How did you introduce your teens to alcohol?

[Palorad]

I'm moreso curious about how you taught them about spirits and when they moved on from beer, winer and cider

My teen's were 18...under age and drinking alcohol doesn't sit well with me.

I haven’t and I won’t. Drinking is hardly a life skill.

and all the evidence shows that kids who are introduced to alcohol at home have more issues with binge drinking and addiction than those who aren’t.

I drink in moderation so I suppose they witness it though.

That's what I see from the studies and scientific literature. But the MN response is that you should teach them to drink at home or they'll go off the rails at university.

I haven't, I don't drink, my eldest nearly 30 doesn't drink. My teen boys between the ages 17-14 have shown no interest neither has anyone they know. alcohol is not the big deal it once was

I haven't. I don't drink and there isn't any alcohol in the house. I can't stop them drinking but I'm not 'introducing' it to them.

I’m also at this stage with my teens. On here people keep saying alcohol is not as popular now with teens but I’m not seeing this at all. Parties locally (very middle class area) for 16 year olds sound horrendous…overflowing with alcohol ( and worse). So far my children have shown no interest in going but it’s only a matter of time. We have some alcohol in the house and drink moderately. DC currently show no interest but some of their friends drink a fair bit already I would say.

DS17 won't touch alcohol. He's very healthy conscious. DS15 will have a very occasional beer (which he doesn't finish). He was given ouzo in Greece last year by the tavernas at the end of meals but hasn't had spirits since.

Have let all three of mine try wine at meal times
Cider for my son when we have a party and maybe G&T for my youngest daughter

They’ve all grown up to be sensible around alcohol

I won't introduce this at home either.

I read a study recently that debunked the whole alcohol early = better outcomes. The actual results showed the opposite of this.

No need to teach or introduce anything.
We aren't big drinkers but if they wanted a sip of wine or beer on holiday we allowed it from age 10 or so and then they could order a spritzer or shandy for themselves from around 15/16. On an AI holiday we didn't monitor it and neither of them got drunk really. DS ended up tipsy after 2 cocktails but speed talked and then fell asleep (he was 15)
Neither of them are very bothered and we have a pretty relaxed attitude to it

It's just I've read threads on here all about the "french method" of giving them watered down wine when they are a kid

I’ve got a 14 year old and an 11 year old. Neither are really allowed alcohol, although we’ve allowed a sip of drinks if they’ve ever asked. Generally met with revulsion.
DH and I both drink but they’ve never seen us drunk or having more fun with alcohol, we tell them we drink it for the taste (mostly true), so I am hoping I’m modelling responsible drinking. My mum and dad used to get really drunk and have loads of fun with friends and then tried to forbid drinking until we were 16, needless to say that approach failed.

I am basically trying to hold them off as long as possible, although I won’t have a hard and fast rule as to age, I will discourage and talk about responsible approaches etc and how to handle parties when that time comes.

My 'introducing' the kids to alcohol began when they were kids. An occasional glass of wine for me with a meal in a secure, family environment and how to normalize sensible and safe enjoyment of alcohol.

My kids were probably 8 or 9 when I invited them to taste. And it was a sip. An alcoholic (and I later found out drug addict) friend was horrified that I 'drank' around the kids, never mind offered them a taste. Needless to say her habit had way more of an impact on her dc (out all weekend, stomach pumped more than once) and mine have a sensible relationship with alcohol. Know when enough is enough, have emergency plans if they get separated from their friends on a night out and know that they can call me at anytime to rescue them. Some of their peers have had truly awful experiences - both from strict no alcohol til you're 18 homes and very boozy homes.

I never did. I said if you want to drink i won't stop you but stay off the spirits. I do drink and probably overdo it at times but I don't drink at home. They are 19 and 21. The older one is teetotal and the younger one might have a rum and coke when out with friends but he's never got drunk.

No need to as we don’t drink alcohol and they have all wisely made the same choice.

A small wine, beer or bucks fizz at Christmas/ new year if they wanted to try something. Maybe a glass of something on a special occasion if we went for dinner or on holiday. They can take it or leave it now they are older and generally don’t drink as much as we did at the same age. There is certainly more focus on health and well-being.

This made me laugh as I remember these being bought over in Greece - I'm not sure if anyone else got them but goodness me I drank one, went outside and saw stars. Was wary of spirits after that. Was 14.

I keep seeing this 'new study' trotted out that actually introducing your teens to alcohol early and at home has worse long term outcomes. Surely this is because the kind of families where it's normal to offer a 15 yr old a beer at a family bbq are just heavier drinking families? The kids are more likely growing up in an environment where socialising = alcohol, no?

I came from a very heavy drinking family where it was normal for us all to drink from mid teens. I didn't have a very healthy relationship with alcohol, and I'd say my brothers all drink to excess now, but it was the family environment not the fact that it started 4 years before some of my peers.

My friends who had parents who insisted their children didn't drink til they were 18 a) mainly just had children who drank secretly and therefore couldn't ring their parents if there was trouble and/or b) then made major judgement errors when it got to 18th birthday parties.

I never introduced my DC to alcohol. I don't drink myself and didn't want to encourage it. Neither of mine (26 and 20 )drink at all which I am really glad of.
Had a huge argument with my dsis years ago at a very rare family event where she handed my then 14yr old a bottle of beer insisting he needs to try it. Better doing it at home supervised blah blah.....

I wasn't the one having to go pick my DC up roaring drunk from the park. I'll parent my own kids thank you.

I'd never give someone else's child alcohol

DH and I don't drink and while DD has tried cider at a festival, she's 18 and not really interested. She'd rather have tea.

DS is 14 and we won't be offering alcohol to him either.

My boys were offered shandy from age 15 onwards. My eldest son had some spirits at his 18th celebration. The option has been there but they just don't fancy it (19 and 17 now).

I have a pretty healthy relationship with alcohol, as do my parents. I like a glass of wine with a meal sometimes (never in the week) and will have a few drinks when out with friends - although I usually drive so don’t drink at all. DS is 21 and is pretty similar. I always allowed him to try whatever but he dislikes most alcohol. Does like a glass of red with me so when we (and parents)) get together there will be a bottle shared. He also likes a craft beer but is not a heavy drinker at all.

People teach their children to drink?
And there's some sort of curriculum that begins with beer and cider and progresses through intermediate wine to advanced spirits?

Do they get a certificate at the end? University credits?