Should we let children drink booze at home? As the shock report labels Britain the worst country in the world for child drinking, two mums debate the pros and cons of an age-old question…
Is letting children drink alcohol a harmless way to demystify drinking, or the road to binge drinking?
It’s a question raised by a shocking report from the World Health Organization, which found that children in England are more likely to drink alcohol than children in any other country.
MailOnline asked two mothers on either side of the debate what they think and why…
Parents should never encourage their children to have this alcohol at home, writes CARLA BELLUCCI.
As a mother of four, I would never dream of letting them drink any form of drink, even if it was just a glass of wine with dinner.
“Anyone who gives their children alcohol should be held accountable for their actions,” said Carla Bellucci
Some of my friends let their kids have a drink every now and then, but not under my roof!
Anyone who does give alcohol to their children should be held accountable for their actions.
It not only distracts them from their education but can also seriously damage their health and well-being. Precisely for that reason there is an age limit on alcohol.
And how on earth could a child concentrate on everyday school life after drinking? We all know how horrible a hangover can be.
As a mother, I would simply never forgive myself if my actions caused my children to become addicted to alcohol.
It’s bad enough with all the peer pressure they face on social media, and older kids encouraging them to experiment.
As parents, we play a crucial role in shaping our children’s attitudes and learning about alcohol, and that role must be positive.
A drink at home prevents binge drinking at parties, writes a teenager SHONA SIBARY
Whenever I see news stories highlighting the binge drinking culture of teenagers in Britain today, usually accompanied by pictures of some poor girl holding a bottle of vodka and vomiting on the pavement, I know with absolute certainty that this has never been a will be from my children.
But Shona Vann writes, “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if drinking isn’t taboo, it doesn’t need to be hidden or indulged in rebellious overindulgence.”
You may be surprised to learn that the reason for this is not because we are a family of strict Mormons and alcohol is forbidden in our home. Quite the opposite.
All four of my children grew up with drinking as an accepted evening backdrop to their lives.
From an early age they were all taught to pour me a G&T (a three-finger measure if it was a bad day) and from the moment they became teenagers they were allowed to have a small glass of wine or a beer with weekend meals.
We have a French family and this is completely the norm there. I once witnessed the end of a baguette being dipped in a glass of red wine and handed to a fussy two-year-old.
My mother died of alcoholism in 2015, so my children have seen alcohol abuse firsthand, but that hasn’t changed my approach.
Most of us drink to make ourselves feel better at night, but people with an alcohol problem drink to avoid feeling bad. There is a huge difference and my children know that difference.
It also doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that if drinking isn’t taboo, it doesn’t have to be hidden or indulged in rebellious overindulgence.
My children see alcohol as something that enhances meals and social occasions.
When we drink together as a family, there is always food and always laughter.
They have learned how alcohol affects them and what their limits are. And they did this while we watched over them – not for the first time at a party.
Because they have been drinking with us at home, they are in a much better position when going out with friends to know what to drink.