Do You Let the Kids Taste the Alcoholic Beverage?
Over the weekend, The Atlantic’s staff writer took to Twitter to ask, “When a little kid asks you what you’re drinking and it’s definitely wine, what do you say?” The answer was quick and quite universal: “I say this is wine,” many people replied, with some adding that wine belongs to the category of “adult drinks” that they too can drink when they get older. … But others took it a step further and said they quenched their kids’ curiosity by letting them take a sip on their own.
The idea is that if you give them a sip of wine or beer, chances are they’ll think it’s disgusting, thus ensuring that they keep their dirty hands away from your booze for years to come. But others point out how this can backfire:
It has long been debated whether letting children drink alcohol infrequently and infrequently is fulfilling their curiosity and making them more prepared to resist peer pressure as they get older, or whether it helps them develop a taste for alcohol by getting them to drink more. much at an earlier age.
A significant number of parents believe that it is normal and even beneficial to allow children between the ages of nine and ten to have a sip here or there. On the other hand, most experts do not recommend doing this , citing studies that indicate a lack of benefit and may even lead to more problematic or risky behaviors.
What do you think? How did your parents handle it when you were growing up? Was your home strictly dry or were you allowed to drink (or more) champagne from time to time on special occasions – and how do you think this affected your relationship with alcohol as an adult? Have you ever given your child a sip of beer, wine or liquor – and if so, what was his reaction? Let us know in the comments.