18 year old can legally drink in Mexico - Spring Break parental advice please

[Anonymous]

Also, this kid is already drinking in high school. It’s not like he has never experienced alcohol and “needs” this opportunity.

[Anonymous]

If he told you his plans on drinking are a happy hour drink and a dinner drink I think that sounds totally reasonable. Just make sure he knows not to be getting drunk, which it sounds like he isn’t planning on but it could happen accidentally

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why not a drink by the pool in the afternoons?

I’m the one who posted that. I don’t know why really, I just don’t like the idea. Maybe because we have younger kids and it strikes me as excessive or decadent if the kid is also drinking at dinner. My values around alcohol are that I rarely drink in the daytime or while spending time together with kids. If the 18 yo were my youngest or only kid I’d maybe feel differently.

I’d be more worried about your younger kids. There is no real drinking age in Mexico. If you can hold a cup you can drink. When we arrived at our resort, everyone was handed a pina colada, including the kids. I thought the kids were given alcohol free drinks. Not the case. we let my daughter and her cousin go to the pool alone. It was a mistake. Cousin spent the rest of the day sick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If he told you his plans on drinking are a happy hour drink and a dinner drink I think that sounds totally reasonable. Just make sure he knows not to be getting drunk, which it sounds like he isn’t planning on but it could happen accidentally

+1 “You can enjoy alcohol legally, moderately, and responsibly.” I’d allow it under these parameters, and have a conversation about exactly what that means. It’s legal, and you can work out what moderation means in your situation. Enjoying alcohol responsibly makes me think of driving and consent, neither of which are likely to be concerns on Spring Break with your family.

[Anonymous]

If you’re old enough to go to war you’re old enough to drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re old enough to go to war you’re old enough to drink.

This but that’s a legal issue that needs changing. I would not break the law. But legal in Mexico? Sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sounds more than reasonable. He’s 18 and it’s legal there. He’s with his family. It’s fine.

No.

No one under 21 is capable of using alcohol responsibly. That’s why it’s the law.

This is ridiculous on so many levels. For one, it isn't the law. In most states it is perfectly legal to let your children drink at home under the age of 21. Secondly, many countries allow adults under 21 to drink, and they learn to drink responsibly as a result.

[Anonymous]

Op, making it A Big Deal is far worse than it happening or not happening.

[Anonymous]

Anyone who goes to Mexico these days, does so at his own risk. Considering the current reality, the last thing I’d do is drink alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you’re old enough to go to war you’re old enough to drink.

No one “needs” to drink at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My 18 year old is overall a great kid. I know that he has had alcohol at parties in the past (he always comes home and tells us what happened; he usually has one drink and nurses it the entire night). We are going to Mexico as a family for spring break and the legal drinking age is 18. How should we go about this? I am inclined to give him a taste of legal consumption as long as it is in moderation. He will be with the family at all times and has no desire to go out on his own. I asked him and he sees himself enjoying a happy hour drink at the pool each afternoon and maybe a margarita once or twice when we go out to dinner.

You really think he has one drink while drinking with friends in HS? And “nurses it” through the evening? I doubt it. I know kids who don’t drink and kids who drink a lot but drinking one drink at HS gathering is pretty unusual (and strikes me as unlikely). This seems more like “trickle truth”.

I have an 18 yo too and would not be averse to my kid having a legal drink at meals. I would not be ok with drinking every afternoon by the pool fwiw.

100% THIS

Not to mention get arrested in Mexico good luck. And alcohol poisoning great idea.

Look kids are 18 they are free to go does not mean it is a good idea

Then again for women safer than a red state currently in the US so

[Anonymous]

No one should use alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Um OP, it’s time to chill out. I assume your DC is going to college in the fall and GASP he is going to do whatever he wants, drinking, drugs, sex, whatever he desires. Freaking out about drinking in Mexico while he’s WITH you is not an issue.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:That sounds more than reasonable. He’s 18 and it’s legal there. He’s with his family. It’s fine.

No.

No one under 21 is capable of using alcohol responsibly. That’s why it’s the law.

This is ridiculous on so many levels. For one, it isn't the law. In most states it is perfectly legal to let your children drink at home under the age of 21. Secondly, many countries allow adults under 21 to drink, and they learn to drink responsibly as a result.

In many states an 18 year old can even have a beer or wine in a restaurant when they are accompanied by their parents-at the proprietor's discretion.

[Anonymous]

Be sure to share the advice about beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, in the clear.