12 year olds drinking O'Douls...appropriate?

[cornflake]

No, brain cells -- like nerve cells -- don't regenerate. A newborn baby has all the brain cells it'll ever have. That's why brain injuries are so serious.

Who'd think I'd remember so much from AP Biology so many years ago? Doctors and other health professionals promote moderate drinking not as a healthy choice, but as better choice than binge drinking or heavy drinking. Moderate drinking is promoted with the assumption that people are going to drink because it's a social habit that's very ingrained, so moderation is the way to approach it.

You're not going to find a doctor who'll say, "Oh, you don't drink at all? You really should start."

First, not true, we grow new neurons.

Second, ok, AGAIN, as you can see in the article I quoted - the CDC promote moderate drinking not just as a healthy choice but as one of the four lifestyle choices you can make to live longer.

They ARE promoting it as a healthy choice - exercise, healthful eating, not smoking and moderate drinking are the four things they RECOMMEND.

 

[sam_gordon]

But, in all honesty.... I simply do not see any other reason why a family would be buying O'Doul's for young kids. I really don't.

OK. Please show where it is known the O'Doul's was purchased for the teen. Is it not possible the OD was purchased for others and the teen was simply allowed to drink one?

Again, I think there must be reason's why you are so vested in justifying your viewpoint.

And there must be reasons why you are so vested in justifying your viewpoint. I guess if people disagree they shouldn't explain their position?

 

[luvsJack]

Nope, I have to respectfully disagree.

The OP asked for opinions, and we have opinions.

Everybody has acknowledged that we really don't have enough information about this one particular case. And, we don't.

We have said that we find it odd, and that we would never do this with our own children.

Nobody has said that they would actually take issue with another families choices.. But, in all honesty.... I simply do not see any other reason why a family would be buying O'Doul's for young kids. I really don't.

Sorry but 'Maybe he likes the taste' doesn't cut it for me. As a parent, I learned by the time that my child was one or two years old that there might be many, many, things that my child might like, but that are not good or appropriate.

Again, I think there must be reason's why you are so vested in justifying your viewpoint.

And there you go, assuming things you don't know (last statement). I am not vested in anything. And none of my children drink, just in case that is what you are hinting at. I have freely admitted that my ex-h was an alcoholic and that my current husband drank (he has recently quit), no hiding anything there. Unlike some here, even with the people around me that abuse alcohol, I don't see all use of it as unhealthy. I don't think keeping my kids sheltered from it is the answer to keeping them from abusing it. I think they need to see that there is a responsible and safe option and such a thing as drinking responsibly.

she asked for opinions yes, and like you, I am giving my opinion. Because it is different than yours, suddenly I am emotional and vested in justifying something?

I don't see it as anymore odd than giving a kid a virgin pina colada. That is my opinion. You see it as odd, that is your opinion.

Stating that the family is pushing this kid to drink and that there is a pattern of behavior and they are making him "prove his manhood" (what the heck does that even mean anyway?) and that he is destined to be an alcohol abuser--that is not opinion. That is assuming things about a family that you do not know.

 

[Wishing on a star]

OK. Please show where it is known the O'Doul's was purchased for the teen. Is it not possible the OD was purchased for others and the teen was simply allowed to drink one?

And there must be reasons why you are so vested in justifying your viewpoint. I guess if people disagree they shouldn't explain their position?

Putting words in my mouth...
I clearly stated that in this case, we do not know the details.
We are discussing the subject of a pre-teen drinking O'Douls, at a family and friends gathering,
NO MATTER where it came from.

And, I am not justifying my opinion....
I am not saying "But he could become an alcoholic...
"But, this...." But, that....." "Yada, Yada, Yada...."

I have stated "I do not think it is appropriate and I would not do this with my son".
While a fruit smoothie ( by ANY name, lets not hide behind semantics here... ) is perfectly fine for any child.
PERIOD, END OF STORY....

Once I have simply stated my opinion, and things get 'contentious' and words start being put in my mouth.... I have said what I wanted to say... So I think that's it for me here.

 

[castmemberb4]

So is Orange soda. There is alcohol in a lot of "non-alcoholic" products.

I can see either way on this, just personal preference.

But you have to be of age to buy O'Douls
So it's still considered an alcoholic beverage.

 

[believe]

When I worked in a convenient store I would not sell to minors so I wouldn't serve it to minors either.

 

[Magpie]

But you have to be of age to buy O'Douls
So it's still considered an alcoholic beverage.

Apparently not everywhere. I looked it up - minors can buy non-alcoholic beverages in Texas, Wisconsin and New Jersey (0.5% and below, including O'Douls).

There are few, if any, restrictions on non-alcoholic beverages in the rest of the world. They're even (not surprisingly, perhaps) popular in many Islamic countries that ban alcohol.