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

[Coconut36]

Very strange, but then again, people baffle me all the time.

A good friend of mine buys her 15 yr old cigarettes and beer. She says that he'd get them anyway, so she might as well, and I just don't understand because my DS is only 9.

Sounds like these people are just getting started early.

I have never ever understood that logic. If your minor child is doing something that you do not approve of (much less something against the law) why in the world would you enable that behavior rather than being a parent and setting some consequences and making them accountable for making an inappropriate/illegal choice (sure I get it..kids will do things but that doesn't mean as a parent I pat them on the back and say..well since you are doing it anyway here you go).

Will she be out buying him his illegal street drugs next because after all..he will just do it anyway so better that she enable him and provide it for him?

 

[tvguy]

Er, not sure. FYI, it is actually 0.5% alcohol.

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

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

 

[JerseyJanice]

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

Orange soda has alcohol? Get out!

You're right, OP--it's just inappropriate. It's like they're training their kid to party.

Now if my 15 year-old DS asked for a real beer and just DH and me were around, I'd let him have one or maybe even two, but that's it. And it wouldn't happen at a party we were giving.

 

[cornflake]

I have never ever understood that logic. If your minor child is doing something that you do not approve of (much less something against the law) why in the world would you enable that behavior rather than being a parent and setting some consequences and making them accountable for making an inappropriate/illegal choice (sure I get it..kids will do things but that doesn't mean as a parent I pat them on the back and say..well since you are doing it anyway here you go).

Will she be out buying him his illegal street drugs next because after all..he will just do it anyway so better that she enable him and provide it for him?

Some people have no problem with their kid drinking (or presumably smoking) so it's not that they don't approve.

And as we discussed in another thread, it's not necessarily illegal. Actually I don't know about the smoking, but the drinking certainly isn't here.

I think the OP situation is just weird though. Because O'Doul's is disgusting and as many have said, how did this even come up? If a kid wants a drink I don't care but that's... strange somehow.

Also agree with the person who mentioned the 'sparkling (non-alcoholic) ciders' that are just subs for champagne for many people to give their kids. Not really any different.

 

[ICF]

yeah, those were some messed up parents.

 

[MrsDuck]

Not something I would do. While I do believe kids can benefit from witnessing responsible drinking (meaning seeing parents drink responsibly) because it can help take the mystery away I do not see any need or benefit in allowing a pre teen to drink "non alcoholic" beer.

This.

 

[cybrkitn]

IMO, no, not appropriate.

 

[Jennasis]

Why would any responsible parent allow/cultivate a child to develop a taste for an alcoholic beverage?? No. Not cool.

When I was 8, my father allowed me to have a whole can of beer at Thanksgiving. I thought I'd hit the jackpot! On prior occasions my alcoholic grandmother (whom I adored) would let me take the occasional sip of her beer. So imagine how "grown-up" I felt being allowed to have a beer all to myself.

Well about 1/4 way through the can, my older sister walks in on me in the bathroom where I was green as grass and dumping the rest down the toilet. It made me SO sick, but I begged her not to tell dad (who was well aware of how sick it would make me...I think he'd been watching me the whole time). To this day I still don't drinkl alcohol.

An odd way to teach me the lesson, but it worked.

 

[Owlpost23]

Um,you have to be 21 to buy it,so no way is a twelve year old consuming it!

 

[plutotek]

Ah, get off your sanctimonious high horses!!! It's essentially beer-flavored soda pop and perfectly legal.

 

[daisyduck123]

Of course that's totally inappropriate.

But as a public school teacher for over 20 years now, nothing really surprises me anymore. I've seen it all. There is a 1st grader in my class who's backpack reeks of beer.

 

[Jennasis]

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

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

Not soda...orange JUICE:

There isn't alcohol in OJ. But all food has some bacteria in it, and even in the refrigerator these bacteria will start acting on the sugar in the OJ and using it for food. Most bacteria are fermenters. The process of fermentation takes glucose (sugar) and through a multi-step process turns it into carbon dioxide and alcohol. The OJ will taste "bubbly" or "carbonated" and there will be alcohol present as well. There probably wouldn't be enough alcohol to make one feel its effects though.

Refrigeration doesn't kill bacteria, it just slows its metabolism. If you were to leave the OJ out on the counter for a day, this process would happen a lot faster.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

So is Orange soda.

Which one? That really doesn't make any sense.

 

[LuvsDragonflies]

Ah, get off your sanctimonious high horses!!! It's essentially beer-flavored soda pop and perfectly legal.

If it's legal than he could buy it for himself, correct? Also, energy drinks are legal and I'm not letting my 12 year old suck them down either.

Also, what brand of Orange Soda has alcohol? Because I don't see it listed on the ingredients list anywhere. Are you saying they are sneaking alchohol into Orange sodas and not reporting it?

orange soda taste test - ingredient index

(read about the taste test)




Native Citrus Products

Orange Juice (fresh or concentrate): Naturale 90, Orangina, Stewarts, Minute Maid
Natural Orange Flavor: Naturale 90, Orangina, Jamaican
Natural Mandarin: Goya
Citric Acid: Goya, Jamaica, Fanta, Pathmark, Slice, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Tangerine Juice Concentrate: Orangina, Minute Maid
Ascorbic Acid: Fanta, Sunkist
Pure Orange Pulp: Orangina

Other Plant Products

Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin: Jamaican, Pathmark, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Brominated Vegetable Oil: Jamaican, Stewart's, Pathmark, Minute Maid, Slice
Acacia Gum: Goya
Acacia: Minute Maid
Coconut Oil: Fanta
Ester Gum: Stewart's, Slice
Gum Arabic: Slice

Chemical Additives

Natural and Artificial Flavor: Stewart's
BHA: Stewart's
EDTA: Slice, Minute Maid
Caffeine: Sunkist
Salt: Slice
Modified Food Starch: Fanta, Stewart's, Pathmark, Fanta
Sodium Benzoate: Jamaican, Stewart's, Sunkist
Potassium Sorbate: Minute Maid, Slice
Potassium Citrate: Slice
Potassium Benzoate: Minute Maid, Slice
Malic Acid: Slice
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate: Fanta
Sodium Polyphosphates: Fanta
Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate: Fanta

Colorings

Yellow #5: Goya
Yellow #6: Goya, Stewart's, Jamaican, Pathmark, Slice, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Red 40: Fanta, Pathmark, Sunkist, Minute Maid

 

[princessmom29]

Um,you have to be 21 to buy it,so no way is a twelve year old consuming it!

Not in this state. Anyone can buy it, or at least they could 10 years ago when I was a grocery cashier. The alcohol content is so miniscule it isn't possible to see any alteration from it before the body processes it.

I personally don't see the problem. Iti s no different than giving a kid a virgin cocktail. It contains the same amount of alcohol as many fruit juices. The alcohol is a byprodcut of the aging of the juice. I don't see it as teaching your kids to party. I see it as teaching them to have a healthy relationship with alcohol rather than seeing it as some forbidden fruit they cannot wait to get thier hands on. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

 

[princessmom29]

If it's legal than he could buy it for himself, correct? Also, energy drinks are legal and I'm not letting my 12 year old suck them down either.

Also, what brand of Orange Soda has alcohol? Because I don't see it listed on the ingredients list anywhere. Are you saying they are sneaking alchohol into Orange sodas and not reporting it?

orange soda taste test - ingredient index

(read about the taste test)




Native Citrus Products

Orange Juice (fresh or concentrate): Naturale 90, Orangina, Stewarts, Minute Maid
Natural Orange Flavor: Naturale 90, Orangina, Jamaican
Natural Mandarin: Goya
Citric Acid: Goya, Jamaica, Fanta, Pathmark, Slice, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Tangerine Juice Concentrate: Orangina, Minute Maid
Ascorbic Acid: Fanta, Sunkist
Pure Orange Pulp: Orangina

Other Plant Products

Glycerol Ester of Wood Rosin: Jamaican, Pathmark, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Brominated Vegetable Oil: Jamaican, Stewart's, Pathmark, Minute Maid, Slice
Acacia Gum: Goya
Acacia: Minute Maid
Coconut Oil: Fanta
Ester Gum: Stewart's, Slice
Gum Arabic: Slice

Chemical Additives

Natural and Artificial Flavor: Stewart's
BHA: Stewart's
EDTA: Slice, Minute Maid
Caffeine: Sunkist
Salt: Slice
Modified Food Starch: Fanta, Stewart's, Pathmark, Fanta
Sodium Benzoate: Jamaican, Stewart's, Sunkist
Potassium Sorbate: Minute Maid, Slice
Potassium Citrate: Slice
Potassium Benzoate: Minute Maid, Slice
Malic Acid: Slice
Sucrose Acetate Isobutyrate: Fanta
Sodium Polyphosphates: Fanta
Dioctyl Sodium Sulfosuccinate: Fanta

Colorings

Yellow #5: Goya
Yellow #6: Goya, Stewart's, Jamaican, Pathmark, Slice, Sunkist, Minute Maid
Red 40: Fanta, Pathmark, Sunkist, Minute Maid

it is actually orange juice not orange soda. There isn't alcohol present when fruit juice is bottled so it is not listed on the ingreidents, but by the time you drink it some of the sugar has fermented into alcohol. Iti s the same process by which alcohol is made. It is accelerated any time that juce warms up so apple juices sold at room temp would have more than those in the refigerated section. Diabetics who have high sugar levels process sugar from fuits this way in thier bodies as well.

 

[golfgal]

Nope. Alcohol is not necessary to my life, so not sure why my child would need it? Obviously they have put thought into the fact that the kid is drinking non-alcoholic beer (which actually does have alcohol in it), so is this a regular occurence, I wonder?

Not sure of the point of that? Alcohol is now the biggest troublesome drug in Canada and the US amongst children between the ages of 14-18. Been reading many articles and professional journals about the binge drinking that is going on, and about the whole issue with parents letting under age kids drink. Lots of problems with alcohol, so not sure why a 12 year old needs any of that...?

I don't get it...Tiger

Alcohol isn't "necessary" in anyone's life but some people enjoy the taste .


It is NOT illegal in MOST states for a child to consume alcohol in the presence of their parents, nor is it illegal in most states for a parent to give their child alcohol. In some states it is even legal for a child under 21 to drink alcohol at a bar or restaurant with their parents present.

I guess I don't see what the issue is other than O'Douls is gross .

 

[punkin]

Alcohol isn't "necessary" in anyone's life but some people enjoy the taste .


It is NOT illegal in MOST states for a child to consume alcohol in the presence of their parents, nor is it illegal in most states for a parent to give their child alcohol. In some states it is even legal for a child under 21 to drink alcohol at a bar or restaurant with their parents present.

I guess I don't see what the issue is other than O'Douls is gross .

It's downright disgusting. . My 12 year old has had wine with dinner and sips from my glass when there is something stronger then wine. I would never subject her to O'Douls.

 

[luvmy3]

I was thinking about this and realized that I cook with alcohol from time to time and contrary to popular belief, some alcohol does remain. So I guess I personally don't have an issue with the consumption of .5% alcohol. To me thats no different than letting your kid chug down caffeine drinks.

 

[Tiger926]

Not in this state. Anyone can buy it, or at least they could 10 years ago when I was a grocery cashier. The alcohol content is so miniscule it isn't possible to see any alteration from it before the body processes it.

I personally don't see the problem. Iti s no different than giving a kid a virgin cocktail. It contains the same amount of alcohol as many fruit juices. The alcohol is a byprodcut of the aging of the juice. I don't see it as teaching your kids to party. I see it as teaching them to have a healthy relationship with alcohol rather than seeing it as some forbidden fruit they cannot wait to get thier hands on. I wouldn't have a problem with it.

So, then I guess kids should have a healthy relationship with other drugs too? So, should kids ingest pills or cocaine in preparation for the future?

Sure alcohol is legal and street drugs are not, so let's ignore that for a minute, and just focus on your theory that letting them drink these types of drinks helps them foster a healthy relationship with the drug for future use. In my world, a drug is a drug, and my students constantly ask me why one drug is legal, whereas the others are not? Alcohol is a huge problem in our society, moreso than other drugs that are consumed...

I've said it many times before, we don't need to teach our kids to drink for future reference, as it's not an essential activity to get through life. This boy has obviously acquired a taste for the drink, and the fact that it's non-alcoholic/low alcohol means that he actually more than likely drinks this often.

All of the new studies that are coming out, are showing that parents who let their kids drink at home, are having many problems with those same kids binge drinking and driving while drunk. Kids, especially teens, struggle to separate between drinking at home, and drinking elsewhere, as they have acquired a taste for the product, but most especially the effect it has on their brains. Much more research is being done here, as it's a very slippery slope, and so experts need to see if there is an actual connection here between parental supply of alcohol and alcohol consumption in underage kids.

This won't affect all kids, but it's being shown to be a problem with many, many kids. Just like kids who grew up around no alcohol, they all don't grow up to go nuts and binge drink. It's all about personality, genetics and environment, so why let a 12 year old even start that process? Why not teach kids that alcohol is not necessary to their lives at all, but if they choose to partake in it at an older age, then that is their choice to do so?

As a teacher, I can assure you that there are many more life's lessons that parents should be teaching their kids, that are more relevant than learning how to drink.

Tiger