Quote Originally Posted by miotas View Post

Are you saying that you don't drink AP? 15 already, you'd be a late starter over here
You think that is amusing, but it is not. By 15, in Russia, one is allowed to pretty much drink anything at parties. I am serious. My family was over at our good friends house in Moscow and we were all at a table eating. Then the other family took out cognac. They also had a 15-year old daughter. She was given a shot, as was everyone, but me. Even vodka is sometimes given to 15 year olds. That was at the family dinner. My friend's birthday party that summer saw even more alcohol. No one was drunk of course, as that is very much taboo and heck of an embarrasment, but there was enough alcohol of all sorts, such as wine, champagne, beer, vodka, cognac, and perhaps something else I do not recall. And no adults. The party was at a local bar/restaurant, in a special room reserved for parties.

Usually accustoming children from early age is the best way, as evidenced by Italy and France, but there are arguments against as well. In any case, alcohol should never be that mysterious forbidden substance, as that only encourages children to abuse it. I myself am a teetotaler and I have never tried any sort of alcohol. Nor do I wish to try it. Just like drugs, alcohol is best never tasted.