What do you think of parents/adults allowing high school/college children to drink?

Question

Cookie on my mind & others as it applies: per the argument letting kids drink at 18 or younger makes them more responsible drinkers if one looks at the UK, in parts of which kids can legally drink at 16--18 in other parts; has among the worst problems with binge drinking among older adolescents of anywhere in the world. And France where children start sipping even before they go to school has one of the highest rates of alcoholism in the world.

For parents providing alcohol to or permitting alcohol use by their minor children you are risking serious criminal and civil liability.

Answer 1

I think once a kid is in college it's pretty much out of his/her parents hands. As far as in high school and with the mom or dad supplying well, of course, its dumb. It seems as if they're trying to get on their kids level, be their friend. It's just a matter of trusting your own child and teaching them that going to party and get wasted isn't always the best decision. I have a few drinks now and then, but not to the point of being trashed.

Answer 2

Mixed feelings.  My aunt let me drink in high school.  It was very rare, like twice a year.  I had a lil fun with it, got to be all cool and drinking (lets face it, most kids drink because they think it is cool).  I did not abuse alcohol later on.  I kept my mouth shut about it and stayed in the house.

My cousin however.....    the same aunt, her son.  They let him drink from the time he was about 15 and still are (he is 18).  They let him and his friends do it regularly.  They have and do sneak out drunk, drive drunk, abuse alcohol, steal alcohol....  

It didnt do any harm with me, but clearly did do some harm with my cousin. BUT, and this is a huge but, I respected their rules, and my own parents rules (my parents wouldnt have let me drink, but I wasnt down right defiant).  My cousin did not and never has respected his parents rules, and they have never really made him respect their rules.

Answer 3

I think it's one thing to allow one drink at a family gathering. It's another thing to allow  other people's children in your home drinking to the point of intoxication.  When I was in high school, my friend's parents were arrested for purchasing alcohol for minors and allowing drinking in their home. Something to consider.........

Answer 4

I had my first alcholic drink when I was about 12. My parents had a garden party and I asked if I could have a glass of wine. From then on I would drink when my parents had parties or at special occassions. It didn't do me any harm and I went on my first drinking night out at 17 (yes i was underage). I am now 20 and rarely drink at all. I have had a few drunken nights in the past, mainly birthdays but I think the fact that my parents allowed me to do it at home made me more aware of binge drinking. I chose not to go down that road and feel I was properly educated by my parents about the dangers of alchol abuse. It may of been a different case if I hadn't been able to have that first glass of wine.

Answer 5

I think it is fine, as long as it is controlled.....Party on!

And to all the people on here having a stroke over people like me who would allow there young adults have a few beers......You keep saying its against the law.....well, how about a 15 year old girl who is knocked up?  Do you have a stroke over that? Its not against the law.....and to me completely worse then some high school/ college kids having a few drinks.....

Answer 6

Well, it's just my OPINION, but I don't think any parent should be buying their under aged child alcohol - not only is it ILLEGAL, but I also think it teaches your kids that it's 'okay' to go ahead and break laws. Laws are in place for reasons. Alcohol is a substance that can alter your state of mind. Many adults can't handle alcohol - never mind young minds! I think parents should be teaching their kids the dangers of over-consuming alcohol and encouraging them to wait until they are 21 before drinking it.

*EDIT* - to the poster below me who thinks breaking the law and buying their underage child alcohol is teaching them 'responsibility' - is it responsible to be breaking the law like that????? hmmmm I think NOT!

Answer 7

I'm 14 and a lot of the kids in my grade drink. I don't and personally, I think it's very stupid. Most of the kids that do drink end up doing very very VERY dumb things and end up making themselves look like retards... I wouldn't if I were you... but I'm not you.

Answer 8

I'm 20 years old now and my brother is 16 and he goes to parties and gets drunk all the time and once my mom found out and was like "where were his parents?!" My brother was like "oh they were there. They were the ones that bought it for us" So she forbid him to go over there anymore but apparently this is a common trend now cuz thats like what goes down at any party he goes to. The parents are the one throwing it for the kid and letting them all get wasted. It's complete garbage.

Answer 9

Depends on the kid, everyone is different and reacts differently.  It is illegal to buy alcohol under the age of 19 (Ontario) but is legal to consume under parental supervision (not necessarily WITH them) and at home only. This way is somewhat controlled as it's a safe place (not a park somewhere) and stupidity at home is better than anywhere else.  Let's face it, they're going to anyways ...we all did it...I know where my kid is...and he has been properly taught about DD's and the very real dangers of binge drinking.

Answer 10

In a larger conext, you're asking if its OK for parents to decide which laws to ignore.  Laws are supposed to protect us form the worst of something and foster the better of things.  If you say its OK for parents to approve of underage drinking, what about s*x, what about drug use, what about skipping school, etc, etc?

The number one thing you can do for your child is to love them.  I know...DUH!  What people miss is that loving your child includes sacrificing yourself for the better of the child, TO INCLUDE what the child thinks of you.  In other words, parents must discipline their children so that when they grow up, they don't turn out to be scumbags, even if that means your child thinks you're a tyrant.

As a father of three, I'd much rather my children grow up to be productve members of society and occassionally get mad at me now than to be their "friend" and let them turn out to be a drain on society.  What kind of friend is that?

Answer 11

I think its very immature and wrong of them.

Answer 12

I think its irresponsible and a pathetic plea to be cool with your child

no matter how old your child is, they are always your child, and you should always set a good example for them

Answer 13

i agree with it it is fine i respect my parents for buying me alchol and i am able to enjoy my slef i will happily buy it for my children

Answer 14

I'm beginning to think it is the only way to teach our children to be RESPONSIBLE with alcohol.  We raise them to think it is only for "21 and up" and a bad thing to do, then wonder why our teen/young adult alcohol related death rates are so high in this country.  Alcohol is not bad or evil, it is all in how one chooses to enjoy it ,limit one self, and know to have a designated driver.  We as parents are our childrens life teachers yet we send them out to be adults or serve our country before they can drink?

Answer 15

well I think if they live on their own and have a job and go to college, and they come home for a 4th of july picnic or something then it's fine. I wouldn't let my high school child who still lived with me drink. I would not let my kid have friends over and drink. But I would let them drink. My parents let me once I was in college, and we had a very good relationship it was no plea for them to be liked by me.

Answer 16

If the kids are under 21 it's illegal and considered child abuse