Teens drinking at Epcot

[mattsdragon]

It's not against the law for someone to have a few sips of alcohol. If it were my family would be breaking the law every year on Passover. It is tradition to have a glass of wine with the meal (as every Jewish family knows). Yes some people substitute with grape juice, but when it comes to tradition...wine.

It is illegal. Exceptions are made for religious ceremony (the same reason some American Indians are allowed to smoke peyote).

Like I and everyone else has said, exercise caution, don't be overt, and use your best judgement. You seem to do that already, so I don't think you'll have a problem

 

[NJBILL]

Let me put my Nomex suit on first...

Let me first say I have a son 19 yrs old. I never gave him permission to Drink in or out of our home.

Let me also say that I am a second term Board of Education member.

Youth and Teenage alcohol problems are a major concern to educators throughout the United States. This problem permeates all socioeconomic barriers. There are many parents who "allow" their underage children to consume alcohol both in and out of the home. I have heard more than one parent say "well I know he is going to drink, so i want him to do it at home",and accept this behavior. This reluctance on the part of many parents today to discourage the practice of underage drinking has created a huge problem in our society and in our schools. If you choose to send the message to your children that it is ok to break the rules because you do not agree with them,it is certainly your right to do so. You do not take your underage child to educate them on driving and put them behind the wheel before its time,why is alcohol any different. The permissive viewpoint held by many is causing a huge problem for students/schools/and parents.

 

[jjarman]

Thanks so much for the kind replies and the non-flaming. I actually didn't think of the CM getting in trouble. And I should have been a little more clear. I pictured having a to-go marguerita at Epcot and not something in a restaurant. DS is 6'1" and counting and looks much older than 16 so I don't think anyone would question it but to be safe I'll just let him have a little of mine and tell him, no, he is not old enough and I don't want us getting kicked out of the park.

 

[Mickeyistheman]

I have to say that I do understand how NJBILL feels. I also beleive this to be a very large problem all over the US today. However, I would rather let my child know what I do approve of and what I don't so they do not retaliate at some point. I have seen so many young adults 15 and older whose parents are so strict they don't allow them to do anything and those are the ones that rebell. Now my child 16 knows that we do not approve of any drinking until you are 21 that is the law. However she has come to me and said what does it taste like, so we sat at our dining room table and I poured some beer, she drank it and I did.

She disliked the taste so much, she "said" she'll never drink it again, but i am glad that my daughter is comfortable enough to come to me and tell me how she feels and asks me whatever questions she may have.

Things today are very different to the children of our future. I have started a group in my town with a some parents who are just as concerned. The kids have no place to go and have fun and not just go to someone's home for a party where more than likely alcohol will be served.

Good Luck with your trip, a few sips won't hurt, but be cautious.

 

[KimberlyC]

I don't know if I would do it at the parks but I let my 12 yr old niece and my toddler have a sip of my beverage at the Poly pool. It was one of those fruity ice cream drinks with rum and my toddler thought it was a smoothie. It was easier to let him have a sip than to invoke a tantrum by saying no to a kid who was way overdue for a nap (the room wasn't ready yet so I didn't have a place to take him if he did have a tantrum). One sip wouldn't harm him, especially since his sip was primarily whip cream. My niece liked it so after that I let her order virgins despite the fact that they weren't on the menu.

Now that I think about it, if my niece wanted to try something and I could be very discreet about it at the park, I would probably let her. If she likes it, I'll do the same thing and let her order a virgin drink. (Keep in mind I stick with fruity mix drinks that can be made without alcohol, not beer or wine).

And I agree with the PP who said that kids who aren't exposed are the ones that later go wild. That was certainly true of my best friends in college. Perhaps it is the reason why I'm the only one of us who graduated without ever getting put on academic probation or being kicked out.

 

[POLY1985]

I actually got served at Disney when I was 16. My 16 year old cousin and myself went to the pool bar at the Polynesian and got pina colada's. We were not carded. However, this was in 1979 and things were definitely not as strict then.

 

[NJBILL]

I don't know if I would do it at the parks but I let my 12 yr old niece and my toddler have a sip of my beverage at the Poly pool. It was one of those fruity ice cream drinks with rum and my toddler thought it was a smoothie. It was easier to let him have a sip than to invoke a tantrum by saying no to a kid who was way overdue for a nap (the room wasn't ready yet so I didn't have a place to take him if he did have a tantrum). One sip wouldn't harm him, especially since his sip was primarily whip cream. My niece liked it so after that I let her order virgins despite the fact that they weren't on the menu.

Now that I think about it, if my niece wanted to try something and I could be very discreet about it at the park, I would probably let her. If she likes it, I'll do the same thing and let her order a virgin drink. (Keep in mind I stick with fruity mix drinks that can be made without alcohol, not beer or wine).

And I agree with the PP who said that kids who aren't exposed are the ones that later go wild. That was certainly true of my best friends in college. Perhaps it is the reason why I'm the only one of us who graduated without ever getting put on academic probation or being kicked out.

Do the parents of your 12 yrold niece know that you let her taste alcoholic beverages and you would let her do it again?? Am I insane or is there something terribly wrong with this picture??

 

[kaytieeldr]

Now that I think about it, if my niece wanted to try something and I could be very discreet about it at the park, I would probably let her. If she likes it, I'll do the same thing and let her order a virgin drink. (Keep in mind I stick with fruity mix drinks that can be made without alcohol, not beer or wine).

Instead of putting anybody at any risk (resort, server, yes even your niece), why not order the virgin drink first? If she likes it, you can give it to her and share it with your toddler, and you can order one with alcohol. If she doesn't like it, oh well, so your first drink is non-alcoholic.

 

[TinkerBelle2992]

Sorry, I didn't read it all, but Disney serves non-alcholic beverages. The poolside bars serve non-alcoholic beverages, I love their non-alcoholic Pina Coloda's! This year at Epcot, I had a non-alcoholic margarita. By the way, I am 14. And sorry if this has already been posted, I didn't read it all.

 

[BeckWhy]

I don't know what the FL laws are... but where I live a parent can distribute alcohol to their child if they wish (I assume if you allow your child to get drunk or drive while intoxicated it would be a different story). But I would assume that is only allowed on private grounds such as your home or the home of a family member. (Actually the law here is anyone can drink, but if you are under the age of 21 you cannot purchase it or possess it.)

What you choose to do with your own children is your choice.

 

[MzDiz]

Do the parents of your 12 yrold niece know that you let her taste alcoholic beverages and you would let her do it again?? Am I insane or is there something terribly wrong with this picture??

I'm sure it was just a tiny sip. There's more alcohol in cough medicine and it's not like she was giving her bleach.

 

[fakereadhed]

It was one of those fruity ice cream drinks with rum and my toddler thought it was a smoothie. It was easier to let him have a sip than to invoke a tantrum by saying no to a kid who was way overdue for a nap (the room wasn't ready yet so I didn't have a place to take him if he did have a tantrum). One sip wouldn't harm him, especially since his sip was primarily whip cream.

Good parenting is not about doing what's easier. JMO

 

[Tissa]

You gave your toddler alcohol and it was ok because he thought it was a smoothie? And you would rather give your baby alcohol than listen to him throw a fit? How about not drink at all mom!

To the OP no flames from me because a teen is different than a toddler but as long as you know there is a risk of being escorted out then it's up to you.

 

[gigi1313]

IOne sip wouldn't harm him,

may i suggest you google "alcohol poisoning + toddler" because one sip *can* harm a toddler!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*

to the op... i will concur w/those that said the only "problem" would be the cm getting in trouble...

 

[Tissa]

I'm sure it was just a tiny sip. There's more alcohol in cough medicine and it's not like she was giving her bleach.

Sorry but our cough medicine has no alcohol in it at all and if someone gave my child, and yes 12 is still a child alcohol no matter how small a sip they would be in big trouble with me. I guess it is possible that her sister doesn't mind if she does this though.

 

[mickeyfan2]

I would worry about the state of FL laws about serving alcohol to a minor.

 

[gigi1313]

Good parenting is not about doing what's easier. JMO

AMEN!!

You gave your toddler alcohol and it was ok because he thought it was a smoothie? And you would rather give your baby alcohol than listen to him throw a fit? How about not drink at all mom!

DITTO!

 

[JRawkSteady]

may i suggest you google "alcohol poisoning + toddler" because one sip *can* harm a toddler!

Yeah, there's a HUGE difference between a 16 year old and a toddler.. Wow, talk about parenting...

 

[jonkatony]

We are from the uk and we will abide by US law while we are in the USA. As parents of two teenagers we try not to make alcohol an issue, I dont know about american kids but If we just tell our kids NO! without talking it through they will want it more.

 

[noseybuddy]

No flame here, either. This is exactly how I was raised, and how DH and I intend to raise our son. My mom raised me mostly on her own, and taught me to respect alcohol. When we were at home, or out and about, she would let me have a few sips of whatever she was drinking. Saw no problem with it. Always told me that if I ever wanted to drink or smoke, that was fine with her, just don't hide it. Never drive anywhere if I have had even a single sip of something with alcohol, and never get in a car with anyone else that had been drinking. Even if I had to call my aunt or grandmother at 3am to come pick me up somewhere (Mom was legally blind and had to stop driving shortly after I started the 5th grade), or just spend the night. As long as she knew where I was. And that was the same with all of my friends' parents.

I will say, by the time I went away to college, I never understood why other kids had to hide drinking and parties from their parents. And while the kids of strict no drinking of any kind parents were out every night getting drunk, throwing up all over their dorm, and failing classes because of it, I was still able to get up in the morning and go to class, not hung over like all of them. I still to this day do not understand drinking that much at any given time. And I owe that to my mom for teaching me to respect it all.

So yes, if my son wants to try a sip or two of something DH or I are drinking, I will allow it. Would I buy him his very own drink while out? No, that is a bit overboard until he is legal. Would I allow a drink or a glass of wine in the privacy of our own home? Yes, if that is what he wishes. Will I be angry at him if he drinks at a party? That depends, did he try to hide the fact that he would be drinking, or was he truthful with me...if I know in advanced that he plans to drink, or he calls for a ride home if he drank without letting me know, no, I would not be angry, and he would not be punished. I don't think there is a problem with that, and am not ashamed to admit that.

(By the way, I still will not drive if I have has so much as a sip of alcohol. DH and I take turns driving, and agree ahead of time who will be responsible for doing so.)

ITA! I have let my teens have a sip or two of my drink while out. See no problem with it at all.