your children to sample what they've helped you to brew (beer)? The question came up because my 19 month old son was "helping" me the other day with a stout (1.090 whoa!) and when my back was turned, he propped himself up and licked the top of my carboy after I transferred from the kettle. The ensuing facial expression was priceless. Anyhoo, 21 years old is a loooooong time to wait eh? (From another message board. Curious as to the responses from a younger crowd.)
I accidentally drank some beer when I was like 5 thinking it was a bottle of Coke... Needless to say I never wanted to do drink that stuff again for a LOOOOOONG time...
My brother once drank a whole glass of wine thinking it was grape jucie. He just thought the juice had gone bad. I have no memory of these events myself, but he enjoys telling the story.
While in this case I think hes too young for it to even register, I'd be careful introducing a kid to alcohol- a little sample to quell the curiosity is one thing, but you don't want to wind up encouraging him to like it to be like daddy or anything. Regardless of whether you think doing so is harmless or a gateway to alcohol dependency later in life, you gotta keep this in mind: society generally frowns on mixing kids with alcohol (regardless of the circumstances) and you could wind up in a lot of trouble.
I'd say that depends on what culture/country you're from... For example, when I lived in China, the kids there drink beer at an early age... Alcohol just isn't as big a deal in some parts of the world as it is here... Here's an example: http://www2.potsdam.edu/hansondj/LegalDrinkingAge.html#worlddrinkingages
Yeah, I've heard of stuff like that, but I was kinda just speaking of American society (mostly as a response to drippy).
Yeah, it is definitely bad to associate kids with alcohol in our lovely nation... Of course why that is is a whole other argument... But it was interesting to see that states vary on the laws... In some states, consumption of alcohol under 21 is completely prohibited, some states consumption is prohibited with exceptions, and lastly in some states consumption is not prohibited???
my dad used to always let me try beer when I was a kid. hated the taste, and grew up never wanting to drink it. tried getting drunk twice in high school, and that was it. haven't drank since.
Hmmm... According to that site drippy, we're in a state where underage consumption is not prohibited so I guess what you do in your own home is up to you??? At least that's how I'm reading it...
As soon as they're old enough to understand alcohol and it's dangers/effects/etc., and the parents are present, I say go for it.
When I was a kid my pops would let my brother and I have little sips of what ever he was drinks some times, like on camping trips. But it was never more then a sip and weeks to months could pass between them and it was always explained that the sips where a special thing and not something to do with out permission. Maybe when he get at lest 3 or 4 you could let him have a little taste. If he is helping to make it would be nice to let him see what the result is, might help instill the idea of work ethic.
Nothing wrong with it. I remember my parents would let me drink the little bit of beer they had in the bottom of the bottle. That was when I was 4, and although i wasn't totally grossed out by it, i was turned off from beer until about 17. So if he knows that its not an everyday thing and it is a kind of "special treat", go ahead.
I had a girlfriend in college that cried a lot as an infant. Her father told me the story of how they would put brandy in with her bottled milk to quiet her. Now she's a crazy drunk bitch and I feel sorry for the guy who married her. But I think she would have been a crazy bitch regardless of the brandy. I think home brewing is a fine way to educate a child about alcohol and it's moderation, as long as you set a good example of moderation yourself. Children believe what they see over what they are told.
That's my understanding as well. It's a tough call trying to balance the whole "forbidden fruit" idea with the "appropriate" age factor with the value of teaching responsibility. Not to mention that if people help, shouldn't they have the opportunity (if desired) to sample the finished product? You got to lick the bowl as a kid right? Was just trying to gauge how people here would balance all of that out. Most definitely an excellent point. This was repeated quite often in the thread from the other message board.
Honestly, This might make some people laugh.... When I was 5, I got into my step-grandmother's fermented fruit back on or rear porch. Aparently I ate the large bucket full and was quite pleased with the flavor. I got REALLY sick off of them, but between that and having the occasional sip of beer when I was younger I really didn't want any alchohol when I was older. I didn't drunk any beer or anything till I was maybe 22.
My dad always used to give me a sip of his beer. I didn't particularly care for it, but it was one of the few nice things he did for me, so I always took the sip when he offered it.
I agree with you on this point.But keep in mind, the child is only 19 months.A bit too young to really get any concept of what is being educated to him.But again, I feel that it wouldn't hurthim to be at least shown and moderated. And as a child, my father would let me taste that Bud shit.
My 19 month old got his first taste accidentally (my back was turned and I spun around to see him get a lick in). I just mentioned it as it was what made me think of the question. I don't believe in giving my 19 month old beer as mentally he doesn't understand a lot of what's going on. We're still working on our numbers and ABCs. Heh, and judging from his facial expression, he doesn't want any more for a while. (Also to clarify, he sampled uncarbonated, unfermented and therefore non-alcoholic beer.)
