Hot Topic (8/26): Should parents be allowed to buy alcohol for their kids?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

 

MADISON, Wis. - Children could no longer drink in Wisconsin bars and restaurants under a bill scheduled to be heard Tuesday by a state Assembly committee.

A Senate committee considered the bill last week. At that hearing, doctors, anti-drinking advocates and others spoke in support of the measure. Even the Wisconsin Tavern League, the lobbying group for bars and taverns across the state, supports it.

Under the bill, only those 18 or older could drink with their parents' consent in a bar. The legal drinking age is 21.

Currently, a child of any age can drink as long as they are with their parent and the bartender is willing to serve them.

(Wisconsin is the top state for binge drinking and we have some of the weakest laws against drunken driving, especially for first-time offenders. And Wisconsin doesn't consider drunken driving a felony until the fifth offense.)

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What do you think about this bill?

Should adults be allowed to provide alcohol to their children who are under 21?

[mamaof2angles]

I personally do not think they should be allowed to buy alcohol for there minor childern but that wont stop people from making there own and letting their childern drink some here and there for speical occaisions.

[mommytobe921]

I think the drinking law should be moved to 18.  You are allowed to go to war and vote at 18, but not drink.  Eighteen is considered an adult.  Plus I think kids today make it a huge deal when turning 21.  That is a huge problem because they waited so long to turn 21 that they want to go out every weekend.  It happened to me and thank God I dont drink anymore.  I was going out almost everyday.  If we change the law to 18 they wont be anticipating their 21st birthday for 3 years.

[mamaof2angles]

Yes and no, I was rasied on homemade wine and such but we only drink it at speical occaisons but I think it depends on the "child" 18 yer as well, not all 18 yer olds or teenagers for that matter are mature enough to handle alocohol JMO

Quoting mommytobe921:

I think the drinking law should be moved to 18.  You are allowed to go to war and vote at 18, but not drink.  Eighteen is considered an adult.  Plus I think kids today make it a huge deal when turning 21.  That is a huge problem because they waited so long to turn 21 that they want to go out every weekend.  It happened to me and thank God I dont drink anymore.  I was going out almost everyday.  If we change the law to 18 they wont be anticipating their 21st birthday for 3 years.

[phoenix3423]

Quoting mommytobe921:

I think the drinking law should be moved to 18.  You are allowed to go to war and vote at 18, but not drink.  Eighteen is considered an adult.  Plus I think kids today make it a huge deal when turning 21.  That is a huge problem because they waited so long to turn 21 that they want to go out every weekend.  It happened to me and thank God I dont drink anymore.  I was going out almost everyday.  If we change the law to 18 they wont be anticipating their 21st birthday for 3 years.

I agree if you act like it is so evil and bad then kids can't wait to do it. I believe that if you can die for me you can have a beer to help you sleep at night. I have issues with parents letting kids drink in public. A glass or two of wine at dinner, or letting them have a taste or 2 is one thing but serving them in public I am not sure of yet. Have never thought about it until now. Need more time to process and make an informed decision. great post!! Love it when I am made to think about new topics!!

[sillyone]

 I think in a bar no. I have been to bars and i don't think teens or myself needs to be in one. When it comes to parents buying alcohol for their kids at home, I think its up to the parents.

[bigmomma038]

We are the parents and are suppose to protect our children and show them right from wrong. we are suppose to tell them that they can be any thing they want when they grow up that all they have to do is work hard and get a good education. I feel deep in my heart that if we as parents let our children start drinking at a young age all we are doing is turning our kids into alcaholics. I know what i am talking about. I been there. I use to beable to drink at a young age with my father. Bye the time I was 19 years old i was a alcoholic. It was a long hard battle to fight but I did it and have been clean and sober for 5 years. So should parents be allowed to buy alcohl for their kids no they should not be allowed at all....

[eaglemama2]

21 is a bit steep as a drinking age.   Many countries have it at 18, in many European countries it's 16.    I come from a culture where drinking wine with dinner or having a beer at the pub is not a big deal and is considered normal. 

I agree with another post that talks about how when they turn 18 they can vote and die for their country, but wait...you cant have a beer, you are too young - now that is retarded and makes no sense.

[miss146mn]

I selected "other" because I feel a glass of wine at a special occasion or something like that is OK.  I really don't think it's responsible, as a parent, to buy alcohol for minors to "party" with or at a bar.  Regardless of who buys or give the alcohol to the minor, the bar is still responsible in the eyes of the law.

[Lizardannie1966]

Providing it in the privacy of their own home and to their kids ONLY (not buying the keg for the teenage party or providing alcohol to their kid's friends without the knowledge and consent of the friends parents)...yes, they should be allowed AND provided that THEY, the parents, assume and accept ALL responsibility ultimately. The teens should be responsible while drinking, even in the home, but the parents are basically playing bartender to a teenager. Assuming that responsibility happens while pouring the drinks and after.

But in a bar? Given that they're with their parents and the parents are NOT drinking and will be doing the driving...I still say keep it at 18-years old. 

 

;)lol to begin with and for the simple reason that this would be MY time to be away from our kids and enjoy a few cocktails. The last thing I'd want to contend with would be someone else's under 18-year old, drinking alongside me at the bar. Go away! old teensHonestly, however and this is just off the topic a little. I wouldn't personally go to a bar that served under 18-year

Quoting Cafe GroupAdmin:

 

MADISON, Wis.
Under the bill, only those 18 or older could drink with their parents' consent in a bar. The legal drinking age is 21.

Currently, a child of any age can drink as long as they are with their parent and the bartender is willing to serve them.

(Wisconsin is the top state for binge drinking and we have some of the weakest laws against drunken driving, especially for first-time offenders. And Wisconsin doesn't consider drunken driving a felony until the fifth offense.)

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What do you think about this bill?

Should adults be allowed to provide alcohol to their children who are under 21?

[Friday]

 At a resturant or bar no, but at home or at family special occasions like weddings yes.

Europe has a much more relaxed attitude about alcohol and less problems with abuse than we have in the states.