I never understood adults that use alcohol to score points with kids. It just baffles me. I don't even want to begin to get into the potential problems they have if they need that type attention.
I have not experienced this before with my family, however I did have a friend who said his parents let him drink (he had been underage) when they had some family functions. I myself think its odd to offer a minor an alcoholic beverage, I would not do so myself.
My dad gave me and my siblings beer when we were younger. He wasn't too good at the whole parenting thing, obviously. I haven't heard of anyone else doing that though. Surprised to hear it's common.
When we were young, my uncles would come to our house to drink with my father. The drinking would last for hours because they are all heavy drinkers. I remember that one of my uncles would be giving beer to my brother who was 6 or 7 years old that time. It just stopped when my mother said that beer can causes skin rashes and skin eruptions like boil or eczema. I didn't know that alcohol is very bad for kids.
I wouldn't call adults that give their children alcohol irresponsible unless they're forcing their children to drink it. Your uncle just probably wanted to show you what alcohol tastes like and I think that it's okay as long as you didn't get addicted.
This has happened with many of the kids in my family and I am guessing it happens with a lot of families too. I personally don't think it has any malicious intent behind it and instead it's just something fun that adults do to amuse both them and the children in their families. I personally don't see much humor or value in it though and I would much rather just not do it altogether but I don't mind that other people do it since it doesn't cause much harm in my opinion.
I never gave either of my sons any tastes of alcohol when they were growing up. Personally, I think it's wrong. Do parents let their kids take a puff of their cigarettes, too??? I don't believe that giving kids sips of alcohol demystifies it. In fact, I think it sends a message that it's not that bad. But maybe I'm just overly sensitive because I grew up with an alcoholic father.
I'm glad you do not like the taste of alcohol. I personally don't think that giving children alcohol is okay at any age because like you said, they may indeed abuse it and then you may have a young alcoholic. As a child, we all found ways to hide certain things from our parents, this may be one of them. But, if it just had to be any age, then I would say around 14-16 I agree with your statement, parents do not (hopefully) give their children a puff of their cigarettes because they know that its bad. There should be campaigns to show the issues around giving alcohol to youngsters.
A small amount of alcohol (as in a sip) will not do any harm to a child over the age of around 6 ish. I think it gives them a psychologically healthy attitude towards it because then it is out in the open. I get what you are saying but I think psychologically it is healthy for them rather than saying alcohol is bad and you should never ever drink it because that is when a child might rebel.
This happens but it is strictly prohibited. It becomes very difficult for somebody who started drinking as a child to later quit. These parents need to be taken to court to answer. Alcohol must be kept away from children.
I've never personally experience this, although I do see it becoming more and more common. I asked someone once as to why they provide alcohol for their teen daughter, and they replied that they'd rather have their child drink with them, than with someone they don't know. I would never offer an alcoholic beverage to a young child, that's irresponsible and wrong. While some argue it does no harm, maybe not physically but emotionally as teens and young children now are more attracted to getting drunk than ever before. As parents and adults, we mold and influence children and I feel as though we need to teach them accordingly.
Lol, hell yes, my mom gave me a sip ofb her beer here and there, lol. I think this influenced me later... because some years later I started drinking, not beer of course, because I found the flavour so bad. I started drinking all sorts of spirits instead. It's a miracle my liver is still in good shape. But yeah, in short my mom gave me alcohol, sounds awful when I say it just like that, but yeah.
I guess so as well, but then it makes you wonder... what kind of adult would find such a thing funny? I know I wouldn't at all, but that could be because I used to be a huge drinker, until I hit rock bottom, and then I knew I had no choice but to quit. It wasn't so hard though... because last tim I had a serious drinking session it ended so bad!!!