Do you think it's right that some parents let their children drink a little before 21?

I know it happens, but it’s not a good idea in the long run…it leads to other issues and problems especially for someone is has yet to fully mature physically or emotionally.

I think so. The drinking age in most of Canada is 19 so I only have 14 months till I’m old enough but my parents will let me have a drink every once and a while and it has already proved to be a good choice. Instead of getting completely smashed at the various grad parties we had back in June I had 3-4 drinks and kept a good buzz but didn’t get hammered.

Drinking is not acceptable at all & I wouldn’t let my child drink until he or she is 18 years old then they can decide which path they want to take. Of course I will help them if they need me, but I would never agree to drinking & after they’re 18 & they come to my house & want to drink the answer is NO.! .. I don’t have kids because I’m only 17 LOL but that would be my rules with my children, I don’t care what anyone else tells me when I hit the point to having kids because at the end of the day that’s my child :) LmL

I don’t think it’s right. But I don’t think it’s bad either. It’s the parents decision what they expose their children to , bad or good.

I don’t really think it matters, some kids are gonna drink no matter what & in a few years their probably gunna do it anyways. I guess it’s okay to a certain extent. I mean like if their letting their kids get wasted then no, thats just unacceptable.

I agree with this, my friends whose parents refused them any alcohol until 18 all freaked out at parties, I was allowed half a glass of wine or a beer every now and then and now I hardly ever drink. It’s a good balance to expose kids to drinking at a younger age so that they can see that it can be done responsibly.

I think its good. I mean, if a kid wants to drink, they are going to drink. With or without their parents permission. I would much rather my kid not feel the need to hide their drinking from me. I have known kids who’s parents would have killed them i they found out they were drinking underage, most of those kids would lie to their parents, go get wasted with people they hardly know and try to drink 6 months worth of alcohol in one sitting because they didn’t know when they would be able to get out of the house again. I would much rather my kid know that they can call me if they need help and they wont get in trouble, and not feel the need to gorge themselves.

Depending on the parent’s views and beliefs there are a lot of different opinions on this broad matter. Where I live the legal drinking age is 18, I’m 16 in a month and my mum lets me drink with her when she drinks because she knows I’m responsible and I can control myself when I’m drunk. You could stare at me for five minutes and not even know I’m intoxicated. Also, some people argue that they’re teaching their kids responsible alcohol intake before they start drinking outside the home. In my country though, it’s pretty much normal for parents to give their teenage kids a sip every once in a while.

Legal drinking age in my country is 16 for wine and beer and 18 for all other alcoholic beverages.

I don’t think we have more addicted people than other countries. I think it is good that people know what alcohol can do to them before they start driving cars.

The taboo of drinking at an early age is primary an American standard - most areas of Europe don’t have that and it hasn’t had any profound negative affect on them. Aside from that, people are exceptionally ignorant when it comes to drinking laws. While the age of majority in Canada is 19 in most provinces, people don’t realize that in many of those provinces, it is perfectly legal to allow your minor to drink alcohol in your own home and under your supervision. That being said - I feel some restrictions are necessary … allowing your five-year-old to get drunk is child endangerment.

what ive found is teenagers (including myself at that age) were always going to find alcohol some way or another. keeping something out of reach from impulsive people only heightens the interest. Holland for example has one of the best Health systems according to the OECD. and yet Marajuanna is legal. a drug strictly controlled in poorer health rated countries with greater expenditure on their health systems. if alcohol was made available to younger people but strictly controlled in terms of where and how much there might not be such an issue with teenagers drinking too much as it is a rare occurance for them!?

I think parents should teach their kids how to drink responsibly. By letting them enjoy alcohol in moderation it isn’t as much the forbidden fruit; kids sneaking around to drink will almost always binge drink sometimes leading to severe and tragic consequences. In most states it is legal for someone over 21 to provide alcohol to their underage children or spouse.

I think it’s okay, so long as the kid is with family, not friends. The family should teach the child how to drink appropriatly. I am under 21, and have tried wine and some various other drinks. Nothing with a high alchohol content, if you understand what I’m saying, and I never had my own glass or anything. I took sips of others, and never got drunk. I don’t think it’s good to be drunk, but having a drink is okay.