Is it legal to serve your own children alcohol in your own home? - Page 2

[crunchy_mommy]

According to the above link, my state is not legal even for religious reasons, but some kids still take the wine at my church and every other one I've been to around here. I don't see how it would be constitutional for a state to make a law against that...
Edited by crunchy_mommy - 4/29/12 at 11:37am

[sewchris2642]

In CA it's legal to give alcohol to minor children at home as long as it's only the family--no guests or party.  Minors can't drink at extended family's homes.  Our family rules are that they can have one glass of wine or one 12 oz. bottle of beer at home with the understanding that they can't go out afterwards if their friends call.  Nor can they drink if they have friends over.  And they have to be around age 16 (arbitrary age--we think that 13 is too young even if they are still a teen).

[meemee]

i am in CA and i have volunteered with AA for family support group. and it was there that i was told - no nada. absolutely not. even in ur own home to ur own children. i guess that's AA language for you. they were so insistent that i believed it. and never ever questioned it. 

[AllyRae]

Originally Posted by crowcaw 

Didn't research to make sure it's accurate but:

http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591

Wow, according to this, my state (Ohio) is really lax--apparently you can give minors alcohol at home, in church, and in restaurants if those minors are your own children.  My poor deprived children...we never let them order from the drink menu...

[hildare]

that is a cool link.  towards the bottom it actually links to the laws referenced, state by state... 

[journeymom]

How much alcohol is in that communion wine anyway?   Every year during flu season the minister at our church addresses this myth that germs don't get passed from person to person in the communion cup because the alcohol kills it off.  He says don't kid yourself!  Ew.   There isn't enough alcohol in the wine to effectively keep germs from being passed.

[rightkindofme]

Originally Posted by journeymom 

How much alcohol is in that communion wine anyway?   Every year during flu season the minister at our church addresses this myth that germs don't get passed from person to person in the communion cup because the alcohol kills it off.  He says don't kid yourself!  Ew.   There isn't enough alcohol in the wine to effectively keep germs from being passed.

Definitely not enough.  *hic*

Oh man, off topic but funny.  Today I walked to the market to buy diapers (I'm only using disposables because I'm on a month long out of country trek.  Don't revoke my crunchy card) and a couple of things of baby food so my 10 month old doesn't have to burn her mouth on the Indian food I like ... and a bunch of cider.  They don't sell this kind in the States and it is soooooooooooo good.  The checker looked down and then back up at me.  I said, "I swear I won't share it with the baby."  She laughed. 

[2xy]

Originally Posted by crunchy_mommy 

So if you homeschool & include 'culinary lessons' in your curriculum, would you be safe?

 

Somehow, I doubt it. RI is not a homeschool-friendly state even without alcohol included.
 

[Birdie B.]

Originally Posted by 2xy 

It's illegal in RI to give alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, unless it's part of the curriculum at a culinary school. Yes, the law specifies that.

This is a blue state, so Big Brother is all up in our business. Lots of laws mean lots of fines and tickets, which means more money for the state house to squander and abuse.

 

[mtiger]

Definitely allowed in NJ.

[2xy]

Originally Posted by Birdie B. 

 

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[Mom2M]

I never thought about it and have allowed my older boys to have wine if they want it but I should have known that PA is a "no exception" state since they have the govt. monopoly on liquor sales here too. It's ridiculous!
I know that people who have a party with any alcohol given to minors are put right in jail but I doubt they'll come banging down the door for wine with dinner for my own kids.

[sosurreal09]

In my state it is kept/sold separately and locked up so you have to show an ID in order to get it...

Originally Posted by ollyoxenfree 

Curious - if it's illegal to give ANY alcohol to someone under 21, does that include OTC cough syrups that contain alcohol? How many pharmacists check ID for a college student buying Robitussin? 

[Kayla Smith]

it depends on the state u are in. in michigan its ilegal but in indiana it is legal for your parents to buy and allow their minor childern to drink in their supervision that inculdes even being outside the home. but each state is different

[pranava]

Really!?  I live in Indiana and never heard that was legal!

[pranava]

"Many of the states that have chosen to specifically prohibit alcohol consumption by those under age 21 have a variety of exceptions. For example,

Some States allow an exception for consumption when a family member consents and/or is present. States vary widely in terms of which relatives may consent or must be present for this exception to apply and in what circumstances the exception applies. Sometimes a reference is made simply to "family" or "family member" without further elaboration."

A map mid page shows states that do and don't have exceptions http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html

[alicewyf]

Glad we live in TX and can give alcohol to our kids if we want to. We likely won't do that until they are at least 16. My first experience and my brothers' first experience of being drunk was with our parents. It was a hilarious memory and kind of took the "coolness" and taboo out of underage drinking. My mom was pushing margarita after margarita on me, for goodness' sake! This wasn't a common occurance, but we got drunk with our parents about twice a year as older teenagers. We totally plan to do the same with our children. I never binge drank in college and neither did my brothers.

Also, the anti-Catholic sentiment (disguised as jokes) on this thread is totally uncool.

[TiredX2]

Originally Posted by 2xy 

It's illegal in RI to give alcohol to anyone under the age of 21, unless it's part of the curriculum at a culinary school. Yes, the law specifies that.

This is a blue state, so Big Brother is all up in our business. Lots of laws mean lots of fines and tickets, which means more money for the state house to squander and abuse.

I don't think it has anything to do with it being a "Blue State."  According to this site: http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591 there are 10 states where underage alcohol is prohibited with *no exceptions*:

Alabama

Arkansas

Florida

Idaho

Indiana

Kentucky

Missouri

New Hampshire

Pennysylvania

West Virginia

Washington, D.C.

Colors based on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_states_and_blue_states

[TiredX2]

As you can tell, there are not only different laws in each state, but a lot of confusion about them.

Here are two easy places to check out your state laws:

http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/state_profiles_of_underage_drinking_laws.html

http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by TiredX2 

As you can tell, there are not only different laws in each state, but a lot of confusion about them.

Here are two easy places to check out your state laws:

http://www.alcoholpolicy.niaaa.nih.gov/state_profiles_of_underage_drinking_laws.html

http://drinkingage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=002591

Thanks, these are interesting! 

I'm in California.  According to the first link underage drinking is allowed if it's at a private location, or a parent or guardian or spouse is present.   So, yeah, I can give my teen a glass of wine if I want to. 

But the second link seems be saying it's only allowed for medical need, to report another underage drinker.  So, no, I can't let my teen have any alcohol in my own home. 

  I choose the first one! I'd rather believe I can let my child drink something at home with me.