16 year olds drinking with parents permission...

[phillipa.d]

My 16 year old is having a birthday party tomorrow night, at our house, and I am going to allow them to drink under my supervision.

I dont want to get into a major debate about the rights and wrongs of underage drinking, quite simply I have taken the view that if it didn\'t happen in front of me, they would do it in a park or some other public place without my knowledge, and I feel that in my home, with adults present, is the common sense alternative.

Will I be breaking any laws? What view will the police take of this?

TIA for your answers.

P

x

[Pigletion]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/WorriedAbout/DG_10026210

which I think means children can drink at home as long as they are over 5.

However, not sure if it only applies to your children or any children in your care (including other people's). I think you could run into problems if other parents didn't know or agree with their children drinking.

Beware the boy who brings the bottle of vodka - there's always one! Acually that's probably a big issue, supervised drinking of weak lager, shandies and white wine spritzers seems sensible, but teenagers do not get this and will want strong lager, alcopops and spirits.

With adult reinforcements, you should be fine. Remember teenagers are already a hormonal nightmare and the alcohol will make it worse :o) Good luck!

[ummmm]

They can legally drink at home. Not sure about other peoples kids though. I did the same with my daughter but phoned all the other parents for permission first.

[hc4361]

Will all the children's parents be there? You will in effect be in loco parentis if not, and giving other people's kids alcohol is entirely different to letting your own kids drink.

[sara3]

I would suggest that whatever you see them drink, they are secretly drinking three times that amount in the garden/ loo/ before they arrived/ bedroom (heaven forbid!).

best of luck :o)

[ummmm]

When I done it with mine they were allowed 2 wicked blues each and I handed them out.

[phillipa.d]

Thanks guys, just about what i thought. I know most of the parents of the guests, and we've been in this situation before with them having at drink, but its never been at MY house before, which prompted my question. My husband will be on the door (he was a doorman at a nightclub, many moons ago) checking what they are bringing in.

Hopefully, they'll all start snogging about half ten - Yuk! - but at least it'll quieten down! :)