14 Year Olds And Alcohol

[EvianBaby]

Was chatting to a friend last night and told her I've got my 14 year old niece staying with me this weekend and I've no idea what to do with her other than watch inappropriate films and eat junk food.

She suggested we should get p1ssed together. She did laugh that off but added the worst that would happen is that she'd throw up in the loo and feel like crap the next day.

So it got me thinking, if one of your kids went to stay with someone you trust, how would you feel if they let the kid drink? I mean more than just a glass of wine.

I might be being a bit naive but knowing how sweet the my nieces friends are, I don't think any of them have ever had any real experience of drinking alcohol yet. There's certainly been no getting drunk on cheap cider in a park. I don't think she could hack it.

[EvianBaby]

I could only have spelt that name more wrong if I'd called her Derek.

[ummmm]

There is nothing wrong with alcohol in moderation. My son (16) would have his mates back here and have a drink with his mates. As long as his mates parents knew where they were and didn't mind, it's fine by me.

There are rules though....no getting drunk. Actually, that's the only rule :-)

[ChillDoubt]

Swearing in films doesn't bother me in the slightest, they hear that and far worse on the school yard.
The health dangers and repercussions of excessive and early use alcohol abuse are well documented.

[Sharingan]

We always have wine, water and beer with meals and it's not rationed. After you get to about 10 or 12 it's assumed that you know not to overdo it yourself so it's not limited, but it's exected that you never get drunk or even close. My older brothers have come in hammered a few times in their late teens but alcohol is not treated as a big deal so has no allure really and most of them prefer to keep their money now instead. None of us smoke either. All of this is okay but I think both my parents would throw a fit if someone intentionally got one of us drunk at 14.

[boxtops]

IMO 10 or 12's too young, but each family has their own way of dealing with this.

[Sharingan]

Well we have wine with meals from much younger than that but from 10 or 12 they expect you to have enough self control not to have to be told not to have another glass.

[society]

"If a 14year old came to stay with us, i would not even consider offering them alcohol.......their parents might not object.......but we would. "

What Sqad said ^^^

[boxtops]

That's a very mature approach sharingan - not all families would do that.

[Sparkles62]

From their early teens all of my children were allowed wine if we had it with a meal, they usually opted for it in lemonade, we are not big drinkers, but if we had a few cans then the kids had a shandy if they wanted, they are all grown up now, none of them ever got into trouble with alcohol in their youth, and none of them are big drinkers now.
But I would certainly have fallen out with any "responsible adults" who plied them with alcohol to get them drunk whilst they were in their care.

[Nini74]

my step daughter was about 14 when her and her mates started on the drinking and partying. I didn't like it, and neither did my husband, but she lives 400 miles away from us and we have little say. However, since then, now when she is with us, if me and her dad are having a drink, then we'll offer her one or two to have during the evening. There's no point saying she can't have a drink when she's with us as she'll just want to party harder when she goes home. The way I see it, at least we're teaching her sensible drinking and that you don't have to drink yourself stupid to enjoy yourself. However, i would never encourage excessive drnking in teens (although i did it and i dare so most others have) x

[FredPuli43]

No. I wouldn't allow the visitor, or my own child, if with her, to drink any alcohol, even though my own was permitted it (as they both were, in moderation, at that age). The visitor might not be permitted it at home, but quite prepared to claim that she was.

If my child was visiting someone, I'd have no objection, and would have to trust that some adult at the other home was exercising some control.

[Kassee]

You sound as though you haven't a clue. The best you can offer is junk food and "inappropriate films" and alcohol. I wouldn't let my 14 year old anywhere near you.

[ummmm]

Huh? Evian has made it clear that she will not be offering alcohol!

[EvianBaby]

Lol Kasse, I wouldn't want your 14 year old anywhere near me.

Thanks for the answers everyone else. The general concencous seems clear :)

[Tina823]

It is really not the right time for alcohol.