AIBU to be angry ad DS16 for fermenting alcohol

[SassyBear2]

A strange smell was coming from DS16's cupboard and so I tried to find out what was causing that odour. When I opened the cupboard I found a conical flask with a cloudy liquid inside of it + airlock on top of it. This was clearly a fermentation setup. When I spoke to my DS about this he admitted that the liquid inside of the flask is yeast, water, sugar and yeast minerals and so the goal is very clearly to produce alcohol. I'm assuming it's because he's attending a party soon and so instead of going through the hassle of buying alcohol whilst under 18 he took matters into his own hands.

AIBU to be very angry at my son for producing alcohol? How should I approach this situation? Also is it uncommon for teens his age to be drinking or producing their own alcohol? Should I be concerned?

Blimey that takes some doing, most kids who want alcohol stand outside an offie and get a willing adult to buy it!

I don't know if this is relevant but my DS is quite good at science and took a level chemistry so I'm assuming he learnt about fermentation/alcohol in one of his lessons which gave him this idea

Sorry OP but I find this hilarious.

haha well i find this very bizarre. his cupboard looks like a laboratory right now. i don't know how to feel about this to be honest

Back in the 70s we made alcohol at school in science and were allowed a swig

That’s brilliant.
Honestly, I’d be asking if he had sterilised his equipment well. And what he intended to do with it.
(And I would absolutely be educating about the dangers of methanol alcohol just incase distillation was on his mind).
And then be heading off to a craft brewery or two for a tour.
I’m sure what he’s brewing will taste like arse. 😂 yeast and cheap apple juice can make some enamel stripping cider.

I'd actually be secretly impressed at his innovation. It's very common for 16 year old to be drinking alcohol. There will be alcohol at the party. I think you probably need to accept that a 16 year old is going to drink either way, so don't go in guns blazing, but discuss being sensible about it.

I admire his motivation. I couldn’t get angry. I think it’s quite funny.

I have a teen the same age. I think I would be more impressed than angry. I’m not sure what my official reaction would be to be honest.

safety is a concern. I’ve brewed beer and you do have to pay attention to hygiene and know what you are doing.

I’m another that finds this funny and quite impressive. However I’d also be thinking about those young people who died recently in - Thailand? With dodgy bootleg alcohol - I know nothing about fermentation and how easy it is to get wrong, that would be my main issue with It, rather than his desire to drink which is not unusual at that age.

I've caught him hammered a few times after picking him returning from parties so im assuming the goal is to have alcohol without going through the hassIe of buying it underage.

I did some research on this topic and saw that methanol can be very dangerous. I spoke to him about this and he's claiming he doesn't have the equipment or intention to distil the solution. He seems to have done his research so at least the safety is a bit reassuring

It's quite impressive but also dangerous. I remember ready about someone who died from making their own wine or something

I wouldn't be angry and I'd probably be curious and quietly impressed. I might also worry, knowing nothing about how to do it correctly myself.
My granddad used to brew alcohol in a cupboard in the bathroom, I remember seeing it when I was little and it looked quite intriguing. He had been a publican though, so knew what he was doing.

He's 16 and he's already done A level chemistry? Impressive.

It’s worth making him aware of the legal ramifications if anyone else drinks it and dies which isn’t unheard of as a result of home brew gone wrong.

Op I'm impressed by his ingenuity
I want to know where he got the kit from and what exactly he is brewing/ fermenting

We make cider from apples from a tree in our garden every year. Its a lovely hobby to have.

im guessing he bought the flask, airlock, yeast and minerals from amazon or some shops. when i asked him what's in there he said he's its sugar dissolved in water so i assume it would've tasted rubbish either way 😂

he's in sixth form (16-18) which is why he's doing a level! everyone in year 12 starts at 16

I'd be amused and impressed that he'd managed to pull it off!

I don't know how happy I'd be with him taking it for people to drink, but I'd definitely buy him a four pack of beers for his party.

If you have space I would get him a home brew kit and let him do it properly. It is quite a thoughtful and educational hobby and may even take the novelty out of alcohol.

Yes. I would be concerned about the safety of such alcohol. There used to be mass deaths in India from home-made alcohol, poteen only sent people blind

Bloody hell, it’s only fermenting he’s not going to be distilling, no spirits! What a lot of fuss! I was fermenting my own wine beer and cider as soon as I left home at 19. It’s a perfectly safe way of preserving fruits and vegetables. I learned from my grandmother.

I’ve been watching Prisoner Cell Block H from the beginning for the last few months, so this sounds like one of the many occasions when Lizzie Birdsworth makes home brew and the women spend most of an episode hiding it from the screws!
I’m with @CharlieRight on this one - invest in a home brew kit, do it properly.

Ah bless him. I’d buy him a small amount of alcohol and discuss the safety aspects and dangers of drinking to excess and to start to know his limits. At his age it is unfortunately normal for some kids to get rather drunk at parties.