A Cobb County GA mom was recently sentenced to a year and a half in jail, plus community service and a $1,300 fine. Her crime was supplying teenagers with alcohol. Apparently, she was in the habit of giving alcohol to her teenage stepson which led to another teen consuming alcohol in her home and having a fatal accident.
While it is illegal for anyone under 21 years of age to consume alcohol or to be served alcohol, too many parents are ignoring the law and serving it anyway. Their reasoning in most cases is that they are going to do it anyway, so why not have them do it at home where they are safe. This is dangerous in many ways.
I realize that I don’t know anyone who didn’t drink before their 21st birthday. I also realize that I, and several other people I know were served alcohol at home. However, when was an under aged drinker, it was usually a single glass of wine at a meal or a wine cooler. Of course this was the 1980’s and right after the time when the laws had abruptly changed just the year below 18 year olds’ were allowed to drink. However, I was never allowed to drink in access, or to even leave the room to drink in private. In addition, my friends were never allowed to have alcohol in my home.
It is one thing for parents to decide that my kid is going to drink anyway, so why not provide alcohol. It is another thing entirely for the parents to decide another person’s child should be allowed to drink in their homes. Actually, this reminds me a lot of sex education where schools distribute birth control because kids are going to have sex anyway. (Anyone notice a double standard)
Regardless of the reason for providing alcohol to a minor, it should not be done. By allowing a teen to drink, you are failing to parent and sending signals that some laws are meant to be broken. You are also endangering the teens life should he drink and drive or perhaps get alcohol poising. Finally, as in the above mentioned case, you could be setting yourself up for prosecution.
Also read:
Encouraging Teen Entrepreneurs
Do you let your kids drive with friends?
Why won’t my teens go to sleep?