View Full Version : Drinking at home legislation proposed
OK, some muppets in some group or another (didn't catch who on the radio) have proposed the following:
Take parents to court for giving children under 15 alcohol, even in their own home, because if they drink alcohol when young, this means they'll drink more when they're older!
I'm sorry, but what the?!?! The kids (well, eldest two) have a spritzer on special occasions (like Christmas), and by that, I mean a large glass about half full, at least 3/4 of which is lemonade.
When I was growing up, I was treated the same as I treat our kids. Wine on special occasions & that was it. Once I got to about 12 I was allowed more (and pretty much, if I asked for it, they'd buy me whatever & whenever, but I had to pay). I'm now 24 & go out drinking about once a month, if that! I rarely drink in the house as well.
Supprisingly, the government has turned around & said that they don't think the proposal is the way to resolve the binge drinking society! At last, someone in the government has their heads screwed on.
EDIT: In other news, a couple of local kids near me have been charged £80 each for causing a disturbance. What were they doing? The two 16year olds were drawing rainbows & cartoons outside their grans house, in chalk. What the crap is the world coming to?
timwilky
27-04-07, 10:41 AM
Agree muppets.
We need to take the mystique out of alcohol. Let kids learn to drink appropriately and not for bravado and braging rights etc.
I have 3 kids, the eldest/youngest hardly drink, but the middle one is a lush. She started working in a local pub when 16 and had the stuff litterally on tap. I used to pity any lad who thought he would be able to get her pished. At age 18/19 she was on about 8 pints of lager a night. even now no longer working bars, she cannot leave it alone. (Seems to take after her dad)
Our french relatives always used to allow their offspring to drink wine with them at restuarants.
Totally demystified it & made them feel like proper little grown ups.
I like the french attitude.
Moffatt666
27-04-07, 11:00 AM
I was pretty much the same as you Baph and I hardly ever drink now.
Steve_God
27-04-07, 11:02 AM
I used to be given small amount of drink while supervised at an event (Swift Caravan Club as it happens) at around the age of 12-13 or so.
When I got to 15-16 me and my mates all used to go over each others houses in turn on Friday/Saturday nights, play computer games (N64 at the time) with sometimes a few beers or alcopops, occasionally we've get a bottle of spirit and share that between us, sometimes get a little ill but the parents were normally in the house just incase - and we were all allowed that tollerance to do as we wanted, but without letting things go OTT.
Then when we got to 18 and could legally drink, rather than do what most people do is have their first taste for drink, and get smashed every other weekend, we didn't even bother!
Now we're all roughly 21, we still aren't that bothered about drinking. Yeah we might have a beer or two at the pub, on a special occasion or a big house party get very merry, but because we've ll drank from a young age we know our limited and how much we like to drink if/when we do, if at all!
(Disclaimer: There is one of the mates who went to uni and gets trashed most weekends, however he's a Rugby player... says it all!) :P
BoltonSte
27-04-07, 11:38 AM
What utter B*llocks, we are supposedly the worst in Europe for binge drinking, what the the other coutries do differently? Let their kids get used to the taste of alcohol early. It was done for me and while everyone at school was out getting hammered on Friday/Saturday, I was finding other less liver destroying things to do.
Granted I do still drink a fair bit now, but that's through enjoying the taste, not just to get bevvied up.
Ste
Muppets indeed and glad that the government seem to have some sense on this issue.
Certainly there wasnt the problems with drinking in the countries Ive lived in abroad that this country seems to have. And Im pretty certain a lot of it was down to teaching kids to drink responsibly by not denying them a little when growing up.
When pubs could open 24/7 it was forecast that drinking would increase hugely - but it hasn't.
The world has far too many people who are far too ready to tell others how to live their lives.
we are supposedly the worst in Europe for binge drinking, what the the other coutries do differently? Let their kids get used to the taste of alcohol early.
and that why the rest of europe has the very high case of liver cirossis. The idea behind the legislation is to act as a warning for those parents who go and buy alcohol for their kids and let them get bladdered and then kick them out on the streets. I don't believe that court will do anything as a deterrent to this sector but hey thats Government for you.
And don't shoot me I'm playing devils advocate - I'm was introduced into alcohol early on and the last time i touched it was 2 months ago:smt109
ArtyLady
27-04-07, 12:05 PM
How they gonna police that then? cctv?:confused: :smt120 :o
and that why the rest of europe has the very high case of liver cirossis. The idea behind the legislation is to act as a warning for those parents who go and buy alcohol for their kids and let them get bladdered and then kick them out on the streets.
Isn't that what ASBO's are for? I mean other than giving more street cred, obviously :rolleyes:
I'd love to know how they were going to police this, if it were brought into effect. EDIT: Just beaten to this.
Storm into my house right now & you'll probably wake my 2yr old son up. But that's besides the point, you'd also find a 4 pack of Fosters in the fridge. Naturally my 8yr old is going to drink all of that the instant he gets home from school! :rolleyes:
No Christmas Snowballs!
Did you know that as long as someone buys the drink anyone from the age 5 up can drink in the pub 'garden'. Its only the bar area that childern are not allow to consume alcohol in.
Grinch, I knew about the 5 year rule in your own home, but wasn't aware about pub gardens. Though I'm sure that's got aproviso on it of "with concent of the landlord/lady" because you'd still be on licenced premesis.
The garden is not mentioned as part of the 'bar/licenced' area, thats why you can get away with it.
Unfortunately you cannot place an asbo on the parent of the child because legally tthe child is drinking the alcohol and then being a nuisance. Although the parent is ultmately responsible ASBO's cannot be used until ASB has been committed which does not always happen. The ASB teams are in a catch 22 syndrome with this.
Though which legislation is it going to affect - England,Wales,NI or Scotland
phil24_7
27-04-07, 06:18 PM
Grinch, I knew about the 5 year rule in your own home, but wasn't aware about pub gardens. Though I'm sure that's got aproviso on it of "with concent of the landlord/lady" because you'd still be on licenced premesis.
This used to stand under the old licensing laws, as long as it was the 5 year olds own money and they only had cider, port or wine (cuz they don't get people drunk!).
Under the new laws I believe this has been superceded and the beer garden is now part of the licensed premises also.!!!
Anywho, there was always alcohol in my parents house and if I wanted any I just had to ask so there was never a need for me or my brother to sneak around, nor did we seek to get p**sed as soon as we could cuz it held no mistique for us.
between 17-20 I went out three times a week and got drunk then settled into being the designated driver every night (good way of making some money plus I found it was easier to get the girls if your mates were drnk and you were driving!!!)
I'm now 28, a pub manager and I go out drinking maybe once every 2-3 months!
thumper21
27-04-07, 06:27 PM
It was in the newspaper today that Asda are putting the age of buying alcohol up to 25! So if you dont look over 25 they WILL ask you for ID!
I was so pleased the other day I bought a bottle of wine out of Morrisons and the girl on the check out asked me for ID!!! I was so happy as I will be 24 this year (Morrisons ask for ID if you look under 21):)
Cloggsy
27-04-07, 06:42 PM
My 11 and 10 year olds have a glass of wine with us at dinner, I don't have a problem with it... I'd rather take the mystique out of drink than make it a taboo (as has already been pointed out...)
Sort of what Ed said really - there's too many people around with not enough to do...so they stick their huge pointy noses in other peoples business instead of trying to think of something constructive themselves...these sorts really pi$$ me off...what's wrong with these types? They should just get on with life/get a job or something...whatever...just get the F out of my business.
Jeez.
:smt013 :smt013 :twisted: :twisted:
I'll need a new keyboard now...having done a two finger rant!!
MeridiaNx
28-04-07, 10:59 AM
I was the same as everyone else I'm sure....a beer here or there when I was 13+ only with meals. Gradually that got changed to a tuckshop idea where I could buy them from my dad at cost price if that's what I wanted to spend my pocket money on. The end result: when I was at boarding school and everyone else was drinking cheap crappy cider behind the shed I'd be sitting in a room with a few of my mates, playing poker and enjoying some nice bottled ales. Seems about the only way to let people understand and respect alcohol.
Saw that guy on the news yesterday as well, think he's from 'Alcohol Concern', and sorry to say it (this isn't prejudiced :D) but it's ludicrous for someone as emasculated, watery and out-of-touch as that to presume he can dictate how parents nationwide should act. He really did come across as the sort who would be in any 'oh think of the children' cause, be it PETA or Greenpeace or whatever, not to mention the fact that I doubt he was a parent himself.
I say pack him off to the continent and then try to say that sensible parents treating alcohol in an adult manner from a young age doesn't work.
ArtyLady
28-04-07, 04:40 PM
It was in the newspaper today that Asda are putting the age of buying alcohol up to 25! So if you dont look over 25 they WILL ask you for ID!
I was so pleased the other day I bought a bottle of wine out of Morrisons and the girl on the check out asked me for ID!!! I was so happy as I will be 24 this year (Morrisons ask for ID if you look under 21):)
Id love it if I got asked for ID cos I didnt look over 25 :( :( :rolleyes: ;)
Beaniebike
28-04-07, 05:02 PM
We let our 8 year old have an alcohol free lager at the weekends if we're having a BBq or something. That way, he feels like he's having a beer with his dad. Also, as he knows there is no alcohol in it, its, I hope, teaching him that you have a beer or whatever cos you like the taste of it, not cos its gonna get you tanked up!
vBulletin® , Copyright ©2000-2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.