Fyron's 5000th Post

[tbontob]

While giving a minor (who is a son/daughter) a drink in the privacy of your home is technically "contributing to the delinquency of a minor", it is seldom enforced.

Technically, a glass of white wine during a meal falls within that definition.

Common sense dictates that parents teach their children how to cope responsibly with life's attractions.

Just saying "No!" doesn't teach a child much. It may even be counter-productive as it can increase the allure of alcohol.

Much better to give the minor the experience in a controlled setting where the minor can experience the event in safety and comfort.

Most cases hit the limelight when the cops have a "hard-on" for someone, the parents are in conflict and one complains to the cops or the parents have encouraged drinking to such an extent that the minor was either an alcoholic or fast becoming one.

[ April 13, 2003, 14:44: Message edited by: tbontob ]

[Ruatha]

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
that's drink in a public place...

It is legal for you to drink at home with an adult.

Interesting.

In sweden you are allowed to drink in restaurants and pubs when you are 18, but not at home or anywhere else until you are 20.
Then you can drink wherever you want to that is not forbidden by local rules (i e you can't drink on public markets etc).

The logic is that you then have two years to learn to drink socially under some kind of supervision by the employees at the pubs/restaurants. If people get too drunk and still get's served the pub/restaurant will loose their permit to serve alcoholic beverages.

(I read Fyrons comment but still thought this was an interesting remark)

Studies has shown that children who are allowed "social" drinking at dinners etc at home, tend to consume more alcohol then those who get's a simple "No".
The early "controlled" allowence theory doesn't work.

[ April 13, 2003, 16:34: Message edited by: Ruatha ]

[tesco samoa]

You can have a glass of wine with your parents at dinner table.

I was not talking a bunch of 17 year olds hanging out with a bunch of 22 year olds...

[Cyrien]

Heh. I spend alot of early childhood in Spain and there it was not uncommon during special events (new years eve etc) to recieve a small amount of watered down wine.

When I moved to the United States I found the attitude quite different, especially among younger teenage peers etc. I have known people who go out specifically with the intent to "get wasted" and I just can't understand that mentality.

I myself have never gotten drunk and it is not really an experience I would care to have based on others I have seen going through it.

[Fyron]

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
You can have a glass of wine with your parents at dinner table.

I was not talking a bunch of 17 year olds hanging out with a bunch of 22 year olds...

Yes I know Tesco. But it is still equally illegal for parents to give alcohol to their children that are under 21.

[tbontob]

Originally posted by Ruatha:

quote:

---

Originally posted by tesco samoa:
that's drink in a public place...

It is legal for you to drink at home with an adult.

Interesting.

In sweden you are allowed to drink in restaurants and pubs when you are 18, but not at home or anywhere else until you are 20.
Then you can drink wherever you want to that is not forbidden by local rules (i e you can't drink on public markets etc).

The logic is that you then have two years to learn to drink socially under some kind of supervision by the employees at the pubs/restaurants. If people get too drunk and still get's served the pub/restaurant will loose their permit to serve alcoholic beverages.

(I read Fyrons comment but still thought this was an interesting remark)

Studies has shown that children who are allowed "social" drinking at dinners etc at home, tend to consume more alcohol then those who get's a simple "No".
The early "controlled" allowence theory doesn't work.

---

Hmmm.

There may be some misinterpretation here.

Very young children should not be allowed to ingest alcohol for many reasons. The most obvious is that they are in a state of accelerated growth and excess alcohol is a poison.

The studies are probably correct. But I think the conditions under which they are conducted are relevant. If the parents are excessively permissive, I can see the study giving the results it does.

The opposite extreme is the rigid, domineering parent who says "no" with implied malice.

Somewhere in between is the loving, concerned and involved parent who oversees the event.

The latter parent is excercising the discipline most young children have not developed. As the child displays appropriate responsibility, there is less need for the overseeing parent.

Some societies drink wine with their meals every day. I believe the French may be a good example. However acceptable it is to have alcohol with their meal, I don't feel it is appropriate for a child to have the same privilege.

IMO, that would be excessive.

[Ruatha]

Well, for my part i belive that as a loving parent I'll say no so long as I can, atleast until they are 18.
No malice intended, but if alcohol was introduced today it would have been Banned.
As it is now I use it on occasion, but it is a powerful and potentially dangerous drug.

Many people point at countries where there is a more liberal view on alcohol, France as an example and says "Se, you can drink without getting drunk". But France has a high rate of alcohol induced diseases.
So for my kids sake I'll try to keep them from alcohol as long as I can, and I'll make sure they know what I think about it.

I won't "punish" them if they get home drunk sometime, but there will be a discussion following when they sober up.
I'm sure they'll get drunk before it's legal to be so, but I hope to be able to minimize these occasions and perhaps give them enough self esteem to say no, and hopefully learn after the first time that it isn't so grand to be loaded.

But somethings one propably has to learn by doing ones own mistakes.

[ April 14, 2003, 07:28: Message edited by: Ruatha ]