Thirdly, kids love to do things that are forbidden. So when the prohibited becomes accessible, with some control, the fun part doing the forbidden is lessened. Who knows this could become a habit, and in the end, your kids will make safer decisions. Fourthly, as I talked about before, drinking wine takes patience. I believe that when you learn this patience you apply it to all forms of alcohol consumption.
I noticed this in social situations. Beer aficionados first sniff, then taste, comment, sip again, and then spend the rest of the drink discussing it. They take their time. It's not the usual we-need-to-drink-as-much-and-as-fast-to-get-drunk party, where you know there will be that bad drunk who will kill the atmosphere in five seconds flat. Here instead the atmosphere is pleasant, relaxing, with the conversation flowing, everyone is at ease and is having a good time. I would opt for a chill atmosphere rather than a chug-a-thon any day. Lastly, while you drink you eat, and I enjoy eating. Who doesn't?
Naturally to all this there are pitfalls. It’s important to stress to kids that drinking outside the parental control is illegal (until of course 21) and the consequences are severe. According to the CDC website, 23% of drivers between ages 15 to 20 who died in car accidents had blood alcohol content over than the legal limit, which isn’t a laughing matter no matter how you look at it. Besides car deaths, alcohol poisoning is very common and lethal as well.
An article published on the website of The Center of Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University states that Americans who start to drink before the age of 15 become more dependent on alcohol than those who wait till 21. Naturally, this blows my whole theory out of the water, but it does make me wonder what they mean by “start to drink”. Are they referring to a drink-till-you’re-wasted? Or to a glass at dinner here or there? If it’s the latter, I have a hard time believing this statement. I mean I had my first drink when I was 15 as did most of my friends and their friends and so on. Heck, some even drank before that. I remember my aunt giving her 7-year-old kid a sip of beer, and the only effect of that was he grimaced and never touched alcohol again for the duration of time I was with him.
Article comments
1 - John Bambenek
ths s th bst pce wrttn n blgcrtcs yt!
2 - Alec
RE: An article published on the website of The Center of Alcohol Marketing and Youth at Georgetown University states that Americans who start to drink before the age of 15 become more dependent on alcohol than those who wait till 21.
I wonder about the reliability of this study. I also wonder why it just focuses on Americans. In the end, a conclusion about the impact of alcohol must be cross cultural.
Apart from this, I have no problem with older children drinking wine with a meal, even if the wine is diluted. I would want them to learn that wine can accompany a meal, and not just exist for someone to drink to excess by itself in order to party or to get drunk. I would also try to emphasize that wine is not some special taboo thing that is kept away from (and thus a temptation to) kids.
3 - Dave
As a fellow Illinois student, I can't help but wonder if your experiences on campus have influenced this view?
I agree wholeheartedly.
4 - Milivoj
This is not a new idea. Many cultures teach their children to drink in moderation, at parties and gatherings and so forth. It works better than the "forbidden fruit" strategy.
5 - Dan
I agree with the authors concept. I think you can go a little deeper, psychologically though.
It kind of boils down to, if you, have a healthy outlook towards drinking. It's going to reflect to them.
If you drink out of need, or always to excess, or sneak drinks, scurry after beer on Sunday morning etc., they're not going to get any good lessons from that.
On the other hand, if you have a comfortable relationship with alchohol, they'll understand without you explaining to them 'acceptable drinking practices'.
In this context you can even expose them to an occasional "binge" session. (not them... you) As long as you have the clarity of mind not to do stupid things in front of them.
The dangers of DUI should be an open topic in the household. Not just from the bodily danger of it, but special emphasis on the potential life ruining, legal facet.
Never drive over the legal limit. (They even have ways to get you when you are under the limit.)
A good rule of thumb to offer your kids: never get snockered in public, and, even if you've just had a couple, defer the driving to anyone in your group who is both capable and willing.
As for embracing the wine connosiuer culture, and transfering that to your kids, I think its a fine idea.
Although, lacking in wine sophistication, I do know a little about beer. And brewed a little. I can appreciate "subtle aroma's" and the like.
I don't know if younger people get it or not. I never did until I was over 30.
Tastes change with age as well, I think.
When I was younger, I used to like those dry white wines. Not that I ever drank a lot of wine anyway.
Now, if I drink wine, I like bolder, wetter, splashes.
Final rule of thumb: don't be a fool, and your kids probably won't fuck up. (easier said than done).
6 - lono
I think the embracing the family model of acceptable drinking is a critically valuable idea. I drank early and often out of some stupid rebellion and independence code. I still drink too much (30 years later).
I think if I drank casually with my family, it wouldn't be so cool to do on the side.
is this making sense?
7 - reggie von woic
I agree.
My parents bought me my legal first beer when i turned 18 (legal age in my country). Somehow now 2 years down the line, it doesn't appeal much to me as it probably would if they were against it.