one day but she doesn’t seem keen to join in at the moment and I’m sure having at least one friend keeping her company makes a huge difference. The research that I was aware of said they’re more likely to drink if given it younger and I absolutely won’t be dishing out alcopops, any booze the DCs get from me will be the wine we’re having not stuff that tastes like lemonade just to make the downing of alcohol more palatable. I don’t really know what the benefit of them getting used to alcopops would be, I haven’t been in company of adults drinking them since I was about 21.

Cinders I agree on alcopops.

I never meant for milk to make anything more palatable,or alcohol pops.
Just normal Drinks

I didn’t talk about ‘alcohol problems’! When I’ve been ‘irresponsible’ with alcohol it’s not fun. I’ve ended up sick and hungover. It doesn’t mean I’ve got a problem! It just means drinking sensibly and in moderation is going to be more enjoyable.

Ds (just 16) had a cider with lunch and Dd (12) had a couple of inches of cider with hers.

Tbf I was drinking in pubs getting properly drunk at 15 - ds has started socialising with friends at each others houses with a few drinks but so far has been sensible.

Post confirmation age, so from around 14+, a glass of champagne pre-lunch and a corresponding glass of wine with each course is on offer. Up to the individual to accept or decline according to their preferences.
It's the same process if we eat out.
The alternative is mineral water.
They have had sips of other drinks, for example a gin and tonic or whisky and soda, on request, but most do not like the taste at that age. They all like puddings with booze in them.
The point is that they learn to appreciate the pairings with food rather than downing copious quantities without context and associate the experience within a pleasant, social setting.

I think if you want to teach them how to drink responsibly, you start by teaching them at home.

At that age, they will already be trying drinks with friends.

A small glass of wine, a sip of this, a try of that.

Don't release them into the wild, aged 18, with no experience of pubs or how to handle a small amount of alcohol. Or how to behave with it.

16yo dd had a G&T with me. Would have been welcome to have a glass of wine with dinner but preferred to have ginger beer.

14yo ds had a sip of dh's beer. I asked him if wanted his own but he looked scandalised and said no thank you!

My 16 year old had his first can of fruit cider today. He actually had 2. Then had to have a nap.

@UWhatNow

Sorry I totally misread you

I come from a family where ritual has always been important … Well chosen wine at Sunday lunch, champagne for celebrations, spirits for libations. These occasions always include / involve everyone, so children might be given a tiny sip of whatever alcohol is being consumed, before returning to their soft drinks or water. The age at which this starts is indeterminate. I know the year the youngest member of the family was ten we had lots to celebrate so they were quite used to joining in the toasting of this or that.

None of us are alcoholics. Some of us drink more casually, some don’t. The teens all enjoy the wildness of undergrad socialising - but they’re also aware of ‘grown up’ traditions and the freedom to choose quality over quantity. They’ve grown into their heritage.

I know it is. My husband likes it. I prefer mine neat.

What I'm saying is that when giving alcohol to children is discussed its frequently in the context of alcopops and things children will drink and not really know they are drinking alcohol. i think Baileys in milk is the same idea. I just don't understand why parents would want to wean them on to alcohol like that. Its unnecessary.

I have no problem with older children having the occasional taste of wine or beer.

My 12 year old had a very, very weak snowball yesterday

I think I agree @knittingaddict . My dad was always trying to find ways of making alcohol palatable to us when we were young teens. Not sure why.
My teens are welcome to have a glass of something with dh and I if they want one. I don't mind them having a drink, but I'm not desperate for them to start drinking!

My 15 year old had a small Prosseco with his dinner at lunchtime yesterday and a lager in the evening when we had snacks

That sounds a lot? Up to four glasses age 14?
We gave the 15 year old a can of shandy and the 17 year old a can of shandy and a Bacardi and coke - he's the one I'm worried about with drinking as he seems to think it's grown up to do it. My older ones aren't fussed and don't really drink at all.

Ds is 16, almost 17 and I allowed 6 bottles of bud over the course of Christmas Day. Youngest is 11 and he isn’t allowed any yet, happy with his J20

so 14 yr old had an alcoholic fruity cider and declared she preferred the non alcoholic version and had returned to drinking them. Thankfully my mother has also drunk less this stay

My children (young teen and preteen) are allowed a tiny bit of whatever alcohol DH / I are drinking with a meal (we only drink on special occasions so it doesn't happen often). Wine / cider / beer / bubbles - they have an inch or so in a small glass.
I wouldn't, however, buy them drinks that are aimed at young people such as alcopops or allow them to drink spirits.