Alcohol

[Coolabahdee]

I really think some ppl have missed the point, actually a couple of points, How can any parent encourage and condone their children breaking the law. Children learn what is acceptable from us, their parents. If we don't respect the law how can we expect our children too. On the moral front children should be encouraged to be exactly that...children, parents should be encouraging their child to wait til they are old enough, or what else is there left for them to experience as young adults...voting??? Teenagers might think they are all grown up and can handle themselves in grownup situations but the truth of the matter is they don't and can't, so why would any parent encourage such behaviour. By buying the alcohol and allowing them to drink is enabling reckless behaviour. Also and actually I feel the most important factor is the health issue. Alcohol is evidenced to have devastating effects on young teenage bodies. Alcohol does aweful things to our bodies, oh yes the odd drop of red is good for your heart, but what do young teenage children need that for. Teenage bodies are still growing and developing, alcohol has a negative effect on thier bodies.
So if we drop all the historical stuff of oh but my parents bought it for me and we drop all the racial stuff of differing custums and lets look at the facts, we are heaps smarter then our parents and our children will be heaps smarter then us but with everything we know today about the effects of alcohol on our bodies can any parent really still consider it ok to give alcohol to their children.
It is beyond my comprehension that any parent can justify giving a child alcohol, fully knowing the effects of alcohol on their small bodies.
It is ok to tell our children no!!
Honestly what is the rush, we can still teach responsible drinking to our children when they turn 18.