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Alcohol and Children

49 replies

Hulababy · 17/12/2009 18:24

So some expert - chief medical officer - has said that parents should not allow children to have even a taste of alcohol or they will become problem drinkers in the future.

So, what do you think?

Personally I am not convinced.

OP posts:
northender · 17/12/2009 18:29

Definitely flawed thinking imho hula. Another example of blanket advice which puts peoples backs up so they ignore it completely.

winnybella · 17/12/2009 18:33

What did he mean by children? Anyone under 18?

LynetteScavo · 17/12/2009 18:34

Wall, my parents let me have a drop of wine in water when I was a teenager - with main meals on special occatsions, and I'm drinking wine right now. so I obviously aquired a taste.

I think it has got to a point where parents were letting 14 year olds have alcho pops on a staturday night...and yes some parents do need telling this isn't a good idea.

LynetteScavo · 17/12/2009 18:34

Anyone under 15

Itsjustafleshwound · 17/12/2009 18:38

I don't buy this argument at all. Surely, a more compelling argument is that if children see their parents/adults drinking in moderation and sensibly it would have a better effect than trying to eliminate it altogether ...

However, alcoholism does have a genetic link (runs in the family)

cory · 17/12/2009 18:38

So not more brandy butter with the Christmas pud then because it turns children into raving alcoholics? No more Holy Communion?

Surely it's all about how you introduce them to alcohol. Supplying them with alcopops for sleepovers is rather different from letting them sip from your glass at Sunday dinner.

PoppyIsApain · 17/12/2009 18:41

My brother has a small amount of smirnoff ice with his christmas dinner, he is 13

LynetteScavo · 17/12/2009 18:44

Am I right in thinking it's illigal to give any child under 5 alcohol? Or is that just something my mum made up to stop my dad giving us a few swigs?

Didn't stop my childminder giving me hot toddys, though.

shinyshoes · 17/12/2009 18:46

my 2 children aged 9 and 12 have a thimble sized wine topped up with lemonade on a sunday with their dinner and on special occasions.

Children all over europe have been brought up like this from a very young age and have been taught to respect alcohol, and they do.

Openbook · 17/12/2009 18:46

Kids drink because it's fun to get drunk when their friends do and it has nothing at all to do with what has happened at home.

winnybella · 17/12/2009 18:47

I don't see anything wrong with a 13 yo having an odd sip on special occasions, but probably not before.

winnybella · 17/12/2009 18:51

yes, well, shineyshoes, it's true there's not that much binge drinking in France,for instance, but they have the largest number of people with liver problems in all of Europe, so I'm not sure your argument is valid imho.
Frankly, why would you give a nine year old wine?

SueSchons · 17/12/2009 18:57

As is often repeated every time this subject comes up

In France and other continental countries where children are traditionally introduced to alcohol earlier (Watered Wine at special meals etc) they don't have the extent of the problems with alcohol that we do in this country

IMHO there is alot to be learned from the continental model, introducing children to alcohol at a young age can somewhat de-mystify it

A Sip of Wine / Champaign or a small glass of dilute shandy on a special occasion wont harm a younger child

And surely introducing alcohol and responsible social drinking to children from a young age is a far better idea than there first experience being sharing a 4 pack of cheap larger / cider with there mates in the park

Katz · 17/12/2009 19:17

When in Italy with my DD's, they brought wine glasses for the children. DD1 was not quite 3 and was given by the waiters a dash of red wine in her water in a wine glass, all the children in the resturant had the same. With DD1 i can't see why this would be a problem, DD2 can not however have alcohol in any form but thats medical.

dollius · 17/12/2009 20:48

It's about how the parents treat alcohol, not whether children are introduced to it or not.

As a child, I was introduced to alcohol early. But because my parents are heavy drinkers, I grew up thinking that was normal.

I still drink much more than I would like.

I think having alcohol as a child has a lot to do with this.

Zooropa · 17/12/2009 21:08

I don't understand why people (not referring to m/netters here) are up in arms about this really. In one of the papers today they claim it's "another example of the nanny state". How? No-one has said "parents must/must not do this". It's just a recommendation, based on a study that's jsut been done. I have no idea as to the validity of the study, but please - this guy is paid to make recommendations. It doesn't mean we have to stick to it if we don't agree! I for one am mildly interested in his comments. I don't think it means for me a blanket "no alcohol" until DS's 15th birthday, but imo these things are sometimes necessary to highlight.

ImSoNotTelling · 17/12/2009 21:29

I am of the opinion that alcoholism (if that is what they are talking about) is pretty much a genetic thing, so when people are introduced to alcohol makes not a jot of difference. In a society where alcohol is freely available and it is socially acceptable to consume it excessively the people with alcoholic tendacies will discover their love of alcohol whenever they start drinking.

In continental europe there is still a large social stigma attached to being obviously drunk. It is not cool, it's not fun. People's behaviour is moderated by that, not by when/how the alcohol is introduced.

And is it possible (just thought of this) that northern europeans - us boozy lot, the Irish scandinavians etc all the nations that drink heavily, have a greater number of people with an alcoholic gene?

I just remember seeing that program about alcohol recently, they had a load of monkeys and made alcohol freely available to them. 25% tried it once and never again, 50% could take it or leave it, 25% kept going back for more. If that translates to humans, and there is a proportion who will always go back for more, that will happen whenever the alcohol is introduced.

IMO

ImSoNotTelling · 17/12/2009 21:31

Not all of continental europe obviously. It's always the french people talk about, but spain is the same, maybe italy? i also once saw a woman harangued for having had one too many in a posh hotel restaurant in austria by the diners at the next table...

SixtyFootDoll · 17/12/2009 21:37

Is there a difference between letting youur 13 yr old drink wine or an alcopop?
I dont know.
I think the British attitude to alchol in general is so irresponsible.
If kids see their parents necking shots and passing out themn they will grow up to see this as the norm.
Iw as drinking alcohol at 14, and do drink a fair bit now.
I would prefer my DS's not to drink alchol until they are at least 18. In fact i will lock them away until then!

nighbynight · 17/12/2009 22:10

I think there is a difference between wine and alcopops - the latter are much more "childlike" in taste, packaging and presentation.

Its Gin Lane and Beer Alley all over again isnt it? Cheap spirits a very bad thing.

nighbynight · 17/12/2009 22:12

I am not convinced by this recommendation either.
My parents are sensible occasional drinkers, and so am I. I had cider or wine with my parents as a teenager, occasionally, and so will my children.

ImSoNotTelling · 17/12/2009 22:13

No.

Alchohol is alcohol, it is a chemical compound. You can posh it up in fancy wines, or swig cheap cider. It's all the same, the addictive chemical is still there. They both get you intoxicated. The only difference is that one is what "posh" people drink, and the other is what kids/people short of cash drink. It's all image.

My uncle is a raging alcoholic, he is pretty posh and has a few quid, he gets sloshed on reasonably expensive wine. Doesn't make the end result any prettier than if it were WKD or whatever.

piprobin · 17/12/2009 22:14

I think it's something to do with the physical effect of alcohol on an developing brain... it's meant to set up the wires wrong for the future or something.

Hang on - I'll see if I can find a reference.

thesecondcoming · 17/12/2009 22:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

selectivememory · 17/12/2009 22:20

Actually, I think he's talking sense.

As a parent with older (grown up and teen) children, I think there is a BIG problem with teens and alcohol. I drink too so am not being 'holier than thou' but teens drink an awful lot, lots of vodka etc.

Doesn't do any harm to suggest drinking under 15 is unacceptable, because it is really, IMO.