what does a teenager (16) take to a party these days?

[equisiy]

cans of soft drink? Big bag of crisps? DS thinks nothing.

In my day it was thunder bird and 20/20

The law is confusing.
It is illegal to buy alcohol for someone under 18. So parents/ adults can not supply under 18's with booze for parties because presumably they would be buying it for them.
But it is legal to have a drink with food in a pub at 16 with an adult buying it for you.
Never been in the situation myself so I don't know what I would do.

Alcohol, my DD1 (13) goes to party's where people drink, she tells me everything. I never worry too much as i know she goes with a big group of friends, I drop her off and she always has her phone. I know I sound like a bad mother but, I don't buy it for her && I'm just glad she is honest with me.

My DD (6th former) takes J2O or cans of diet coke!

IME alcohol is usually at involved at teen parties, often provided by the hosts parents. I often let DD (17) take 2 bottles of alcopop (from the age of 16) but the truth is they drink that AND whatever is there at the party. So I am not sure if providing them with it is a good thing or not. Even at Rangers camps (15 years upwards) we were told they would be drinking unless we wrote a letter of objection!!

general politeness is take what you are planning to drink. Your son should take his cans of toilet cleaner coke if that's what he likes. As he can't have alcohol he should watch no joker spikes his drink. And be prepared for a fairly dull time once the swilled booze kicks in with the others. Tell him to dress washable!

I get my 17 year old takes cider or beer, she would rather have a bottle of vodka to take, unfortunalty she can get served in most shops around here so if she has money she will get vodka. When she had her birthday recently people just bought what they wanted to drink and then they all chipped in for takeaway pizza at some point i had frozen pizza but they didn't want that. Some of them that dont drink bought coke/juice.