What do you think of parents who buy alcohol for their kids and their friends?

Question

Am I alone in thinking these parents are predatory? I was talking to a friend and while she doesn't agree she also thinks it's too extreme to call these parents predators and the "p" word. A 15 year old child died in a car accident prom night. I think these types of parents should be held accountable.

Accepted Answer

It’s not predatory. We need to stop misusing words like this. 
It’s irresponsible, dangerous, illegal and moronic. 
Some parents want to be friends with their children or be seen as “cool” and some think it’s safer. Both of these thought processes are illogical and ridiculous.

Answer

How is it predatory? It’s irresponsible, unethical, & illegal. Giving a child alcohol doesn’t make someone a predator.

Answer

I think it’s weird as hell. I don’t know if I’d called them “predators,” because that doesn’t seem like quite the right word. But I do agree it’s neglectful and dangerous.
When I turned 18, my parents would say it’s okay for me to have a glass of champagne at a wedding for example, but they would never buy me alcohol to drink leisurely and ABSOLUTELY WOULD NOT allow another minor to have alcohol like that.

Answer

It’s not predatory unless the parents were planning to SA minors under the influence. 
Personally I don’t think it’s wrong cause you’re giving them a safe space to experience having a beer. I just would only do that if they are 18 and understand the boundaries that everyone must stay put and keys locked away until morning or when sobered up.

Answer

It's absolutely predatory. I know from experience as a teenager. I had friends parents who were always eager to host sleepovers with alcohol and weed and now that I am in my 30s I can't imagine interacting with kids this way and contributing to dangerous behavior. It's inappropriate and creepy and predatory.

Answer

My friend's mom used to buy us each a bottle of a low alcohol content drink when we were about 13, when we went on holiday (she was an only child so I used to go with her). It was only the one bottle for the entire holiday and we were not allowed to drink it all at once either. Had to be spread out over two days. Personally, although I will concede we were perhaps a bit young, that sort of thing is generally acceptable. My parents used to let us have a sip here and there of like, their beer or something.
But. Buying them a fair amount of drinks for a party or prom or something else is extremely irresponsible. It's not predatory, but it's dangerous, stupid and bad parenting.

Answer

Predatory?! No! Irresponsible yes.

Answer

I don't think it's predatory. Once I was 13 I was allowed tastes of alcohol and when I turned 15 I was allowed to drink at home. I didn't have to ask and the alcohol I chose was available for me. My parents had rules around it. No drinking before school, until after homework was done, and no leaving the house or providing alcohol to anyone else. I'd pop my head in to my parents' room and give them a heads up I was going to have a drink. I even spend newyears eve 16-19 drinking with my mom and splitting a bottle of wine. I had a couple of friends who had parents that allowed them to drink at my house or me to drink at their house. I've never been drunk im my life or been irresponsible with alcohol. My mom was super strict with alcohol with my older brother and that led him to hide him drinking and coming home escorted by the cops several times. He spent most of his 20s getting shit faced. By the time I turned 21 alcohol wasn't a novelty and it was boring. I don't even have a single glass of wine more than once or twice a year. Having steady access to alcohol made it boring. My parent's philosophy was they would rather I be home, safe, than sonewhere I could be taken advantage of or hurt. If I ever decided to get drunk I could have, but I never wanted to. There's a difference between teaching a teen responsibility, their own limits, and giving a safe space to experiment and letting kids run wide and enabling them. My husband had a cousin who passed senior year because his mom was the kind of parent who wanted to be a party parent. In a super small town with a graduating class of 86 it gutted the whole town because he was well known and loved. Massive difference in parenting.

Answer

Predatory is definitely not accurate.. it doesn't even make sense.

Answer

It’s wrong. My teenaged son was allowed a small glass of wine on special occasions. At the table with his family. I cannot imagine being so irresponsible as to let his friends drink in my home and if another parent offered my child alcohol I’d be pissed

What do you think of parents who buy alcohol for their kids and their friends?

Let's Glow!

The Top Baby Tracker App: Embrace New Beginnings with Tender Care

The Top Fertility Tracker App: Your Path to Achieving Pregnancy

The Top Pregnancy App: Nurturing Your Journey to Motherhood

The Top Period Tracker for Empowering Your Menstrual Health Journey