Can children legally consume wine at home?

Austria has 9 provinces (states). Minimum drinking age is between

M.

Leo,

Interesting resource you've posted, thanks. I notice that US policy varies widely by state, with many states furnishing an explicit exception for cultural and/or religious underage consumption of alcohol in the home.

I don't know what the legislation is here in France, but it certainly seems common practice for adolescents of 12-14 to start having a glass of wine or champagne in the home occasionally. I've also observed children of this age taking a glass in a restaurant during a formal sunday lunch.

I think it is usual to let younger children taste a sip or a finger dip of good wine, as there is likely to be less alcohol there than in a teaspoon of cough syrup.

-E

Not only usual, but good practice, I think; certainly all the data on exposure to alcohol growing up suggests an inverse correlation with adult drinking problems.

However, CT has recently introduced draconian legislation on this (note that the APIS site appears to be out of date): it is now legal for the state to _force entry to my home_ if they claim to believe that I *might* be serving alcohol to a minor, even my own child, in whatever quantity.

Scary stuff. Whather it would survive legal challenge I'm not sure, but a silly law regardless.

Ewan McNay wrote in news:ekk33q$edh$ snipped-for-privacy@news.wss.yale.edu:

I have been drinking since I was 14. Alcohol was "no big deal" to me. While my friends were "getting away with something" by getting hammered I was not. While I have had my share of alcohol (and a few other's shares as well) I never abused it. A friend's Mother was around when they threw a party. This was one of those "You can drink as long as you spend the night and don't drive home" kind of parties. She said that her ex-husband left some Cognac and I could have some. It was Remy Martin VSOP. I warmed it in the palm of my hand and enjoyed the aroma. I sipped on it and after the 30 minutes or so I took drinking it she said "You really enjoyed that." She said that most teenagers would have just downed it. I was told by a European that one of the major problems in this country is that people learn how to drive before they learn how to drink.

Fred.

What you describe is the way I was raised and the way we raised our kids.

Also, while our kids were legally allowed to drive at 15 we did not allow until 17 due to lack of skill and maturity.

That said where I live I am considered an irresponsible parent if I let my kids try a sip or glass of wine. Screw the judegmental.

Hello, Richard! You wrote on Wed, 29 Nov 2006 21:46:49 GMT:

RN> Also, while our kids were legally allowed to drive at 15 we RN> did not allow until 17 due to lack of skill and maturity.

RN> That said where I live I am considered an irresponsible RN> parent if I let my kids try a sip or glass of wine. Screw RN> the judegmental.

What happens to Jewish parents in CT? Isn't drinking a little wine supposed to be sacramental?

James Silverton Potomac, Maryland

E-mail, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.comcast.not

It's interesting, but the way I read the APIS information for California, it's legal for minors to possess (in private location, OR with parent/guardian consent, OR legal-age spouse) and consume alcohol, but ILLEGAL for anyone to "furnish" alcohol to minors.

So, does that mean my son can have a drink in my house or in a restaurant with me (or his older-woman wife) as long as the drink just appears magically in his hand, but if I pour him a glass I can go to jail?

blanchard

G'day Leo. Here in Australia the legal drinking age for both drinking and/or purchasing alcohol is 18. Here, 18 also means legal right to acquire a drivers licence (Learners Permits at 16 or 17 depending upon state), and voting rights.

Drinking at home is NOT covered by law afaik. Nor should it.

However, one of the quirks of the Responsible Service of Alcohol practices I must follow as a liquor retailer is if I believe a parent is buying alcohol for their children, I must state to the parent that they by law must take the alcohol home first, then give it to them, as opposed to driving them off to a party and leaving them there with the said liquor. Apparently, (though not tested by law to my knowledge), if I fail to do so, and as a result the underage child does something illegal due to intoxication, I can be held liable. Well, I am not playing legal guardian to other parents, nor do I believe any resultant legal action woulod hold up in court.

hooroo...

"Matt S" wrote ...........

In New Zealand the legal age to purchase any alcoholic drink is 18.

However, there is no restriction in respect to consumption at home; the parent can supply a minor, effectively, of any age.

This also applies at a restaurant which serves alcohol. While the minor cannot directly purchase an alcoholic drink, a parent can pour their child a glass of wine for consumption with the meal, if they so choose.

OK I am moving to NZ...

There is a ritualistic correlation between wine and children in semi-orthodox jewish homes in Brooklyn & Hoboken---most of Connecticut outside of New Haven & Hartford was WASP country. Most of my relatives became Unitarians once they got across the border from Vestchester--

a jewish male was introduced to wine when he was 8 days old, Before the snipping either the moil or the rabbi pasted a shot of Shapiro's Concord on the baby's lips. I understand in Reform households they let baby's sister put the wine on the lips and also the member---for some girls it was the last time they touched a schvance without being promised a trip to Bloomingdales....

The next semi-official underage wine service was at a Passover seder where wine was consumed 4 times during the sedar--again the vin of choice was Schapiros--my father's family began drinking way before the sedar started and continued on the Schapiros after consuming all the J & B or Canadian Club--that meant much less for Elijah and the 3rd & 4th glass

Wine was part of the sabbath ritual in synagogues and of course at bar mitzvahs. Usually in keeping with the chopped liver in the shape of pre

I doubt whether we are afforded that discretion. My understanding of our law is one must be 18 to consume alcohol at a licenced premise. However, not too many restaraunteurs I know, would interfere if a minor was poured a wine by an adult, and cannot recall anyone needing to say g'day to the beak as a result of such practice. With my youngest lad being almost 21, and eldest grandchild being 7, I don't really have a need to keep tabs on the law these days...:>)

hooroo ...... oh.... and btw.... the Tri Nations Final last minute was a pearler eh?....Whadda Captain!!

Plenty of room Dick, 'cos most of their folks have scarpered off to Oz....:>)

hooroo....

Here in the UK it's illegal to give an alcoholic drink to a child under five except under medical supervision in an emergency.

Except for 16 or 17 year olds having a meal in a pub (see above), it is against the law for anyone under 18 to buy alcohol in a pub, off-licence, supermarket, or other outlet, or for anyone to buy alcohol for someone under 18 to consume in a pub or a public place.

Andrew.

I'll say. Land of the free and all that. Except...

Tried to check French law out, found some definitions stating the legal age to buy alcohol is 16. Didn't find a minimum on drinking. No doubt more googling might turn up better information.

-E

Therefore a six-year old can be given an alcoholic drink legally. Strange.

"Matt S" skrev i melding news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...

Norway: 18 for buying wine and beer, 20 for liquor above 22%. At home no set limit, afaik. Anders

I've read that a couple of times now, and I still don't get your meaning. What is strange about it?

Andrew.

Even in France, with its fairly easy attitude towards alcohol (though it has changed radically in the last 3 years), you cannot legally give a child alcohol. You have to be 16 to consume beer or wine and 18 to consume hard liquor. I would be surprised if the UK had such a lax legislation.

And yes, I would not give my child alcohol, except a sip of wine maybe, but no more. And besides, children in general do not like it...