Alcohol and the "Adult" Child

Alex has been to college. Although he didn't do well academically, he excelled socially. Part of that experience included alcohol. I personally drank in college...as did almost everyone I know.

In my family, my grandparents never thought it was right that you could die for your country at 18 but not drink a beer to celebrate 4th of July. There was zero tolerance for drinking and driving...but my grandma would go to the store to help me buy a 6 pack of wine coolers for drinking with the family on vacation at the lake and I, in turn, helped my younger cousins. No one over drank, we were all surrounded by family who cared about us and didn't want to see us sick the next day. Appropriate use of alcohol was modeled for me. Graduating from High School was sort of a right of passage and deemed an acceptable "drinking age".  His first drink was actually in Mexico with his step-dad and I and my two aunts at a bar where he was legal drinking age.

Alex meets all those criteria, but is now living at home at 19. He admits to being "drunk" once in college and not liking it. He said, "It is hard enough to control my brain without mood altering substances."  Recently, he has begun to express interest in drinking. In the state we live in, my own child can drink in my own house, as long as I am present...and it is not illegal.

Before I get crucified...let me clarify. I will NOT risk my profession by allowing any other child besides mine to drink in my home. My liquor cabinets have locks and the keys travel with us if we go out of town. We have great neighbors who keep an eye on the house while we are at work. I do not support underage partying.

Alex, however, will be a legal to buy and drink adult in 18 months. We have made the decision to allow him to drink with the following rules:

1. We must be present in the house and awake.
2. He must be open with the beverage and drink it around us...no going to his room.
3. No drinking at all if any friend is in the house.

So, we have now had the experience of sitting on the couch, watching TV while my son drinks a Mike's Hard Lemonade. So far, he has only had one and then gives up and decides socializing with his friends on the internet is way more exciting that having a drink with his parents. I keep all beverages locked up and he has to ask permission to get one. He has yet to get out of control or intoxicated.

It just feels weird having an almost "adult" child!