Acceptable to buy beer for 16yr old?

Milkman..

Is it ok to buy a 4 pack for your 16 yr old son?

As far as I can see all his contemporaries drink alcohol on nites out and they get older lads to buy it, sometimes they get ripped off.

I told him I'd get him the drink myself ,just wondering is that considered ok to do?

happywithlife

No.
It is illegal to buy alcohol for U18's

Below is a quick copy & paste from drugs.ie

"It is also against the law for an adult to buy alcohol for a young person under the age of 18. The penalty is a maximum fine of €1500.

In a private residence, alcohol cannot be served to a visiting young person (under 18) without the explicit consent of that young person’s parent or guardian."

I think you'd do your 16 year a far better service by acting like their parent rather than trying to be their buddy.
Not "everybody else" is doing it anyway and besides that's a pi$$ poor excuse imo

The_Honeybadger

Milkman.. wrote: »

Is it ok to buy a 4 pack for your 16 yr old son?

As far as I can see all his contemporaries drink alcohol on nites out and they get older lads to buy it, sometimes they get ripped off.

I told him I'd get him the drink myself ,just wondering is that considered ok to do?

If it’s to consume in your home or under your supervision then I don’t see an issue.

If it’s intended to go off drinking in a field with his mates I would advise against it.

verycool

happywithlife wrote: »

No.
It is illegal to buy alcohol for U18's

Below is a quick copy & paste from drugs.ie

"It is also against the law for an adult to buy alcohol for a young person under the age of 18. The penalty is a maximum fine of €1500.

In a private residence, alcohol cannot be served to a visiting young person (under 18) without the explicit consent of that young person’s parent or guardian."

I think you'd do your 16 year a far better service by acting like their parent rather than trying to be their buddy.
Not "everybody else" is doing it anyway and besides that's a pi$$ poor excuse imo

Few cans, be grand. :pac:

I think it'll be better to harbour a healthy relationship with alcohol starting off in a safe environment, so by doing this your son doesn't think he needs to go off on his own or keep it a secret.

EDIT: Hmm... you didn't specify where your son will be having the cans. If it's to go off with friends (without supervision) I'd advise against it.

niallb

Has he had the odd drink at home with you?

brownbinman

Heineken 0%

Thepoet85

No.

tedpan

My dad gave me sips of beer when I was a teenager, then allowed me to drink on special occasions from the age of 16. Don't touch the stuff now

_Brian

From 16 onwards my dad bought me a drink the occasional timewere out together.
I was 17 going to college and we would have a few quiet drinks on a Sunday evening before I got on the bus to head off for the weekend.

I still went off the rails an odd time when I was out with the lads. But nothing serious. Mostly I learned to have a few drinks and enjoy being out with friends.

2xj3hplqgsbkym

http://www.askaboutalcohol.ie/parents/top-10-tips-for-parents/

ED E

Milkman.. wrote: »

nites out

CalamariFritti

When and where I grew up beer and wine was (and still is) legal from 16. Not attributing it to that fact alone, but we don't have a binge drinking culture in my home country. Young people get drunk for a while and then they mostly seem to develop a natural relationship with it. Most people are well able to have a beer or two or three with a meal without it having to turn into a session. We definitely don't have considerable parts of the population being regular 10 pinters. So 16 can't be all that wrong.
Part of the attraction is the fact that it is forbidden. I wouldn't say you're being irresponsible or try to be a 'buddy instead of a father'. You know he's going to get some booze from somewhere. This way you gonna exert some sort of control over it and you take the 'thrill' of the forbidden out of it. May quite possibly be a better way to developing a more natural relationship with drink in your son than the tried and failed approach.

Bigmac1euro

happywithlife wrote: »

No.
It is illegal to buy alcohol for U18's

Below is a quick copy & paste from drugs.ie

"It is also against the law for an adult to buy alcohol for a young person under the age of 18. The penalty is a maximum fine of €1500.

In a private residence, alcohol cannot be served to a visiting young person (under 18) without the explicit consent of that young person’s parent or guardian."

I think you'd do your 16 year a far better service by acting like their parent rather than trying to be their buddy.
Not "everybody else" is doing it anyway and besides that's a pi$$ poor excuse imo

lol

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

From the age of 15, my mother used to let me have a couple of cans at home at the weekend when I'd be sitting in watching TV or whatever. This accomplished two things;

1. It made me realise I could have a beer almost any weekend I wanted, which meant I didn't feel like I had to get smashed when I got the chance.

2. By the age of 16, when we started going to youth discos or drinking at friends houses, I was able to drink a few cans and not get sick in someone's kitchen. By the time I was 17, we were going out to pubs and getting into niteclubs, I was well able to handle my few beers, relatively speaking.

Maybe I would have been fine anyway, as I was a big lad for my age, but I do reckon my mother being sensible about letting me have a drink at home probably had a lot to do with the fact that nobody ever had to ring her, or anyone else, because I needed to be brought home legless.

I'll do the same with my son when he's that age and if he shows an interest. I think the worst thing you can do is tell the child that under no circumstances are they to drink. If there's a rebellious streak at all, it'll backfire. They'll get it somewhere.

Milkman..

Mixed responses

I'll make my own decision, just wanted to gauge opinion

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

verycool

Milkman.. wrote: »

Mixed responses

I'll make my own decision, just wanted to gauge opinion

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

Well, it's inevitable with or without your consent or supervision.



Beer pressure n'all that... Y'know... instead of peer... never mind.

Milkman..

ED E wrote: »

I won't be taking any advice from you anyway.

I saw that despicable comment you posted you posted on AH recently concerning a missing girl.

mrcheez

Milkman.. wrote: »

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

Pretty much inevitable tbh.

My Dad bought me my first Guinness when I was 16.. fond memories of that day, though I didn't fancy the taste at the time. Was a pre-debs prep (well a GCSE version of the debs) where beer was going to be around and I had pretty much 0 experience of it.

Love Guinness now, but hardly drink as it is beyond a Guinness once in a blue moon, or few glasses of red wine at the weekend. But I'll always remember the first one :rolleyes:

ashes79

My 16 year old doesn't drink. Even though he knows if he wants to he is welcome to have a beer or a cider anytime at home. As said above making something a "banned substance" to a teenager just makes it more appealing. I'm not my son's friend but I'm not stupid and I remember what it was like to be 16.

Uncharted

A bottle or two for a 16 yr old under your supervision will do absolutely no harm. I just wouldn't make it a regular occurrence.

Dial Hard

Milkman.. wrote:

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

They don't necessarily, tbh. My now-18 year old nephew was told from around that age that he could have a beer at family occasions etc. if he wanted one, for the same reasons as many here have outlined. He very, very rarely partook, he just had no interest. Even now he very rarely bothers. How much of that is innate and how much is down to the fact that alcohol was never this great secret and mystery to him, I don't know, but I definitely think that age group are far less interested in drinking than previous generations.

meeeeh

sugarman wrote: »

Thats how its done in most of Europe, kids are allowed a small glass of wine or a small glass of beer from 12+ with a meal in Italy, Spain, France etc... Theyre introduced to it in a safe environment and they dont abuse it. They dont go out and bindge drink because its nothing new to them, its not as appealing. Then the legal drinking age and in some countries even purchasing age below a certain Alc % is 16 anyway.

That's a very rosy picture you painted. I grew up in one of those countries, we always had wine with meal and we also binged at parties or when parents weren't around. I think a lot of this habits are cultural, kids in some countries binge and kids in others don't regardless of when they start drinking alcohol.

I consider wine part of a meal, I wouldn't mind offering a glass at home to kids before they were 18 (As a glass I mean one or max two units not half a bottle). Would I buy four cans to drink them with their mates? No way. You are not supervising it and it's significant amount of alcohol.

Hitman3000

Personally I believe remove the mystery of alcohol. Let your son or daughter have a glass with you from 15 onwards encouraging moderation.

Pidae.m

Always remember in college, the guys whose parents bought them beer at 16/17 and drank with them were the only ones who didn't drink themselves stupid on Tues & Thurs nights.

ted1

Just don’t buy it for their friends or let their friends drink in your house.

Mrcaramelchoc

brownbinman wrote: »

Heineken 0%

Yea and let him drink 20 cans of it he ll puke and never want to drink again. : )

Peregrinus

Milkman.. wrote: »

Mixed responses

I'll make my own decision, just wanted to gauge opinion

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

Yes, you are misreading things. Probably every 16-year old tries alcohol, but there's likely to the same range of attitudes and practices with regards to consuming as there is in the adult population, possibly reinforced slightly by immaturity. Some will not be interested; some will drink occasionally; some will drink regularly; some you'll look at and think "that fella is shaping up to be a problem drinker".

Wanderer78

Our parents bought us alcohol at around that age, to be drank at home in their company, I no longer drink. Under the right circumstances, I'd do the same thing if I had kids, I'd rather them do it under my supervision than under no supervision

killanena

My parents would allow me a 4 pack of cider or beer when I was 16+ the very odd time. Special occasions like my birthday, new years etc but the condition was I had to drink then at home or at 1 other friends house who's parent were close to mine anyways. and if any of my friends wanted to join my parents would ask for verbal confirmation off their parents first.

To be honest if they didn't allow me to do that I would have gone somewhere else and done in it secret anyways.

During my teens this increased my trust a lot for my parents and I would rarely go behind there backs.

In a lot of EU countries they allow 16+ to drink beer. Germany some beers are considered soft drinks! Even in the UK you can still get a lager with a carvery dinner if your parents are present and consent.

jennyhayes123

I bought for my son because I would rather know what he was drinking than be naive and think he wasn't going to drink if I said no and plus if you buy it for him and know what he is drinking if he gets in any bother he knows he can call you rather than thinking he can't come to you for help because he wasn't suppose to drink.

meeeeh

jennyhayes123 wrote: »

I bought for my son because I would rather know what he was drinking than be naive and think he wasn't going to drink if I said no and plus if you buy it for him and know what he is drinking if he gets in any bother he knows he can call you rather than thinking he can't come to you for help because he wasn't suppose to drink.

Which is fine but I think it's naive to think kids don't drink without your knowledge. As said I grew up in a house where it was perfectly ok to have a glass of wine with food. Some of my friends didn't, we all binged behind parent's back. The only difference is that I learned very early that you can have a drink because it complements the food and not to get drunk. I got binges out of the system in my twenties and now days I am very moderate drinker who drinks a glass with food and rarely gets drunk.

Doylers

I'd say go ahead and get him the cans for at home. A blanket ban only creates mystery as someone said earlier so you're removing that. Better again if you can associate it with something to be enjoyed, like a nice dinner etc and not to be binged to get drunk as fast as possible. He'll learn that some beers better than others so when mates are drinking dutch gold to get pissed he might say no.

My nephew(16) is allowed drink at home the very odd night or at events and its worked a treat. I'd trust him with a liter of vodka and know he wouldnt act the bollox.

Glass fused light

Peregrinus wrote: »

Milkman.. wrote: »

Mixed responses

I'll make my own decision, just wanted to gauge opinion

As far as I can see every 16 yr old male drinks alcohol unless I'm misreading things?

Yes, you are misreading things. Probably every 16-year old tries alcohol, but there's likely to the same range of attitudes and practices with regards to consuming as there is in the adult population, possibly reinforced slightly by immaturity. Some will not be interested; some will drink occasionally; some will drink regularly; some you'll look at and think "that fella is shaping up to be a problem drinker an alcoholic".

OP, a lot depends you and your partners own relationship with alcohol, on how you drink, frequency volume and your drunk persona. Your teen is learning by seeing.

You have the right to choose to buy and keep alcohol in your home and to allow your child to drink. You don't have the right to supply alcohol to other peoples children. If something happened to that other child it would be your responsibility.

If you are only opening the discussion now, you are both lucky and a bit late.
You need to have a very open discussion with your teen about alcohol and other drugs, legal and illegal. Teaching them 'monkey see monkey do' is not good parenting. Encouraging them to be aware of the choices they make and that they are making the decision not folding under peer pressure is very important. If he and they chose to drink he needs to understand the immediate physical reactions and the possible damage excess drinking can do over time. It's also vital that he understands that if he drinks to excess and passes out that he could die from positional asphyxiation, due to his bodys reflex to vomit. This applies to his friends too.

We have a very unhealthy relationship with alcohol in this county and assume that everyone has to drink to have a good time. It's easier to also be drunk than sober in the company of drunk people as it lowers our inhibitions and dumb stuff the group says or does is funnier, but a non drinker can still have fun too. Sober 16 year olds are dumb enough at times so adding drink to the mix without supervision is never a good idea.

One of the biggest peeves I have is the "a go on, you have to have one" attitude people have with non drinkers. Don't do this yourself and explain to your teen making a drama after someone refused alcohol is wrong and that even if he is drinking, he should object to any Mrs Doyle style behaviour. There is nothing wrong with having a drink and then swapping out to non-alcoholic drink or just choosing a non-alcoholic drink at the start.

Some people should not drink, ever, these people can not physically or mentally cope with alcohol. They become physically or mentally dependent on alcohol. They can be high functioning alcoholics who drink daily or bing drinking alcoholics who only fall of the wagon on a regular or semi regular basis. Your son needs to understand if he becomes someone he does not like when drunk or someone he likes too much by drinking that he should not drink at all.

You need to look at your attitudes and how you demonstrate them to your son. It you are doing something he should not be doing explain why what your are doing is wrong. Having an open attitude, an open discussion and being a safety net by being willing to roll out of bed at silly o'clock in the morning, to taxi, is a good starting point.

sbsquarepants

I'd have no problem with my 16 year old having a couple of beers - they're going to do it anyway. You don't want a situation where they go out, get drunk and are then afraid to come home in case you loose it.

A couple of beers will do him no harm - it's not crystal meth we're talking about!

hots

You're better off introducing it to them in a safe environment and where you know how many you've bought for them anyway. I've seen far more lads fly off the rails because it was strictly offlimits at home than lads who have been harmed by a couple of cans bought by mammy.

Glass fused light

sbsquarepants wrote: »

A couple of beers will do him no harm - it's not crystal meth we're talking about!

For most people a couple of beers will do no harm, but for some people alcohol is crystal meth. I have met people, mainly Asian's who's body cant physically process alcohol (1 drink = hospital), and others who can't physically stop drinking once they start. Thats why respecting other peoples choices is so important, if the OP is happy for the son to drink, he can buy away. But the OP should not be supplying drink to other peoples children.

Yellow Brick Road

It depends on the parent / caregiver and their relationship with alcohol. Also, I agree that if you tell a child they can't have something, it may make them more rebellious.

Ireland has a reputation of binge-drinking. When you contrast this to countries like France or Italy, there is a more mature relationship with alcohol. For example, it may be introduced to children at an evening meal on a week-end, in a familiar environment. This may be a better way of introducing alcohol and reduce the level of binge-drinking.

yourdeadwright

My first thought would be NO don't do it but if you worry if you say no they will do it anyway which can be worse,
If you go ahead why not buy him 2 and say look you can have two no problem but because I'm doing this for you will you promise not to drink more, They may respect that more

sbsquarepants

Glass fused light wrote: »

But the OP should not be supplying drink to other peoples children.

No, of course not.