Page 6 | How much alcohol for a 15 year old?

Dramatic · 2025-07-31T19:29:17+00:00

If your 15 year old was going to a party (supervised by parents at the house) how much alcohol would you allow them to take with them?

FableLies · 31/07/2025 21:33

Drivingthevengabus · 31/07/2025 21:25

In order to try to avoid my child drinking much stronger alcohol - which I 100% guarantee to all those saying "none" your child has access to - I did provide the equivalent to 2-3 cans of weak larger. I will do the same again to my younger child when the time comes.

I absolutely promise you, if your child has asked you for alcohol and you have said no, they are drinking far more and far stronger alcohol than you would ever have provided yourself.

And you think your child is being responsible and drinking only what you buy? Don't be daft.

Catsandcannedbeans · 31/07/2025 21:33

LeaAndDer · 31/07/2025 21:18

You thought they didn’t know but they did. You forget they were young once.

My daughter got short with me when g/d was on a sleepover with me and I asked could she have a glass of wine. She’s 15.

I remember my daughter drinking at 14. Her partner also drinking at 14.

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To be fair my dad definitely knew, he would always comment on how pissed we would get on our 4 beers and say maybe we need to go to hospital in case we got spiked… wind up merchant and a half.

justasking111 · 31/07/2025 21:33

Katemax82 · 31/07/2025 20:30

Definitely not 2 litres of white lightening..I did this aged 15 and it did not end well

Son and friend won a weekend in Ibiza doing a White Lightning competition. They had a photographer over there filming them for some ad campaign.

They never touched it again 😂

Tryingtokeepgoing · 31/07/2025 21:34

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 31/07/2025 21:13

That's not the point.

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But it’s not illegal to give someone between the ages of 5 (!!) and 17 alcohol at home or on private premises. The ‘illegal to buy’ is to prevent kids giving adults money to buy alcohol for them.

Now I’m not saying it’s a good idea to ply children with alcohol, but managed consumption has to be better than concealed consumption. Indeed, even on licensed premises alcohol can be served to over 16s with food. An Drinkaware’s advice for teenagers is that a party is less likely to get out of hand if any alcohol is limited to what has been arranged by the host.

SheridansPortSalut · 31/07/2025 21:35

If they want to drink, they have their own sources for it. From experience, if you buy alcohol for them they will drink it in addition to their own supply, not instead of it.

WhisperingAngelisnotbad · 31/07/2025 21:35

Oh and I also send him to friends' houses with food presents rather than alcohol.

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 31/07/2025 21:36

Tryingtokeepgoing · 31/07/2025 21:34

But it’s not illegal to give someone between the ages of 5 (!!) and 17 alcohol at home or on private premises. The ‘illegal to buy’ is to prevent kids giving adults money to buy alcohol for them.

Now I’m not saying it’s a good idea to ply children with alcohol, but managed consumption has to be better than concealed consumption. Indeed, even on licensed premises alcohol can be served to over 16s with food. An Drinkaware’s advice for teenagers is that a party is less likely to get out of hand if any alcohol is limited to what has been arranged by the host.

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Managed consumption means you introduce your children to alcohol by letting them drink small amounts, with a meal, under your supervision.

It doesn't mean sending them off to a party with booze.

Smokiejoe · 31/07/2025 21:39

My kids? Nothing ideally! Myself at 15? two bottles of vodka, one for me and one to share, plus whatever I could steal from the cabinet and a few joints.

LeaAndDer · 31/07/2025 21:39

I know my g/d got drunk on wine on a school exchange to Portugal and had a hangover. She told her mum she had sunstroke!

Tryingtokeepgoing · 31/07/2025 21:40

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 31/07/2025 21:36

Managed consumption means you introduce your children to alcohol by letting them drink small amounts, with a meal, under your supervision.

It doesn't mean sending them off to a party with booze.

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Where did I say it did?

UndoRedo · 31/07/2025 21:40

DD (16) and her BF are in holiday with me, there's alcohol available, think she's had a glass of wine all week? Similar for him. It's not seen as a forbidden treat and neither seems bothered. BFs parents know he drinks so no issues with consent

Rosscameasdoody · 31/07/2025 21:40

bellamorgan · 31/07/2025 21:25

16 and 17 is a child still. At home on private premises it’s legal to give a child alcohol from the age five. I wouldn’t but it’s legal.

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Not disputing that but you stated that it was legal for someone under the age of 18 to drink alcohol in a restaurant with a meal. That isn’t correct, there are conditions - specifically that the child must be 16 or over, having a meal, accompanied by an adult who is purchasing the alcohol, and irestricted to beer wine or cider.

Confabulations · 31/07/2025 21:41

Rosscameasdoody · 31/07/2025 21:21

No it isn’t. It’s legal for a 16-17 year old to drink beer, wine or cider in a restaurant as long as it accompanies a meal, the child is accompanied by an adult and that the adult buys the alcohol. It’s illegal to supply alcohol in any setting to a child under 16.

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No it isn't illegal. It is completely legal to give a child over 5 alcohol. Just not very wise to do so.

Image will be under review.

Pallisers · 31/07/2025 21:41

Zero. And there would be hell to pay if they came home drunk at 15. I have three children who were in three different schools and I don't know any set of parents who would have allowed alcohol at a party for 15 year olds. Yeah maybe a 15 year old will have a drink anyway - but they will do it knowing we don't approve, it is illegal, and we will be dealing with it if we find out.

I am amused at the innocence of posters who think because they give their children two weak lagers that is all they drink.

Strawberrysummer25 · 31/07/2025 21:41

I haven't yet bought alcohol for my 16 yr old but aware he has drank on a few occasions and would provide 2 to 3 ciders /beers if asked.
Some parents are idiots like the mother who provided her 15yr old a bottle of gin and a bottle of vodka to take on the boys camping trip. Thankfully the only negative affect was hungover boys and vomit covered sleeping bags but really what the hell was she thinking?

AtomHeartMotherOfGod · 31/07/2025 21:42

Erm... none? Like three years below legal limit none? If they want to feel like they're drinking they can have 0% beer or whatever.

ShesTheAlbatross · 31/07/2025 21:43

Growlybear83 · 31/07/2025 20:37

I completely agree. If you don’t let a 15 year old take something to a party, assuming the parents who are hosting the party will allow it, they will only get it from somewhere else.

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Or if you give them a bit of alcohol, they’ll drink that, and then something else. I don’t know why people who worry that their children will get alcohol from other places think that won’t happen just because they’ve given them a couple of cans as well.

Flamingoknees · 31/07/2025 21:44

None. I have a 14yo DS. He is 15 in November. There is no way I would allow him to go to a party where the responsible adults think it's OK for them to be drinking alcohol. I wouldn't trust their idea if supervision.

Drivingthevengabus · 31/07/2025 21:45

FableLies · 31/07/2025 21:33

And you think your child is being responsible and drinking only what you buy? Don't be daft.

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No I don't, but I am also not "daft" enough to think if I give none they are drinking none 🤷‍♀️

I don't understand your point?

RedRoss86 · 31/07/2025 21:46

WhenYouSayNothingAtAll · 31/07/2025 20:34

What’s the setup here? Do the parents know/expect the teens to bring alcohol? Does the teen want to? What do they normally drink? How much? Have you had conversations about safe drinking, limits etc?

I second these questions.

zaazaazoom · 31/07/2025 21:47

bellamorgan · 31/07/2025 20:52

And it works because it’s not taboo or a novelty you need to rush to get out your system.

Europe way is the way for a healthier mindset to alcohol.

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But the problem is those kids then grow up around a European attitude to alcohol whereas ours (if in the UK) don't.

Tigergirl80 · 31/07/2025 21:51

It’s better they do it and you know where they are than hanging around st corners and parks doing it. Which is what a lot of kids did I was at school with who’s parents wouldn’t allow alcohol at all. As long as they have had something to eat beforehand and mix it with something else it’s fine.

GreatTheCat · 31/07/2025 21:52

Went mine we that young id actually say no. 16 was the age, and it was 3=4 drinks.

Neither of them drink anymore.

Drivingthevengabus · 31/07/2025 21:52

zaazaazoom · 31/07/2025 21:47

But the problem is those kids then grow up around a European attitude to alcohol whereas ours (if in the UK) don't.

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Agree. That's why I have given my teen a small amount of alcohol.

By providing a small, sensible amount of alcohol (even if they chose to drink more from other sources) you are not making booze a taboo. If mum and dad say you can have some, it's no where near as exciting as if it's forbidden fruit.

Thisismetooaswell · 31/07/2025 21:57

I can’t believe the number of people saying none. What do you think your kids are going to do if you prohibit it?