Kids asked to bring alcohol to school?!

UPDATE: Apparently my SIL exaggerated that it was for the teachers, its actually going to be raffled off to raise money for the school.

My DH flipped when he found out about it and has scheduled a phone conference with the school's headmistress to talk about the ethics of having minors carry alcohol, then promote the selling of alcohol to support a school. Not to mention the fact that some of the children in her class come from religious families who do not believe in consuming alcohol.

I don't understand why kids can't donate £1 to get a restaurant gift certificate for a raffle. Or sell wrapping paper, fruit baskets and lollipops like my mom's elementary school in the States. I remember organizing a raffle for my HS and we had local companies donate- and NONE of the prizes could have alcohol and the restaurant vouchers had to say "NO ALCOHOL", as the school could not in any way promote booze.

The law is fairly vague: it is an offence to allow a child under 5 (!) to consume alcohol (except for health reasons and under medical supervision); a person under 18 may not purchase alcohol; the police may confiscate alcohol from under-18s in a public place. However I would not give a 6 year old any alcoholic beverage to carry to school. Think if a naughtier kid persuaded them to open the bottle and try it?

I still can't get over the 5 year old law ! But I was concerned about how technically police could confiscate it which implies a breach of law. Or as my DH said:" Why don't we just have kids donate a pack of mentols and some PCP- that'd probably raise more money!" 

Oh and I just realized you said you were from PA on the first post! I am too!! Im from west PA around erie. A town called Greenville.

There are so many PA'ers here! I grew up in Berks County, my last residence in the US was Philly!

Not to mention the fact that some of the children in her class come from religious families who do not believe in consuming alcohol.

This is what my husband said when I mentioned it. He commented that the school is not giving a fair chance to all the students.

UPDATE: Apparently my SIL exaggerated that it was for the teachers, its actually going to be raffled off to raise money for the school.

That makes more sense... although it's still concerning that they're asking the kids to bring in the alcohol. I would have thought that it would have been something they might have asked the parents to bring in, not have the kids do it!

Dear God. That's bonkers.

When I think of all the crazy, stupid, and annoying (and constant) fund raisers my son's school does... well, they pale in comparison to that.

Apparently my SIL exaggerated that it was for the teachers, its actually going to be raffled off to raise money for the school.

That's not an exaggeration, it's completely false.

But I was concerned about how technically police could confiscate it which implies a breach of law

The law around minors and alcohol is more or less completely focussed on purchasing. Under 18s cannot purchase alcohol in shops and supermarkets.

If you're five or over and under 18, there is no legal restriction on you drinking alcohol at home or on other private premises.

A person of 16 or over can have beer, cider or wine in a pub or restaurant to consume with a meal at a table. They must be accompanied by a person over 18 who must purchase the drinks.

Persons under 18 may not possess or drink alcohol in a public place. If police suspect a young person of possessing alcohol (or something they believe to be alcohol) in a public place other than licensed premises, they can confiscate it. They do not randomly stop youngsters to see if they have any booze; this law is really intended for when groups of kids hang around in places such as malls drinking from cans and bottles and misbehaving. A 17 year old can take alcohol to a e.g. a party on private property without fear of getting in trouble.

I know Northern Ireland is stricter, and in Scotland the 16 and 17 year olds having beer wine or cider with a meal can order it themselves, they don't need an over-18 present.

I was struck about the relaxed attitude towards alcohol and youngsters when I first arrived, but now I see many US attitudes as tending towards being puritanical. I personally think a balance about halfway between the two might be a good thing. My kids had wine from 11 with meals, watered 50-50 till they were around 14, and they have become responsible drinkers with quite refined tastes, I am pleased to say.

I was struck about the relaxed attitude towards alcohol and youngsters when I first arrived, but now I see many US attitudes as tending towards being puritanical. I personally think a balance about halfway between the two might be a good thing. My kids had wine from 11 with meals, watered 50-50 till they were around 14, and they have become responsible drinkers with quite refined tastes, I am pleased to say.

I don't disagree. However, if I wanted to take that approach in the States, I'd likely be brought up on charges for giving any alcohol to a minor.

However, if I wanted to take that approach in the States, I'd likely be brought up on charges for giving any alcohol to a minor.

Another reason to add to the list...

I don't disagree. However, if I wanted to take that approach in the States, I'd likely be brought up on charges for giving any alcohol to a minor.

Is that true? I had watered down wine with special meals from around that age, then at a similar age, maybe a year younger, I was allowed one glass of regular wine.

At christmas, I'd have small amounts of something like baileys, or port with cheese and biscuits from around 13 or so, at 15 or so, my Dad started to teach me about whisky/whiskey, and I'd regularly try new bottles with him.

I'd like to take a similar approach to my children, good wine is important to me (as is good Vodka!) and I'd like to teach appreciation and respect for alcohol in my own home, not send them to college to be surrounded by "forbidden fruit"

I'd like to take a similar approach to my children, good wine is important to me (as is good Vodka!) and I'd like to teach appreciation and respect for alcohol in my own home, not send them to college to be surrounded by "forbidden fruit"

Start 'em young and later when they see their friends drinking alcopops and Thunderbird they will say "Why are you drinking that trash? Try some Côtes du Rhône!"

I'd like to take a similar approach to my children, good wine is important to me (as is good Vodka!) and I'd like to teach appreciation and respect for alcohol in my own home, not send them to college to be surrounded by "forbidden fruit"

This is how BF is with the kiddo. We brew our own beer and enjoy a nice whisky from time to time. Kiddo is only 12, so he doesn't get his own, but he is allowed a sip and sees that we drink sensibly (rarely ever have more than one drink in a night). BF wants to teach him that drinking is about flavours and enjoyment rather than it strictly being about getting sh&%-bombed.

Of course, we're both realistic enough to know that when kiddo is 18 and going to bars with friends he's going to have nights where he drinks too much, we all do, but BF would rather that he's going with an already established good relationship with alcohol rather than him going into it as this total novelty.

Is that true? I had watered down wine with special meals from around that age, then at a similar age, maybe a year younger, I was allowed one glass of regular wine.

At christmas, I'd have small amounts of something like baileys, or port with cheese and biscuits from around 13 or so, at 15 or so, my Dad started to teach me about whisky/whiskey, and I'd regularly try new bottles with him.

I'd like to take a similar approach to my children, good wine is important to me (as is good Vodka!) and I'd like to teach appreciation and respect for alcohol in my own home, not send them to college to be surrounded by "forbidden fruit"

You have to check the state laws, but generally speaking, you can get in trouble for giving any alcohol to your child. I think it could esp become a problem if your child decides to tell his/her friends how 'cool' their parents are that they allow them alcohol..and then other adults find out who could turn you in. And whatever you do, don't try to be the cool parents that allows your child to have a party and let their friends have any small amounts of alcohol. I can't tell you how many times I've seen news articles about parents throwing parties, allowing teens to have alcohol, and then being brought up on charges.

Texas allows parents to serve their children alcohol in the home, and I did let my then-teenager have a bit from time to time.  However, taking it to school would be unthinkable.  Where I live, the minor carrying a bottle of alcohol could face an MIP (minor in possession) charge, and CPS would be at that home quickly.  

No thank you.  There has to be another way to raise funds for the school.