Sensibly drinking
Friends who've met me socially recently may have been party to a conversation about a half remembered news story about a plan to make giving alcohol to children illegal. Well I've found the story. A charity called "Alcohol concern" styling itself as a "National Agency" called for it to be illegal to give under 15 year olds alcohol because of the rise in alcohol consumption.
The consensus among the random sample of the public in on these conversations was against Alcohol Concern's proposals. We felt that kids need to be introduced to alcohol in a safe environment, under the supervision of their parents. If drink isn't some forbidden fruit, it won't get abused on the streets. And guess what, research shows we were right. Although James Graham's reaction suggests this is nothing to be smug about.
Alcohol concern seems to be to the control of alcohol, what Mediawatch UK is to taste and decency on TV, and Brake is to sensible motoring.
Labels: charity, hysteria, responsibility
posted by Simon @ 12:25:00
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My parents had a very continental attitude towards alcohol when introducing it to us.
It started with water down wine with of course meals. Meals and alcohol go together, alcohol on its own doesn't ...
as the years went on so teh watering down lessened, so I think I was at full strength white at about 11 (1 glass there of with a sunday lunch) and 13 for red.
My parents do have spirits but they are rarley used. Only use Cocktails by the my & sis and a bit of creme de cassis for kir, then at the end of the meal Port & Cognac/ Armengac.
So hence we both hit 18 and didn't feel the need to get hammered all the time. Yep we've got very drunk as students before now, but not to a state where we would damage property or haarm oursleves.
... and still alcohol is pretty much mostly with meals ... and either wine or beer.
So does that mean my parents were wrong? No, I plan to do the same with any kids I have. Should they have been proscuted, because there are a minority of parents who haven't introduced their kids to alcohol sensibly? Nope either, why punish the many for the sake of a negligent few ...
Because Alcohol Concern are a bunch of silly prohibitionistic loons. Sarah and I will be doing as you are I'm sure.
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