I give all my children (under 10) alcohol at dinner. They like it, but wife doesn't. Am I wrong for letting them drink?
by 
anonymous
ANSWERS: 24
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Well, it's not what I would call intelligent. Thankfully, my parents have never done that. To me, that shows that they actually care about us.
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I think you must be giving them rootbeer, because regular beer would definitely be child abuse.
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It depends on how much alcohol you give them. When I was quite young, my parents let me try alcohol. I used to try the different types of wine we had at christmas and birthdays, and I got to try different kinds of beer. I didn't end up brain damaged or an alcoholic. In fact, I think I now have a more healthy attitude to alcohol than most teenagers. As soon as my parents made it not-taboo, the novelty was gone.
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All I can say to that is please dont do it. And what good does it do anyway. Wouldnt you feel just as good if you gave them juice or milk? Why alcohol? +++++
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the question isnt is it wrong to let ur kids drink alcohol but say they get addicted to it or get hurt in a drunk driving accident or maybe abuse there future spouse can u live with those kinds of consequences for a little glass of alcohol if so then by all means let them drink.
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Woah, i find the hardest thing about this is to think that at that age they can like the taste at all. I still hate the taste of beer. Personally i think its best not to do it all of the time because i don't think something like that should become a habit. It could lead to consequences when they are in their teens or older
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NO, lets face it you've basically got 2 options. Slowely teach them to get used to alcohol & how to enjoy it responsibly. Or let them loose when they're legal & watch them binge, with everything that goes along with it.
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If you let them drink to excess it is wrong, if you let them have a taste and only with meals then I see no problem. We allowed both of our kids to have a drink with us on special occasions from a fairly early age and neither of them have really had any problems with alcohol as they have grown up - certainly not gone to the park with a bottle of cider like some of their friends. If you take away the mystery and the taboo you take away the need for them to drink secretly or binge when they get a little older.
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That is absolutely wrong! I think you probably already know that if this is really true.
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As long as it's not too much and not too often, it's legal... in the UK anyway, unless they are under 5 Years old. Although you're probably from the US, so i wouldn't know how acceptable this is over that side of the pond...
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By alcohol, I trust you mean beer or wine? I see no problem giving children small quantities of alcohol at dinner. The human body, unlike the human mind, is not a zero-tolerance region.
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I had my first sip of beer at the age of two. As I got older I was allowed to have just a little more. I eventually got to have a whole beer or glass of wine. I was teethed with whiskey. As long as YOU are teaching in the process. I would not see a problem with it.
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No No No! Little sip of alchol never kills anyone and also the next day you can teach kids a lesson about the side effects of drinking like my step father did by blasting a radio for fun when he knew we all had headaches.
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A little wine is ok, but not strong alcohol. +4
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Doesn't bother me. Not sure if it is legal though.
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I say no your not wrong, your fack1n smart for doing that; your teaching them how to behave with alcohol, that way there not going to go overboard and drink out of excess because mommy and daddy said no when they become adults. anybody who dissagrees with letting there kids have some wine doesnt know what there kids is doing behind there back. thats the reason europeans are socially mature drinking because its part of dinning.
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My siblings and I grew up being allowed wine with meals ocassionally. Small amounts. And on holidays like Christmas Eve and such we were allowed a bit of rum or brandy with our eggnog or a small glass of champagne. The interesting thing is that when I came to legal drinking age (21 in the U.S.) I never wanted to do the binge thing that seems to be so popular among newly-legal youth. Nor was it even a thrill to sneak alcohol before I was legal, as so often happens with high schoolers. I think that it depends on what you're giving them and the attitude and guidance that you impart to them. If you're talking wine or beer with meals or family celebrations that's one thing. and I think it's okay. If you're making them martinis and highballs I think you're setting them up for future abuse, as well as abusing them yourself right now.
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Legally it could be an issue, but I wouldn't say that it's an issue of right or wrong. It's far better for your kids to learn about it at home and not have them grow up believing that it is a taboo, which, at least here in the States, makes people more prone to overdo it when they're away from their authority figures.
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It depends....Are you allowing them to do shots of tequila or is it just a small glass of wine? I suppose it isnt wrong to allow your kids to sample some wine or beer now and then but I guess i dont see the point. In Europe this is commonplace to have a glass of wine with dinner. Im not sure at what age that would be considered or deemed appropriate. Maybe 15? I dont know. I think under 10 might be a bit much but thats just me.
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Naw its cool...LOL. If its just a drink with their supper, it actually shows them RESPONSIBLE DRINKING. Before they get "of that age" where they wanna party, and get sh*tfaced. Plus alittle alky is good for the heart...always. I dont see a problem, and you are the parent...so you can do whatever you want. Just as long as their not taking triple shots of patron I think your good...or having big parties at the house. Tween parties, LOL. Your fine.....I would say, I used to drink alittle now and then. Good stuff.
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No, my children have partaken almost since birth, as have myself and my siblings. A small amount under supervised conditions is not harmful. It also takes the taboo out of alcohol so they are less likely to abuse it when they come of age. In many societies it is normal for the children to drink with the adults at meal time.
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I don't think that a taste of alcohol if there is a curious child is a bad thing, but I don't quite understand why you would want to make this a daily occurrence. My concern is that we have no idea what their relationship with alcohol will be, when they are older. I can hear that it has been no problem for you personally, yet I think it's a slippery slope. I think that a compromise, since you don't see the harm in it yet it bothers your wife, is to just allow a bit on holidays. I agree that it may not be smart to "ban" it from our children, yet encouraging it is probably not best, either.... Sue
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I agree with your wife. I believe you are creating problems for them when they get older. They may end up having problems with alcohol.
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I was raised in a European family, in Belgium, and it was the norm to let the children have a little wine or beer, even a bit of aperitif with meals. We all sat at the dinner table and ate together and enjoyed the meal as a family. I never thought of alcohol as anything other than just a beverage. It's been shown that if a family has a healthy use of alcohol and children are shown that it's just a drink, they don't have a drinking problem later. No one overdrinks and they gain an appreciation for what it truly is, a fine drink with some foods.
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