Teens drinking at Epcot

[oxfordcircus]

We send our son the message that if you are going to drink you do it responsibly. That is what he sees his parents and their friends do. I know plenty of kids whose parents never drank and they never had exposure to any alcohol. When they got old enough they drank like a fish. I also know kids whose parents let them drink at home but the parents got drunk as Cooter Brown. Those kids don't drink responsibly either. My point is we teach our kids to drive, the balance a check book, to do other things in life. Why would we then turn them out in the world where they can buy alcohol and expect them to know how to handle that?

Jaymie, I can't believe someone from Mississippi drinks, much less lets their child drink!!! Just kidding. I don't have much else to add to this conversation, except to say that I grew up in a polite Baptist society that acted like drinking was a cardinal sin. Accordingly, I began drinking irresponsibly at age 13. There is much, much power in the forbidden fruit. I hope to teach my children to drink responsibly through my good example. Good luck to you.

 

[Allison]

I would never let any toddler take a sip of wine or beer. But don't you think that is a little different than a sip of a fruity drink that has alcohol in it? Why quote an article that is vastly different than the incident we are discussing just to exaggerate your point?

I don't think it is different.

 

[cleo]

Rural towns have special exceptions for under 16's driving farm equipment, just as there is a law allowing under-aged children to hold jobs if their parents are divorced (it's an old law, but still on the books). However, there is no dispensation for minors drinking alcohol in public. None. Zero. Zip. It's 100% illegal.

It isn't a question of 'right or wrong', it is Illegal. Period.

Just as you would not teach your child to run a red light or hold up a bank because they are 'things he or she may encounter later', you don't teach them to break the law as regards alcohol, regardless of how you 'feel' about it.

The OP wondered if it was ok to give them a sip of their parent's drink. The legal answer is No. The answer Disney would give is No. If they want to do it, they'll do it, regardless. I'm guessing, but I don't think it's something people on an internet board are going to change their minds about.

 

[Licorice]

Actually, I believe an establishment can get into trouble for a minor drinking on premises.

People speak for Disney all the time as far as what their rules and policies are. Get over it.

I don't see why the OP just doesn't say no in this situation. Why risk it? Does the teenager really need a taste of the margarita that badly? Save it for home instead of trying figuring out who is going to give him a sip without getting caught.

You may believe what you like, however what you believe and what is reality may be very different.

If the establishment is aware of the minor drinking, and it can be proved that they were aware of the minor drinking, then there may be an issue. The establishment is not and cannot be responsible for everything anyone does on their property. If it were not the case, Disney would be closed by now, because there are violations of many laws going on every day at Disney. They must provide due diligence, but insinuating they may be liable for a person's behavior on their property is ludicrous.

Regarding people speaking for Disney, you are correct they do it all the time. People also belch and pass gas in public all the time. It doesn't make it right. You probably enjoy when people speak for you as well, however, I think people should speak for themselves. Unless they are an attorney for Disney, they should not interpret Florida law as it relates to Disney.

 

[NJBILL]

Alright, now I'm in. No, I am not sending the "wrong" message to my daughter by allowing her to consume alcohol in MY home. I believe the government is sending her the wrong message by being so freakin puritanical. I believe that it is ridiculous for a person to be eligible to die for their country but unable to have a beer. I believe it's ridiculous for a person to be eligible to vote for the leader of the free world but be unable to enjoy a glass of wine with their dinner. 21 is an abritrary and stupid rule. You are right, I don't like it. I don't agree with it and I won't tolerate or support it in my home. I also am not a believer that whatever the government decides is right. Further, I do not expect the local Board of Education in all its infinite wisdom to parent my child. None of these things has to do with an inability to say "no", a lack of caring, or not wanting to be "the bad guy".

I give you credit about the BOE and raising your kids..its NOT our job....but unfiortunatley MANY parents leave it up to US!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jrabbit910]

Im agreeing w/ some of the other posters... I dont think its a bad thing to give your kids (especially at 16) a sip or two of a drink... NOT ONE OF HIS OWN... but a sip wont hurt. It didnt make any of my brothers or sister bad when our parents did it to us (maybe thats why I hate beer so much ). When my sister was 16 and we drank in front of her we always got her a virgin drink and told her we asked them to put a little something in it... till this day she believed that there was some kind of alcohol in it... hahahahahaha

 

[oxfordcircus]

I'm 18.
There can be harm in letting your child drink, no matter what the age. It's testing the boundaries on what the parent can-or-can't expect.
As smart and as sensible as your children might be, the way you interact, even if it's just letting them have a sip of your drink, will effect them in the long run.
You give us kids an inch, and we will certainly take that extra mile. I'm not going to pride myself up and say I'm above this kind of behavior, because when I went to France I made sure I drank everything.
My personal thought is that letting your child drink is like opening up that possibility, like it's ok at that age.

Jenn0))),
So you went to France and drank. Was that a consequence of your parents' letting you drink or was it your rebelling because they didn't let you drink and you were away from home? I did the same thing when I spent a semester in London when I was 18. As for my motivation, I drank because there are some excellent beers in London, and, as far as I could tell, it was LEGAL and not harmful. It had little to do with what my parents had subconsciously signalled to me was permissible.

 

[pinchy]

Rural towns have special exceptions for under 16's driving farm equipment, just as there is a law allowing under-aged children to hold jobs if their parents are divorced (it's an old law, but still on the books). However, there is no dispensation for minors drinking alcohol in public. None. Zero. Zip. It's 100% illegal.

It isn't a question of 'right or wrong', it is Illegal. Period.

Just as you would not teach your child to run a red light or hold up a bank because they are 'things he or she may encounter later', you don't teach them to break the law as regards alcohol, regardless of how you 'feel' about it.

The OP wondered if it was ok to give them a sip of their parent's drink. The legal answer is No. The answer Disney would give is No. If they want to do it, they'll do it, regardless. I'm guessing, but I don't think it's something people on an internet board are going to change their minds about.

I am not going to say you are wrong but everything should be questioned... even the law.

Just on a point of interest, in Belgium there is no minimum drinking age and they even have children's beers. They have removed the stigma from alcohol to such an extent that they really have no problems compared to other countries even though they have a drinking culture... people just don't over do it.

 

[Allison]

You may believe what you like, however what you believe and what is reality may be very different.

If the establishment is aware of the minor drinking, and it can be proved that they were aware of the minor drinking, then there may be an issue. The establishment is not and cannot be responsible for everything anyone does on their property. If it were not the case, Disney would be closed by now, because there are violations of many laws going on every day at Disney. They must provide due diligence, but insinuating they may be liable for a person's behavior on their property is ludicrous.

Regarding people speaking for Disney, you are correct they do it all the time. People also belch and pass gas in public all the time. It doesn't make it right. You probably enjoy when people speak for you as well, however, I think people should speak for themselves. Unless they are an attorney for Disney, they should not interpret Florida law as it relates to Disney.

Oh please! Get over it.

 

[mattsdragon]

I am not going to say you are wrong but everything should be questioned... even the law.

Just on a point of interest, in Belgium there is no minimum drinking age and they even have children's beers. They have removed the stigma from alcohol to such an extent that they really have no problems compared to other countries even though they have a drinking culture... people just don't over do it.

You know what, in the Netherlands (which borders Belgium) it's legal in some places to smoke pot. Maybe we should adapt their culture. There is also a political party there that wants to legalize pedophila. . .

The point is that this isn't Belgium (those European countries, they do have underage drinking problems, it's just not publicized very much due to people's agenda), this is the United States, and we do have laws.

I'm not telling JJar not to allow her son to have a sip of a drink. My parents did, I turned out alright. But she wasn't asking if we should consider anarchy and switching our cultural mores because some other country behaves in a different manner.

This isn't a moral, ethical, cultural, political debate. It was merely someone asking whether or not she might get in trouble if she let's her son try a marguarita.

 

[Licorice]

Oh please! Get over it.

I believe you spoke from the wrong orifice, therefore I corrected you. I am over it.

 

[Disneynut25]

Rural towns have special exceptions for under 16's driving farm equipment, just as there is a law allowing under-aged children to hold jobs if their parents are divorced (it's an old law, but still on the books). However, there is no dispensation for minors drinking alcohol in public. None. Zero. Zip. It's 100% illegal.

It isn't a question of 'right or wrong', it is Illegal. Period.

Just as you would not teach your child to run a red light or hold up a bank because they are 'things he or she may encounter later', you don't teach them to break the law as regards alcohol, regardless of how you 'feel' about it.

The OP wondered if it was ok to give them a sip of their parent's drink. The legal answer is No. The answer Disney would give is No. If they want to do it, they'll do it, regardless. I'm guessing, but I don't think it's something people on an internet board are going to change their minds about.

I think it's ridiculous to compare having a sip of your parent drink to robbing a bank...Give me a break!!!!!

 

[btuftee]

Meh... this is rapidly disintegrating into a thread that has NOTHING to do with WDW.

Possessing alcohol under 21, or furnishing it to someone under 21 is illegal in Florida, but you're not likely to get called on it if the kid 'looks' 21, and is only having sips, not carrying around a bottle and acting drunk.

There's probably a better forum to discuss parenting issues, underage drinking, premarital sex, and anything else that strikes your fancy...

 

[gigi1313]

I would never let any toddler take a sip of wine or beer. But don't you think that is a little different than a sip of a fruity drink that has alcohol in it? Why quote an article that is vastly different than the incident we are discussing just to exaggerate your point?

the article i posted discusses beer/wine in the first paragraph only... the rest refers to ALCOHOL, which is the substance in question on this thread, no? i am truly not trying to exaggerate anything, simply hoping to educate those that are unaware that there are problems associated w/giving even small amounts of alcohol to toddlers...

ironically, i have no objections to children* sipping here and there for the reasons that others have posted, wholeheartedly agree that it's wise and prudent to take the mystery out of drinking for teens, and see nothing wrong w/you letting your 16yo try your drink in epcot or anywhere else... but toddlers, due to their lower body weight, developing brain function, etc are at a significant disadvantage when sipping any alcohol, whether it be beer, wine, tequila, rum, vodka, etc as the article stated... i agree that the whipped cream off the top of a drink is a non-issue, but the drink itself could be...

*children = those in the 7+ age group...

 

[KimberlyC]

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??

Yes, they do. They also know that their priest gave her a sip of wine at her first communion. I guarantee she got more alcohol that day in church than via the small sip I let her have. I can't answer the first part or your second question but I see nothing wrong with this picture. One sip of an ice cream beverage loaded with whip cream wasn't going to hurt her. Have you seen how much alcohol (or lack thereof) they put in those drinks?

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.

Because my niece was enjoying the pool when I ordered MY drink FOR ME. And I was quite enjoying it while lounging in my chair until the kids (and DH) came back. My toddler grabbed for my drink and my niece wanted a sip too. I suppose I could have said NO, NO, got up, walked to the bar, stood in line, ordered 2 virgin drinks, walked back, handed one to each and apologized profusely to all the poor people who just endured my screaming toddler who wanted a drink of my "smoothie" 10 minutes ago, but why? One little sip (primarily whip cream) wasn't going to do them any harm. My niece liked it so the next time I went to the bar I got her a virgin. Of course, my son wanted a sip of hers too! I tried hers and frankly I couldn't taste a difference I rarely drink, but don't mind indulging in a few fruity ice-cream drinks on vacation.

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

I don't need to. My grandmother raised 10 kids on a farm in rural Tennessee. Do you know what they used to do for teething infants and toddlers back in the day? They rubbed whiskey on their gums. And none of them wound up to be friends of BillW. Yet, that's more alcohol than my son (or my niece) got from one sip of my fruity ice cream drink. His pediatrician recommended Benedryl when he was teething. I think it has some alcohol in it too.

To everyone else: I cannot believe some of these replies. I just wanted the OP to know that what she asked didn't seem like a big deal to me. But I guess we live in way too uptight a society for people to get so bent out of shape. Judging from some of the replies you would think I gave the kids crack.

And to those who suggested that I'm somehow a bad parent for doing what is easier, I assume you have never given your toddler candy, soda, toys, etc. when on vacation in order to avoid a terrible two's tantrum? Good for you! I choose my battles and don't sweat the small stuff. One sip to me is small stuff! Sorry you feel differently but my parents raised me and my sister the same way and we turned out quite well.

BTW, I think there is a reason why Europeans have less problems than we Americans do. They are less uptight!

 

[jjarman]

Yes, they do. They also know that their priest gave her a sip of wine at her first communion. I guarantee she got more alcohol that day in church than via the small sip I let her have. I can't answer the first part or your second question but I see nothing wrong with this picture. One sip of an ice cream beverage loaded with whip cream wasn't going to hurt her. Have you seen how much alcohol (or lack thereof) they put in those drinks?



Because my niece was enjoying the pool when I ordered MY drink FOR ME. And I was quite enjoying it while lounging in my chair until the kids (and DH) came back. My toddler grabbed for my drink and my niece wanted a sip too. I suppose I could have said NO, NO, got up, walked to the bar, stood in line, ordered 2 virgin drinks, walked back, handed one to each and apologized profusely to all the poor people who just endured my screaming toddler who wanted a drink of my "smoothie" 10 minutes ago, but why? One little sip (primarily whip cream) wasn't going to do them any harm. My niece liked it so the next time I went to the bar I got her a virgin. Of course, my son wanted a sip of hers too! I tried hers and frankly I couldn't taste a difference I rarely drink, but don't mind indulging in a few fruity ice-cream drinks on vacation.



I don't need to. My grandmother raised 10 kids on a farm in rural Tennessee. Do you know what they used to do for teething infants and toddlers back in the day? They rubbed whiskey on their gums. And none of them wound up to be friends of BillW. Yet, that's more alcohol than my son (or my niece) got from one sip of my fruity ice cream drink. His pediatrician recommended Benedryl when he was teething. I think it has some alcohol in it too.

To everyone else: I cannot believe some of these replies. I just wanted the OP to know that what she asked didn't seem like a big deal to me. But I guess we live in way too uptight a society for people to get so bent out of shape. Judging from some of the replies you would think I gave the kids crack.

And to those who suggested that I'm somehow a bad parent for doing what is easier, I assume you have never given your toddler candy, soda, toys, etc. when on vacation in order to avoid a terrible two's tantrum? Good for you! I choose my battles and don't sweat the small stuff. One sip to me is small stuff! Sorry you feel differently but my parents raised me and my sister the same way and we turned out quite well.

BTW, I think there is a reason why Europeans have less problems than we Americans do. They are less uptight!

I am the OP and I agree with you about the uptight people here. I have a 4 year old DN and 2 year old DN. I know how they can be. I would have done the same thing. And after spending a week at the beach with them recently, probably would have given them the whole drink LOL. (Just kidding in case you couldn't tell).

I only pictured me and DS16, 6 feet tall and counting, looking at least 21, walking around World Showcase after a meal at San Angel Inn and watching Illuminations and maybe letting him have his own marguerita. I never thought it would come to this. You think I may have my first locked thread?

 

[Saxsoon]

sorry wrong thread

 

[cleo]

It doesn't matter what the law is in Belgium, we're talking about the law here.

I do question many laws, but I also vote my conscience and follow them until they change.

I don't think underaged drinking and robbing a bank are the same thing, except in that they are both illegal. It was a comparision in that regard, not in what you or I might think is more or less serious a crime. They are both, at this point in time, crimes.

The OP has many opinions to consider. It has now become an off-topic thread (might always have been, actually) so it's off to the C-Board.

 

[Princess Michelle]

.

 

[ducklite]

Absolutely not--it jeopardizes Disney's liquor license.

What you do in your own home or hotel room is your business, and my personal opinion is I have nothing wrong with parents offering kids a bit of a nip when they are teens--or even younger. But it's absolutely inappropriate to do so in a public licensed establishment.

And if you are caught you could very well be thrown out. That wouldn't be avery good way to end your day...

Anne