If you are/were raising a child, how do/would you handle wine consumption? Would you allow them to drink during celebratory occasions, or would alcohol be off limits period?

I never let my son drink anything alcoholic until he was about 17.

I don't see what a little watered down wine would hurt. They'd be learning early on how moderation of alcoholic drinks work, instead of this whole 'BAD! DON'T TOUCH!' mentality that seems to leave a lot of young people the desire to go all out when they do finally start.

I wouldn't willingly give them alcohol until they were legally allowed to do so.

Off limits.

I agree. Doesn't matter how special the occasion or whose wedding reception it is, no liquor until you're of age to drink.

Chris wrote:

If you are/were raising a child, how do/would you handle wine consumption? Would you allow them to drink during celebratory occasions, or would alcohol be off limits period?

This is a question where many factors come into play.

It depends on HOW OLD the "children" were. If was are talking 10 and under, then alcohol would be completely off limits. I see no reason for a little child to drink alcohol for any reason (not that they would even like the tast of it). However, if you're talking about a 14 or 15 year old, then I wouldn't have a problem with them drinking a glass of wine at the dinner table or champaigne during a celebration. As long as they weren't trying to down a whole bottle or sneaking it up into their room or out of the house. I think the more liberal parents are when it comes to things like this, the less "taboo" it seems and therefore the less likely kids will abuse alcohol or drugs. I don't want my kids to ever feel the need to "experiment" with things without me knowing about it. Teenagers that drink wine and been in Europe are less likely to abuse alcohol than American teens.

My parents were Europeans and wine occasionally served to kids was ~ is ~ acceptable. I didn't like it so it was no problem. My brothers, I know, occasionally enjoyed it. I think my oldest brother drank it with meals by the time he left high school, still does, and he attributes his strong 80-year-old heart to wine (a good heart is definitely NOT genetic!).

Never offered to my daughter. Our society would have had me flogged!!!!!!

He will wait until he is 21 to drink around me.

Supernova wrote:

I don't see what a little watered down wine would hurt. They'd be learning early on how moderation of alcoholic drinks work, instead of this whole 'BAD! DON'T TOUCH!' mentality that seems to leave a lot of young people the desire to go all out when they do finally start.

Wouldnt let it be a regular thing but a small shot glass of wine every blue moon wont hurt IMO.

My kids have had small glasses of champagne before, but it's not anything they get to drink on even a semi-regular basis.

I would like to give one of my little nephew's a good tall glass of wine sometimes LOL but no, off limits until they are old enough.