It expresses to the minor that it is ok to break the law, and that the rule of law and respect for authority can be disregarded I think this argument can be completely thrown out of the window, because she's assuming that the law is a federal issue in this case, whereas it's actually a state's case (or is it local? to hell if I know). In New Orleans and Louisiana, it is legally okay to drink in a private residence at 18. This includes dorms. Likewise, it is actually legally allowed for an under 18 patron to be served alcohol in a dining establishment, so long as they are with their legal guardians.
In this instance, you are NOT breaking the law. You are not showing that it is an issue of respecting the law, breaking the law, or disregarding the law. It's a situation wherein the parents have the rights over their child, not the state.
I also think her argument about "harming one's body is permissible" is asinine. There are so many studies on the benefits of wine consumption and its relation to decreasing heart disease that it's not even worth bringing up. By next year, 2010, heart disease is supposed to be the #1 killer in the world; so drinking red wine, decreasing those chances, is suddenly a harmful thing?
Personally, I think parental action will often have little consequence on the upbringing of a child. Yes, in instances of extreme alcoholism you're going to have children with a higher chance of it. But you'll have as many children who are rigidly against it in favor of breaking the cycle, not being like mom/dad, etc. There are so many more people in a child's life that influence the way they grow up, that after a certain age, I wonder how much affect parent's really have at all before external forces become dominant (this could be my own experiences though).
I think a good example comes from just looking at Garren & I. We both grew up with parents who have VERY different views on alcohol. His parents are very against drinking, discourage it, try to limit the consumption in the house overall (just *ask* us about Christmas). I grew up in a house where my parents drank regularly. If I asked to try something, I'm not sure I would have been denied (I'm not sure I ever asked). Often, my parents would put chocolate milk in old (clean) beer bottles for me to drink out of, because I liked the bottles.
Despite this, he & I have nearly similar attitudes towards alcohol.
To me, that's not enough to ban wine with dinner for a child, because I see it more as a maturity type of issue. Still, I think it's a perfectly defensible position for a parent to decline to serve alcohol to the child.
I'm not saying it's not defensible for a parent to decline to serve it. I'm simply saying it's up to the parent to make the choice, and I think your friend's argument is full of illogical reasoning.
And I'm sorry, but last time I had grape juice, it tasted like sugary shit ass. Also, "suggesting... might be" are not as definite answers, either.
I think this argument can be completely thrown out of the window, because she's assuming that the law is a federal issue in this case, whereas it's actually a state's case (or is it local? to hell if I know). In New Orleans and Louisiana, it is legally okay to drink in a private residence at 18. This includes dorms. Likewise, it is actually legally allowed for an under 18 patron to be served alcohol in a dining establishment, so long as they are with their legal guardians.
In this instance, you are NOT breaking the law. You are not showing that it is an issue of respecting the law, breaking the law, or disregarding the law. It's a situation wherein the parents have the rights over their child, not the state.
I also think her argument about "harming one's body is permissible" is asinine. There are so many studies on the benefits of wine consumption and its relation to decreasing heart disease that it's not even worth bringing up. By next year, 2010, heart disease is supposed to be the #1 killer in the world; so drinking red wine, decreasing those chances, is suddenly a harmful thing?
Personally, I think parental action will often have little consequence on the upbringing of a child. Yes, in instances of extreme alcoholism you're going to have children with a higher chance of it. But you'll have as many children who are rigidly against it in favor of breaking the cycle, not being like mom/dad, etc. There are so many more people in a child's life that influence the way they grow up, that after a certain age, I wonder how much affect parent's really have at all before external forces become dominant (this could be my own experiences though).
I think a good example comes from just looking at Garren & I. We both grew up with parents who have VERY different views on alcohol. His parents are very against drinking, discourage it, try to limit the consumption in the house overall (just *ask* us about Christmas). I grew up in a house where my parents drank regularly. If I asked to try something, I'm not sure I would have been denied (I'm not sure I ever asked). Often, my parents would put chocolate milk in old (clean) beer bottles for me to drink out of, because I liked the bottles.
Despite this, he & I have nearly similar attitudes towards alcohol.
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To me, that's not enough to ban wine with dinner for a child, because I see it more as a maturity type of issue. Still, I think it's a perfectly defensible position for a parent to decline to serve alcohol to the child.
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And I'm sorry, but last time I had grape juice, it tasted like sugary shit ass. Also, "suggesting... might be" are not as definite answers, either.
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