My dp, ds and I went for lunch with some friends who have a 8 month old ds this w/e. DUring lunch the mother of this baby told me that they often give her small amounts of beer or wine (which she apparently likes less than beer) on their fingers. I assumed they were joking and laughed but soon after this an argument ensued, wherein I was accused of responding to middle class pressure to feel guilty about doing almost anything against the mother malitia doctrine on child rearing (jtheir words) and that alcohol is a "societal bonus" and that to deny children small amounts of it is unfair and exclusive. My friend also said that she had been given martini on her dummy and that had done her no harm. They are scientists and so started saying that I was stupid to think this was harmful as the liver can well cope with alcohol in small doses (in fairness they are talking finger sucking amounts). I still feel disturbed by the conversation, not because I feel what thewy are doing is deeply harmful but because I feel angry at being criticised for my own feeling that alcohol is a societal problem and that, though my ds is likely to drink in the future, there is ABSOLUTELY no need to give him drugs at the age of 15months or, in fact, for many years to come...What do others think about this issue?