17 year old wants to try alcohol

[Inniu]

DD is 17 and quite sensible.

She is going to a function in a few weeks and wants to have a drink with her friends before she goes.

I would prefer she didn’t especially going out to a function but I am not going to try to stop her.

She is clueless about alcohol though and I don’t want her trying something too strong.

What is a fairly light alcoholic drink for a 17 year old?

I think I drank West Coast Cooler at 18 or 19. Would teens today drink something similar or is that an old person drink?

Are you in the US OP? It’s quite unusual for a 17 year old not have ever tried alcohol in the UK. I’d advise a homemade cocktail probably, using a half measure of spirit rather than whole if you’re concerned.

I really wouldn't encourage it. You have to be realistic and accept that she may try it but I certainly wouldn't facilitate it. I'd talk to her about the dangers of spirits and sensible drinking.
We live in such an alcohol driven society. Its ok not to drink.

Eh? Has your 17 year old never had a glass of wine, pimms, beer, shandy, weak spirit and mixer?

Shouldn't be an issue imo

I remember throwing up from drinking stolen vodka from my parents at 15. Turned out to be an alright adult.

Stopping alcohol makes it more elusive and desirable as a result which leads to misuse

I remember throwing up out my dads car window at 15 after drinking vodka and orange. 17 does seem quite late.....

I remember being in the pub age 14. Dd(15) has been offered a taste but so far has declined. Has she never tried anything? It was things like Smirnoff ice and bacardi breezer that I used to drink

I agree with you on that Cavendish which is why I haven't banned my teens from drinking. They don't at home because I don't drink but I have warned them about the dangers. At the moment they have chosen not to drink.

I would go for cider or wine with a lowish strength maybe have a drink or two at home in a safe environment the week before and try to encourage her to be sensible and avoid the spirits. Cross your fingers she doesn’t go wild 😜 on the vodka or something. Although she probably will sooner or later.

We are in Ireland and some teens do drink very young but I do think DD hasn’t tried alcohol yet.
She is quite clear she wants to now though.

I was in town with a fake ID at 15 getting aboutelt mullered. Would regularly have a civilised glass of wine or a Smirnoff ice/WKD with my mum on the weekends when my siblings went to dads house.

I’m 23 now, did all my drinking and being silly before I was about 19/20 and now I’ve got a mortgage, good career and starting our family.
Yet I know a lot of the much more refined girls who I knew at school are currently coked up down the local every weekend and skipping job to job. I know it depends on the persona do their attitude.

But don’t assume because people drink young means their going to grow up a shitebag. IMO it’s quite the opposite.

Give the poor girls a G&T. Parma violet gin with lemonade she will absolutely love! Probably not tonic water though..

www.google.com/amp/s/metro.co.uk/2015/08/28/21-drinks-thatll-bring-back-terrifying-memories-of-how-we-used-to-get-drunk-in-the-90s-5252470/amp/ think I've had most of these

A couple of bottles of San Miguel or similar would do the job wouldn't they?

Archers, southern comfort or Malibu with lemonade were my drinks at that age, before that it was Smirnoff ice and white lightning

Smirnoff Ice has about the same % alcohol as a beer. It's easy to drink - though maybe too easy. Fair play to her for getting to this age without alcohol.

Bloody hell. I would never have involved my parents in my social life at that age. She is old enough to drive, get married, leave home.

Red bacardi breezer was a favourite at one point. Turns your tongue red though

Fruit cider or those Smirnoff Ice drinks would fit the bill.

You get fruit cider in wee bottles too as well as cans

Why is she asking you what alcohol she should drink? That's very odd.

Is it the same in Ireland as in the UK, where a 16 year old can legally have a drink in a pub with a meal in the company of an adult? If so, why not have a couple of pub lunches before the event she's due to go to. She can try out some drinks (not spirits though!)

Why is she asking you what alcohol she should drink? That's very odd.

I did this! My best friends 18th was 2 months before mine. I'd only ever drunk sherry and rose wine at home. Had no idea what to ask for in a pub or club! Probably wasn't a good idea to ask my mother though, who suggested Babycham. All my mates were on Malibu/Taboo/vodka. I learnt quick enough!

Don’t berate the OP and her DD. Things have changed it is now much harder for teenagers to buy drink these days than when we or certainly when I was under 18.

In a local supermarket this week a cashier was telling me about challenge 25 whereby cashiers can ask for ID if a person doesn’t look 25. As if they get caught serving alcohol to under 18’s its a massive fine.
So if OP’s daughter wants alcohol she’s asked her mum.

My 17 year old dd favours Smirnoff Ice - quite a low alcohol content by volume

Personally I would facilitate it and let her have a drink with you rather than a friend turning up with a bottle of vodka...

White wine spritzer, or a low alcohol sparkling wine maybe? I'm always a bit cautious around alcopops as they just taste like pop rather than alcohol. (Even though I drank them as a teenager)