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?

I did the same! It was thoroughly vile. I managed to drink it though... 🤣

This is hilarious

My brother had a go at brewing his own beer, although he was probably a bit older. It was quite the thing back in the day - you could buy beer brewing equipment/substances at Boots.

[not helpful]

I guess it's better than finding a cannabis farm in your attic.

On the bright side, he’s not gone full Breaking Bad (yet) 😉

Just buy him a couple of alcopops for goodness sake!

My DS is the same age, also doing A level chemistry, but appears to have missed out in GCSE common sense. I’d be delighted if he had a party yo go yo snd was that determined to have a drink! Rather now, than when he’s away from
home.

edited for typos

Why not find your local cider press and make some cider together? And maybe buy some safety check materials? Alcohol refractometer to measure %. Get him to research how to check for methanol.

I've had some excellent beer made by chemistry students. It's not too soon to start looking at degree apprenticeships run by breweries...

Nice to know he'd be relatively safe in prison.

I wouldn't worry. Alcohol produced by fermentation won't be very strong. Now if he set up a still, that would be a different matter!

You say it looks like a lab. Is he distilling it? Tubes and heat?

I’m just waiting for OP to say there’s an RV parked on the drive 😆

😆 @NewYorkSummer

To be honest this is why its safer to allow access to a small quantity of alcohol, rather than try to forbid it entirely and risk him doing something terrifically dangerous.

Just give him some low strength lagers/beers to take to a party instead.

I would be a littlr cross but pretty impressed with his ingenuity.

Harness it. Get him a wee shed and a brewing kit

I love this and so going to use it. This is exactly how I feel about my lower sixth dc

It is going to taste disgusting and probably give him diarrhoea, but fair play to him for taking the initiative.

That’s impressive. But I would a) talk to him about the risks I you haven’t already b) get him something to take to the party c) get him a brewing kit for Xmas.

Well it's not illegal.

When I spoke to my DS about this he admitted that the liquid inside of the flask is yeast, water, sugar and yeast minerals

I wonder what he was trying to make ? Commercial home brew wine and beer kits are generally just concentrate, yeast and clearing agents. And safe.

If you are distilling then it's best to get a proper commercial product that makes a neutral wash to then distil down. These are designed not to produce methanol - you can't distil what isn't there.

Generally you have to work to make methanol anyway if you are using regular home brew supplies.- although cherries are best avoided.

Even since the Home Office messed up, home distilling has become a popular - if niche - hobby.

Ds at 16 made a still out of a pressure cooker, it was expertly done, however I can say that the alcohol he produced was absolutely foul so he never did it again!!!! I still have this contraption as it was quite impressive!!!

Last night my 17 year old DS went to his mates' to make wine and beer using allotment grown fruit.

You'd be better off getting him a kit then he can start a production line in your kitchen to make Christmas presents!

Good lad. I'd maybe offer beer or cider fermentation stuff next birthday.

Ignore the idiots claiming this is dangerous without understanding the distinction between fermenting and distilling. As long as he isn't distilling it's pretty safe, it just might be disappointing if it tastes rubbish!

This is brilliant. I'd be getting him a Dodge Charger and telling him to watch out for Boss Hogg

I'd be openly impressed about it! I'd probably just say well don't go drinking gallons of the stuff, and the fact it'll taste like shite will help with that.

I can personally vouch that done properly, distilling is safe. And saves a fortune.

Leaving aside the fact he’s 16. I’m quite impressed by his ingenuity. I wouldn’t know where to start with that.

Angry no. Concerned yes as what he is making is likely to be poisonous! (and slightly impressed at his ingenuity)
Are you 'one of those' strict no alcohol households OP?