Eric Asimov’s recent column Should wine be a family affair? reminded me of a story I recently saw in the Dallas Morning News on families that involve their children in wine.
Adler over at Vinography has a good entry on this topic as well.
I really do not know if it is a good idea or not. I can honestly say that my family did not really encourage alcohol consumption when I was young, and certainly did my fair share of over-indulging in college. Nonetheless, I still have my doubts that I would have behaved differently if I had been served watered-down wine when I was 13. The world will never know, I suppose.
What do you think? Is it a good idea to get your kids familiar with wine early?
3 responses so far ↓
1 swirlingnotions // Apr 4, 2008 at 12:49 pm
Having lived in Europe and now living in California wine country, I actually support raising kids to appreciate wine in the sense that it’s a part of normal life, a part of being nourished around the table with family and friends. Not that I’m in to giving them glass upon glass, but, when they get older, to sip along with us on occasion. Yes. And, when they’re well into their teens, to cultivate an appreciation of the wines itself. The more they know what’s going on in the glass in front of them, the less likely they’re going to be to quaff it down in a quest to get a fast buzz. At least, that’s the experience I’ve seen happen with our friends’ children as they move through their teens into their early 20s.
2 Peter M // May 7, 2008 at 4:18 pm
I grew up in NYC and came from a European background where there legal drinking ages vary from 16 to none. My parents allowed my friends and I to drink in the house - beer and sometimes wine - at about age 18 (drinking age was 21). By drink, I mean have a drink or two, NOT get trashed, as that would be rude. Also, in the city, driving wasn’t an option.
I regard my parents as being not only open-minded but it allowed us to understand the value of of alcohol socially without guilt. Moderation was the key and no one felt they were breaking any rules.
My wife’s parents, on the other hand, denied the existence of alcohol and all 5 kids boozed it up far earlier and with much more ferocity that we ever did. Since there was no acceptable way to even bring friends over for a drink or two, all drinking was done out of the house. You can imagine what that led to - 2 DUIs and lots of issues.
My 5 year old knows beer from wine and we’ve given him tastes of both. Of course, he thinks it’s vile but when the time comes and he hits that age, I want him to feel that drinking can be enjoyable as long as it is not abused. My credo is show, don’t tell.
3 Steve // May 7, 2008 at 8:53 pm
Swirlingnotions & Peter - I am still back and forth over this. As I alluded to above, we were never really introduced to wine (or any other alcohol) in the home. It was always around, of course, but it just wasn’t really discussed at all. At least not until our late teens when we were in college.
And I did my fair share of partying, but interestingly we were very careful about drinking and driving.
Thanks for commenting!
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