Would you mind if your 15 year old drank?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Those of you who say you would mind, did you drink at that age yourself?

No. My parents did their job.

[Anonymous]

It is so scary to me that there are parents out here who even think this is a question. SMH.

[Anonymous]

Yes. What a no brainer

[Anonymous]

Ha! I had my first drink at 12 at a party with my patents, a slow gin fizz
So I would not freak out if my teen had a drink at 15. But he is 18 now and wants no part of alcohol.

[Anonymous]

I would mind because he has adhd and anxiety, both condition that make people prone to self medicating.

[Anonymous]

Yes, I would mind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is so scary to me that there are parents out here who even think this is a question. SMH.

I'll bite-- why is it so scary to you. Do you think everyone who has a beer at 15 end up with unhealthy approach to alcohol? Or that everyone who has a beer at 15 suffer lifelong health consequences?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so scary to me that there are parents out here who even think this is a question. SMH.

I'll bite-- why is it so scary to you. Do you think everyone who has a beer at 15 end up with unhealthy approach to alcohol? Or that everyone who has a beer at 15 suffer lifelong health consequences?

Not that PP, But statistically, it does make your child more at risk of abusing alcohol. Of making poor choices with it.

[Anonymous]

So... I've been pondering it from a different perspective. I have a 16 1/2 year old. I'm trying to look at things more realistically. I do mind and have rules. And yet I know kids that are social will likely drink at some point and level. And possibly/probably weed with this generation. So how do we not go to straight abstinence but talk about moderation, taking care of self, staying with friends, calling for help, etc. I feel I'm entering another phase as DC gets older. And yes, she knows I mind for all the reasons above!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Of course. We are Asian, and both our families have a low tolerance for alcohol (mutation in the gene that metabolizes alcohol). My tween and teen can sip to learn the taste of various drinks. But they cannot drink one beer, let alone two.

Very interesting comment. I did not know that about Asians. Native Americans also have genetic low tolerance to alcohol and folks from Ireland and to some extant
British Isles have genetic low tolerance.

[Anonymous]

Why would you even ask this? Of course it is a problem .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I would absolutely mind!
College is the earliest kids should try alcohol (responsibly, although it might be wishful thinking).

Not trying until college reduces the likelihood your kid will try responsibly then.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so scary to me that there are parents out here who even think this is a question. SMH.

I'll bite-- why is it so scary to you. Do you think everyone who has a beer at 15 end up with unhealthy approach to alcohol? Or that everyone who has a beer at 15 suffer lifelong health consequences?

Not that PP, But statistically, it does make your child more at risk of abusing alcohol. Of making poor choices with it.

+1. Not every kid who is unvaccinated gets seriously ill, but my kid is vaccinated. Not every kid who rides in the car without a seatbelt gets a brain injury or dies, but my kids use them.

And exactly one or two beers probably poses a very low risk. But the issue isn't that the child indulged once in the forbidden. The issue is that it is a huge red flag to a concerning pattern of behavior, not to mention a concerning lack of supervision. UNderage alcohol use is a risk factor for later abuse. Period. And despite what you read on DCUM, not every kid has access, and drinking while underage is not the norm.

And, yes, I started drinking at 14 or 15 (I am a woman). My brother who was a year older but well connected got it for me. My parents were career focused people who ignored us. I would say I was staying at a friends house and would literally roam the streets all night with friends. Fortunately, we were all basically geeky kids who were ignored by our parents, so despite some drinking, pot, mild vandalism, and a little sex, we all turned out ok. In fact, we loved and supported each other so it was a good experience. Would have been even better if we had also had parents who cared and paid attention.

I quit drinking after I had kids because any form of alcohol gave me a headache. My brother became an alcoholic and was almost dead from liver failure at 41, which is apparently quite an accomplishment to ruin your liver that fast. He decided he wanted to live and stopped drinking, but now is addicted to food, morbidly obese and will probably be dead from that within the next decade.

My parents think they were great parents, by the way, because I had a great GPA.

[Anonymous]

My kids had tasted wine and drinks at home, when they were tweens. We took them to restaurants for their 21st birthday so that they could order cocktails.

My kids drink very rarely, even when they went to college and they drink responsibly. They are modelling their behavior on how we drink, and also, drinks are not forbidden fruits in our house.

We don't drink except in a very limited manner. A glass of wine or a scotch for my DH, in social situations, every few weeks or so. We have a full bar and a whole lot of booze of all type in our house, because we entertain a lot

There is some alcoholism with some family members so we started to have discussions about alcohol use very early on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so scary to me that there are parents out here who even think this is a question. SMH.

I'll bite-- why is it so scary to you. Do you think everyone who has a beer at 15 end up with unhealthy approach to alcohol? Or that everyone who has a beer at 15 suffer lifelong health consequences?

Not that PP, But statistically, it does make your child more at risk of abusing alcohol. Of making poor choices with it.

This is true. It is also borne out by my personal anecdata. The kids who drank that young (9th grade or younger!), did struggle seriously in high school (even though many got away with it - - as in, the trouble they got into or caused didn't hold them back career wise, but they hurt people along the way), college (and have some regrets), and I know more than a dozen who struggled with substance abuse as adults. The kids who waited, but still drank before 21, some have these issues, many don't. I can't think of anyone who waited until 21 to drink who has a problem like that.