is it a good thing to shield your children from alcohol?

[Porter21]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Its more important for kids to be healthy psychologically than anything else.

For example encouraging them in ways that strengthen a healthy self-esteem etc. Many kids do things to be cool, but in general they are in a better spot if they already feel good about themselves before confronted with the many pressures while growing up.

Its also better imo to teach them about issues associated with drinking and drugs, rather than blanketing the topic of drinking and drugs as 'an evil issue' and thus wrongly try and shelter kids from the realities of them.

I agree. Growing up my parents shielded me from all forms of alcohol. The only time I saw it was when I was at the relatives house on rare occasion. I definitely agree that the more you are hidden from it, the more you want to try it when your older. Just to see what you've been missing. It's better for children to be aware and then see how they react to it when they're older.

 

[Triumph]

Friend won't let you bring booze? Simple solution, get shit faced before you go.

 

[Chaotic42]

I was completely shielded from alcohol, and I've only tried it three times in my life. I never cared as a teenager. As a young adult, everyone I knew who drank would get wasted and then go get high, or wander around the French Quarter threatening people, or some other stupid shit, so it really has a strongly negative connotation in my mind now.

 

[Crono]

My parents let me drink wine whenever we were in a situation where wine was served (like at a party), or if they happened to buy a bottle or receive it as a gift.
I only drank beer once, when my uncle took us out for dinner during a business trip in Florida.

I think that their view (my view as well) of alcohol being an accompaniment to a meal, in moderation, was and is the best view. There isn't a need to shield kids from it, at least not for all their childhood.
If parents properly teach their kids not to abuse alcohol, then there should be reason to frenetically protect them from every situation where alcohol is served. Alcohol is not a "hard" drug, so long as it isn't abused.

 

[imported_Lothar]

My mom shielded me from drinking beer/wine/alcohol.
I've never drank and probably never will. Never really had the "urge" to try drinking.

If I go out with some friends and they order a "drink", I either order apple juice or ice water.
I guess the shielding worked.

I never really understood why alcohol made people feel better after drinking or what the hype surrounding it was when I was in college.

 

[Lean L]

might be a good idea to let experiment, otherwise they might kill themselves later when they don't know the limit

 

[SlitheryDee]

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
The only true protection is knowledge and self control. Both can be taught, but both require exposure to the thing in question. Lack of that exposure leaves nothing but a mysterious and attractive void that cannot be filled with comments and warnings about the thing, but only the thing itself. Best to fill that void in circumstances where the responsibilities that come with it can be properly demonstrated.

Hmm, never had a sip of alcohol, yet I have no attaction to that "mystery".

Where's your natural curiosity? I'm at least a little bit curious about nearly everything I haven't experienced yet.

Alcohol becomes so powerfully attractive to most people because at the same time their parents and pastors and elder family members are demonizing it, they can observe people in movies and other media partaking of it with no immediate ill effects and in environments in which it apparently has no negative social impact. They may even occasionally be around friends their age drinking it with no immediate ill effects and having a great time to boot. The parent's active role in denying them all exposure to alcohol, even for the purposes of education and awareness, coupled with the apparent evidence of alcohol not being so bad after all may lead the child to dismiss the parent's opinion on the subject as baseless and uninformed. Having arrived at the conclusion that the parent is incorrect in their estimation of alcohol's danger, the child is ready and eager to expose themselves to this new experience. The reasoning for that is simple. It's normal to want very badly to do something that is portrayed as being a normal and entertaining activity for the majority of the populace, yet is being actively denied to you.

 

[eits]

if you live in america, i'd say that it's ok to moderately shield them. by this, i mean you can drink with moderation in front of your kids so they learn to respect and enjoy alcohol rather than get drunk.

if you live in any other country, no... no shielding.

the only reason it matters is because, thanks to baptists, we've shielded alcohol so strongly that when kids grow up to an age where they aren't under the control of their parents anymore, they slingshot and abuse alcohol. kids also take the view that drinking alcohol is cool, so that's another hurdle americans have versus the world. in other countries, kids grow up seeing it and drinking it a younger age to get them desensitized to the "glamorization" of alcohol. they respect it a lot easier. it would take a long time for that to go over as well in america, given the same laxity.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee

Originally posted by: Finalnight

Originally posted by: SlitheryDee
The only true protection is knowledge and self control. Both can be taught, but both require exposure to the thing in question. Lack of that exposure leaves nothing but a mysterious and attractive void that cannot be filled with comments and warnings about the thing, but only the thing itself. Best to fill that void in circumstances where the responsibilities that come with it can be properly demonstrated.

Hmm, never had a sip of alcohol, yet I have no attaction to that "mystery".

Where's your natural curiosity? I'm at least a little bit curious about nearly everything I haven't experienced yet.

Alcohol becomes so powerfully attractive to most people because at the same time their parents and pastors and elder family members are demonizing it, they can observe people in movies and other media partaking of it with no immediate ill effects and in environments in which it apparently has no negative social impact. They may even occasionally be around friends their age drinking it with no immediate ill effects and having a great time to boot. The parent's active role in denying them all exposure to alcohol, even for the purposes of education and awareness, coupled with the apparent evidence of alcohol not being so bad after all may lead the child to dismiss the parent's opinion on the subject as baseless and uninformed. Having arrived at the conclusion that the parent is incorrect in their estimation of alcohol's danger, the child is ready and eager to expose themselves to this new experience. The reasoning for that is simple. It's normal to want very badly to do something that is portrayed as being a normal and entertaining activity for the majority of the populace, yet is being actively denied to you.

There are people who are perfectly capable of making their own decisions.
I don't waste my time copying or doing what people on TV, or other people my age are doing.
If you don't drink because you don't want to, great.
If you drink because you want to, great.
If you drink because people on TV, college campuses, and facebook appear to be sipping a glass while experiencing no ill effects, that seems stupid.

I'm also not a person who's curious about everything..."hmm, what happens if I do this?". "hmm, I wonder what this tastes like"...
Nope, not in my nature.

 

[IronWing]

I'm rather amused by the belief that other countries have fewer problems with problem drinking.

 

[krunchykrome]

No, Im not going to shield my children from alcohol. I'm going to clearly tell them that they can't drink until they're 21. Now, we all know that won't happen. Kids will experiment and do what they want, and I'm well aware of this. I just hope I rasie my children to be responsible. In college, it's a given that they will drink before they're 21. At that time, all I'm going to say is "get good grades, and stay and don't get into trouble". If those two rules are followed, I'll turn my head.

 

[actuarial]

Originally posted by: Lothar
If you drink because people on TV, college campuses, and facebook appear to be sipping a glass while experiencing no ill effects, that seems stupid.

While this is ideal, I think you're ignoring life's realities, and I'm sure you do the same thing as your are suggesting is stupid. Maybe he described the curiosity the wrong way.

Have you never gone to see a movie because your friend told you it was awesome, even if the reviews are sub par? It's basically the same thing as your friend saying "hey this booze stuff is awesome have a try."

 

[BassBomb]

I've never drank, my house is dry, I will remain dry also.
I have never had the urge to drink at all

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Lothar
My mom shielded me from drinking beer/wine/alcohol.
I've never drank and probably never will. Never really had the "urge" to try drinking.

If I go out with some friends and they order a "drink", I either order apple juice or ice water.
I guess the shielding worked.

I never really understood why alcohol made people feel better after drinking or what the hype surrounding it was when I was in college.

Your understanding of alcohol is very much like a virgin's understanding of sex.

 

[imported_Lothar]

Originally posted by: actuarial

Originally posted by: Lothar
If you drink because people on TV, college campuses, and facebook appear to be sipping a glass while experiencing no ill effects, that seems stupid.

While this is ideal, I think you're ignoring life's realities, and I'm sure you do the same thing as your are suggesting is stupid. Maybe he described the curiosity the wrong way.

Have you never gone to see a movie because your friend told you it was awesome, even if the reviews are sub par? It's basically the same thing as your friend saying "hey this booze stuff is awesome have a try."

I'm more likely to have a better correlation with my friends than the public/reviewers when it comes to movie selection.
The general public/reviewers likes any movie with explosions, sexy babes, or a "Tom Cruise" looking guy in it.
Me and most of my friends? Not so much.

Movie and food are not the same thing.
Anyone who expects me to eat(or try tasting) sushi, good luck with that.
I don't care who the person is or what position they hold in society.

 

[imported_Imp]

I'm not much into alcohol. I like it, for shits and giggles, and appreciate the history/culture behind each one. However, I have not been smashed before, and don't really care to.

My parents were very light drinkers. Only wine/beer at social gatherings, and even then, rarely. They never said much about drinking, and none of my siblings are big drinkers. They never shielded me, even let me try it as a kid, so there we go. I just chose not to do it. Shielding and overexposure will both probably mess you up.

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: Imp
I'm not much into alcohol. I like it, for shits and giggles, and appreciate the history/culture behind each one. However, I have not been smashed before, and don't really care to.

My parents were very light drinkers. Only wine/beer at social gatherings, and even then, rarely. They never said much about drinking, and none of my siblings are big drinkers. They never shielded me, even let me try it as a kid, so there we go. I just chose not to do it. Shielding and overexposure will both probably mess you up.

same.

one time, i drank at a party that got busted when i was at high school. i wasn't drunk or anything, but i did drink. i had to call my parents to pick me up and i gave some bs excuse. later on, my dad asked me what happened and i told him. he told me that it wasn't a good idea on my part and that i was lucky. he said that i should wait until i was in college before i drank at parties so i wouldn't ruin my future. i didn't get in any trouble, though.

my dad also let me have a sip of his beer when i was about 8 or so and i hated it. he and his friends laughed. then, as i was growing up, i started liking the smell of beer, but didn't have a desire to drink it, really. plus, i saw the douchey skater kids who DID drink when their parents weren't home and whatnot (age 13ish or so), which turned me off to underage drinking.

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: Lothar

Originally posted by: actuarial

Originally posted by: Lothar
If you drink because people on TV, college campuses, and facebook appear to be sipping a glass while experiencing no ill effects, that seems stupid.

While this is ideal, I think you're ignoring life's realities, and I'm sure you do the same thing as your are suggesting is stupid. Maybe he described the curiosity the wrong way.

Have you never gone to see a movie because your friend told you it was awesome, even if the reviews are sub par? It's basically the same thing as your friend saying "hey this booze stuff is awesome have a try."

I'm more likely to have a better correlation with my friends than the public/reviewers when it comes to movie selection.
The general public/reviewers likes any movie with explosions, sexy babes, or a "Tom Cruise" looking guy in it.
Me and most of my friends? Not so much.

Movie and food are not the same thing.
Anyone who expects me to eat(or try tasting) sushi, good luck with that.
I don't care who the person is or what position they hold in society.

youre missing out! sushi is delicious and so is a good beer or some wine. i drink almost daily....one drink. i rarely have more than two, so i rarely get drunk. but i *love* trying different flavors, be it in food or drink, and consider it one of the joys of life.

:beer: for me!

 

[actuarial]

Originally posted by: Lothar
Movie and food are not the same thing.
Anyone who expects me to eat(or try tasting) sushi, good luck with that.
I don't care who the person is or what position they hold in society.

I think you're missing my point. You said that anyone that tries alcohol based on evidence from tv/outside sources that it is positive is stupid.

How do you decide to try something new if collecting outside evidence to help your decision is 'stupid'.

 

[Chaotic42]

Originally posted by: Lothar
Movie and food are not the same thing.
Anyone who expects me to eat(or try tasting) sushi, good luck with that.
I don't care who the person is or what position they hold in society.

I'm the same way.

I was talking to some people at work about something similar today. I find it fascinating that people are so eager to try anything and everything. I know I sound like a shutin saying that, but I just have so little desire for things which I don't have.

I don't go out much, because I'm happy just socializing at work and relaxing at home. I told myself I'd be happy if I had a job, food, and a house. I do, so I am. My friend's aunt was awestruck that neither of us drank or smoked pot. She said, "I guess I can understand drinking, but you never wanted to smoke weed?!". It was weird.

I get shit for not going out sometimes, but I think that people don't understand that most of that stuff isn't fun when you're sober.