The rights and wrongs of teenage drinking

This might not be the normal concern, but I’m worried my kids don’t drink.  Yes, they’re only 14 and 16, but I don’t want them to grow up like me.   You see I’ve never learnt to like tea or coffee – let alone alcohol – and I wish I did. 

99.9% of the time I drink water (still, not even fizzy) and I always feel rude and ungrateful when I turn down everything else.  My wise and wonderful friend Hilary told me to say, No Thanks, I’ve Just Had One - but that’s not so good when offered a glass of wine after a long drive.  Especially when you’re returning someone else’s child home and his Dad’s a copper.

So when the boys asked me to bring them back some cherry beer from a trip to Belgium, I was quick to oblige.  Was rather glad my case had been emptied and extensively searched on way out (wish I’d packed better underwear), as karma kept it safe from inspection on the return.

The chocolates did attract more interest than the beer, but when they had run out, the boys turned to the bottles.  Cherry beer bottles are quite attractive – pictures of cherries and all that – and Jamie decided to keep one. 

Next morning at breakfast, a rinsed beer bottle sits beside Jamie’s toast and marmite slabs.

Husband:    For ****’s sake

Me:             What?

Husband:    I can’t believe you’ve let him drink that

Me:             Well, why d’you think I got it?

Husband:    You can’t send him to school pissed

Me:             Lightbulb moment

After explanations, inebriated stepson fears allayed and school back on agenda.

But it’s tricky.  When you don’t do something yourself, it’s hard to know what’s normal.  And whilst I wish their livers all the best, I’d like to think that learning to drink at home will stop them binge boozing later on.