Do you lock your liquor/wine and beer away?

[Anonymous]

In my experience most parents are unaware that their teens are drinking...until something bad happens. I think most parents just don't want to know. I have heard countless stories of parents whose kids "don't drink" but my kids knew those kids drank. No one wants to believe it. but I think leaving a kid home alone while you are away overnight, or allowing kids to congregate in your home with out being diligent about what they may be doing in the basement and ready to call their parents if you suspect drinking...those things are more important than locking up the liquor.

Be sure you know the laws about kids drinking in your home (whether you are aware that they are or not is a mute point to a police officer)

[Anonymous]

We tried, but our eldest teen was just too wily and he'd manage to sneak it anyway, so we just stopped keeping alcohol in the house in general. Sometimes I'd hide a bottle or two of wine.

Once he went to college, we were able to relax. His younger brother was not into drinking, he was more of a social pot smoker. Had no taste for serious partying.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 13 I was at a neighbor friend's house one weekday after school. No parents. A classmate of hers stopped by with a few kids we didn't know well, asking to pick up something for a school project. Long story short one of those kids swiped a bottle of vodka out of the liquor cabinet, which we found out when the police showed up that night. The kid who swiped the vodka had proceeded to drink almost the entire bottle and was hauled off to the hospital that evening. It was a horrible, frightening situation and my friend and I were interrogated at length and got in a lot of trouble, as did her parents. No one was arrested but there was a lot of blame coming from multiple directions.

A hell of a lot can go wrong when adolescents have access to drugs and/or alcohol. Some people may think their kids are above temptation, and maybe they are, but you still need to consider all those other teenagers who may ever set foot in your house.

I totally agree.

I'm a prosecutor and every deadly vehicle crash or other unfortunate situation involving teenagers and trouble starts with the parent telling the judge, "Larlo is such a wonderful kid. This was so out of character for him. We didn't raise him this way."

Why would anyone say anything other than that? Do you expect something like " I've seen him leaving the house with a bottle of vodka many time, but it's was just one bottle".

The point is that the parents are as surprised as anyone that their child would do something out of character. The further point being that no matter how trustworthy and obedient you think your child is, there's always an opportunity for poor judgment and tragedy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 13 I was at a neighbor friend's house one weekday after school. No parents. A classmate of hers stopped by with a few kids we didn't know well, asking to pick up something for a school project. Long story short one of those kids swiped a bottle of vodka out of the liquor cabinet, which we found out when the police showed up that night. The kid who swiped the vodka had proceeded to drink almost the entire bottle and was hauled off to the hospital that evening. It was a horrible, frightening situation and my friend and I were interrogated at length and got in a lot of trouble, as did her parents. No one was arrested but there was a lot of blame coming from multiple directions.

A hell of a lot can go wrong when adolescents have access to drugs and/or alcohol. Some people may think their kids are above temptation, and maybe they are, but you still need to consider all those other teenagers who may ever set foot in your house.

I totally agree.

I'm a prosecutor and every deadly vehicle crash or other unfortunate situation involving teenagers and trouble starts with the parent telling the judge, "Larlo is such a wonderful kid. This was so out of character for him. We didn't raise him this way."

Why would anyone say anything other than that? Do you expect something like " I've seen him leaving the house with a bottle of vodka many time, but it's was just one bottle".

The point is that the parents are as surprised as anyone that their child would do something out of character. The further point being that no matter how trustworthy and obedient you think your child is, there's always an opportunity for poor judgment and tragedy.

Again, that is how you are expected to act with law enforcement or with any other officials. You just think that they are surprised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 13 I was at a neighbor friend's house one weekday after school. No parents. A classmate of hers stopped by with a few kids we didn't know well, asking to pick up something for a school project. Long story short one of those kids swiped a bottle of vodka out of the liquor cabinet, which we found out when the police showed up that night. The kid who swiped the vodka had proceeded to drink almost the entire bottle and was hauled off to the hospital that evening. It was a horrible, frightening situation and my friend and I were interrogated at length and got in a lot of trouble, as did her parents. No one was arrested but there was a lot of blame coming from multiple directions.

A hell of a lot can go wrong when adolescents have access to drugs and/or alcohol. Some people may think their kids are above temptation, and maybe they are, but you still need to consider all those other teenagers who may ever set foot in your house.

I totally agree.

I'm a prosecutor and every deadly vehicle crash or other unfortunate situation involving teenagers and trouble starts with the parent telling the judge, "Larlo is such a wonderful kid. This was so out of character for him. We didn't raise him this way."

Why would anyone say anything other than that? Do you expect something like " I've seen him leaving the house with a bottle of vodka many time, but it's was just one bottle".

The point is that the parents are as surprised as anyone that their child would do something out of character. The further point being that no matter how trustworthy and obedient you think your child is, there's always an opportunity for poor judgment and tragedy.

Again, that is how you are expected to act with law enforcement or with any other officials. You just think that they are surprised.

Okay. Clearly you're right and I'm wrong and they're just making it up. You win!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 13 I was at a neighbor friend's house one weekday after school. No parents. A classmate of hers stopped by with a few kids we didn't know well, asking to pick up something for a school project. Long story short one of those kids swiped a bottle of vodka out of the liquor cabinet, which we found out when the police showed up that night. The kid who swiped the vodka had proceeded to drink almost the entire bottle and was hauled off to the hospital that evening. It was a horrible, frightening situation and my friend and I were interrogated at length and got in a lot of trouble, as did her parents. No one was arrested but there was a lot of blame coming from multiple directions.

A hell of a lot can go wrong when adolescents have access to drugs and/or alcohol. Some people may think their kids are above temptation, and maybe they are, but you still need to consider all those other teenagers who may ever set foot in your house.

I totally agree.

I'm a prosecutor and every deadly vehicle crash or other unfortunate situation involving teenagers and trouble starts with the parent telling the judge, "Larlo is such a wonderful kid. This was so out of character for him. We didn't raise him this way."

Why would anyone say anything other than that? Do you expect something like " I've seen him leaving the house with a bottle of vodka many time, but it's was just one bottle".

The point is that the parents are as surprised as anyone that their child would do something out of character. The further point being that no matter how trustworthy and obedient you think your child is, there's always an opportunity for poor judgment and tragedy.

Again, that is how you are expected to act with law enforcement or with any other officials. You just think that they are surprised.

Okay. Clearly you're right and I'm wrong and they're just making it up. You win!

They are protecting themselves. Nothing good can come out of openly admitting that they saw potential for trouble. If it happened with your friend's child, what would you suggest to his parents to say if you were their lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:When I was 13 I was at a neighbor friend's house one weekday after school. No parents. A classmate of hers stopped by with a few kids we didn't know well, asking to pick up something for a school project. Long story short one of those kids swiped a bottle of vodka out of the liquor cabinet, which we found out when the police showed up that night. The kid who swiped the vodka had proceeded to drink almost the entire bottle and was hauled off to the hospital that evening. It was a horrible, frightening situation and my friend and I were interrogated at length and got in a lot of trouble, as did her parents. No one was arrested but there was a lot of blame coming from multiple directions.

A hell of a lot can go wrong when adolescents have access to drugs and/or alcohol. Some people may think their kids are above temptation, and maybe they are, but you still need to consider all those other teenagers who may ever set foot in your house.

I totally agree.

I'm a prosecutor and every deadly vehicle crash or other unfortunate situation involving teenagers and trouble starts with the parent telling the judge, "Larlo is such a wonderful kid. This was so out of character for him. We didn't raise him this way."

Why would anyone say anything other than that? Do you expect something like " I've seen him leaving the house with a bottle of vodka many time, but it's was just one bottle".

The point is that the parents are as surprised as anyone that their child would do something out of character. The further point being that no matter how trustworthy and obedient you think your child is, there's always an opportunity for poor judgment and tragedy.

Again, that is how you are expected to act with law enforcement or with any other officials. You just think that they are surprised.

Okay. Clearly you're right and I'm wrong and they're just making it up. You win!

They are protecting themselves. Nothing good can come out of openly admitting that they saw potential for trouble. If it happened with your friend's child, what would you suggest to his parents to say if you were their lawyer.

NP. The point is not that every defendant in the world is going to protest their ignorance of any offense where ignorance might be a reasonable defense. We all know that.

PP's point was that parents may think their kids would never swipe alcohol, but their kids actually might, or their kids' friends might as in PP's story.

[Anonymous]

Yes, also cough syrup and pain killers. I have good kids, but sometimes good kids make stupid choices.

[Anonymous]

This is not about my kids, but taking any pressure off him from friends who come over. If everything is locked, he doesn't have to worry about not being cool for not letting them drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

I didn't either and still don't. But living in this area and by the time your kids are 18, you really can't have any assurance that your kids don't drink unless you are reading all their texts and social media and see absolutely no evidence of it. I do believe that for most parents, they really don't want to know.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

I didn't either and still don't. But living in this area and by the time your kids are 18, you really can't have any assurance that your kids don't drink unless you are reading all their texts and social media and see absolutely no evidence of it. I do believe that for most parents, they really don't want to know.

I agree with you about not being able to have any assurance. But that is a different statement from PP's ("in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.")

This is simply not factually accurate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

Survey type statistics say 60% drink, which, basically, means 70-80 or more drink. Not binge drink, but drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

Survey type statistics say 60% drink, which, basically, means 70-80 or more drink. Not binge drink, but drink.

The NIH statistics say about 60% drink. Which means about 60% drink. That would include e.g. the kid who has one beer every few months, as well as the binge-drinker.

40% don't drink. Which is a pretty high number, and in any case, a far cry from PP's assertion that ALL kids "will" drink.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lock up my wine and my liquor but not my beer because that is in a fridge in the garage. This is not because I don't trust my kids but because my kids don't trust their friends.

When I have kids over my house I am under some sort of obligation that I am not supplying liquor to them and leaving easily accessible bottles of liquor in my basement where I do not monitor them, is irresponsible.

My wine closet has a lock and is big enough to put the bottles of liquor. I stocked the downstairs fridge with gatorades, water and a little bit of soda (not a big fan of soda). We have a basketball court in our backyard and ping-pong table. We have a big TV for football, XBox, PS4. The kids hang out a lot and are welcome to the drinks in that fridge and the snack closet.

If your kids have friends....Freshman year they will be faced with friends trying to steal your liquor.

in HS, your kids are going to drink, period. They will also smoke pot. You will hope it stops there.

I don't care if your kids take 10 AP classes and is 1st chair orchestra and is a nationally ranked chess player and won nationals in fencing and you go to church every Sunday. They are going to drink and try pot.

It's not that I don't trust my kids it's that I want them to have fun and to not deal with the pressure they already feel every single time there is a party. I made my basement a safe zone. I don't think that is unreasonable.

BTW, my friend had a homecoming dinner hosted at her home and she said no alcohol and locked up the alcohol. She checked bags at the front door. Kids came to her house the weekend before and hid alcohol in the drop ceiling of her basement. Kids are going to drink, but they are not drinking my alcohol, I am not a supplier.

Actually, about half of high school students don't drink or smoke pot, according to NIH statistics. I didn't.

Survey type statistics say 60% drink, which, basically, means 70-80 or more drink. Not binge drink, but drink.

The NIH statistics say about 60% drink. Which means about 60% drink. That would include e.g. the kid who has one beer every few months, as well as the binge-drinker.

40% don't drink. Which is a pretty high number, and in any case, a far cry from PP's assertion that ALL kids "will" drink.

NIH uses surveys. Results from surveys about alcohol consumption are typically if not always below alcohol consumption based on alcohol sales. Somebody is drinking the alcohol, that is sold, but not answering the surveys truthfully.