Discussions

This has been a law for years. As long as an underage child is with a parent, guardian or spouse they can have a drink. This is a Liquor a d Gaming Commission law... it's been around since I was a kid at any licensed establishment. They changed the rules again last year or the year before... now children can go into lounges, etc as long as they have a guardian or parent present. Just not near VLT's

Guess I am old... Don't think I remember this law in ont. And sorry if I seem old fashioned but this is just wrong.. At what age do you draw the line

How does that make sence.. Ok kids get your coats and 1 toy to play with and let's go have supper and drinks but no gambling that's addictive lol

As stated this has been the law for years. I don't think anyone's taking their 5 year old for a beer (toy comment), but I've served tables buying their sweet sixteen a cocktail, or buying a beer for their teenager with dinner. This was 10 years ago.

Take your kid out for drinks. If they are having a drink it has to be with a three component meal.

I understand what your saying. But is the law defined for an age? There are some pretty strange people out there and you dont know for sure that this law is not just for a sweet 16 beer. In that way if thinking is it ok for Simpsons turning into a teen so let say 13...as that's a big birthday too. Or from single digits to double. As in 10 year olds. Not trying to be difficult just want to understand the letter of that law

If someone is going to buy their 10 year old a beer in a restaurant, I imagine there are more serious issues at hand. I imagine the home life there is likely going to be a bigger problem.

When I was 12, my family took me out for a "fancy" New Year's Eve to Kokanos with the adults. I was allowed an alcoholic beverage because my parents were with me. As a server, I rarely had parents ask for a drink for their child but it was something we learned in our serve it safe course.  

There is no hard line in the sand, just like they are changes in each jurisdiction. Why do you think we have so many kids come here from the states to drink? In ND, the legal age is 21.  
 
The minor has to be with the parent and having a meal. It's not like you can take them to the pub. The server can refuse if the parent is intoxicated, and must not over serve. If there really was a problem, they can always phone the police.  
 
This has been the law since 1971!! How many times have you seen an intoxicated minor in a restaurant? If it was an issue, you would think that the laws would have been changed.  
 
Leftovers, that funny. Kokonos was the first place I let my son order a drink underage. We were having a nice family meal, and I let him order a glass of wine. I would let the kids have an occasional glass of wine (small), or as they got closer to legal age, a cold beer. They are adults now and not big drinkers. They will have a few drinks at a party, but I don't recall seeing them overdo it (at least since they hit 20..lol).

I am not trying to be rude but t when I was a teen, we were getting beers or liquor already. My parents would let me have a beer as a teenager with them at home or in a restaurant. When I got my license they also told me to call them anytime in the evening or morning if I was impaired We were already doing it , so why hide it? It's time for people to get out of their bubble. Believe it or not... They r going to or already doing it. I think it is fine for teens to have a cold one with their parents.

Would it not be better for kids to learn about responsible drinking with their parents rather than go get smashed at some wild party without adult supervision??  
 
I'm glad for this law. Then my children can hear about alcohol from me, have one with me, and form intelligent decisions rather than feel the need to "sneak" alcohol without me around.

axana596 said "Would it not be better for kids to learn about responsible drinking with their parents rather than go get smashed at some wild party without adult supervision??     I'm glad for this law. Then my children can hear about alcohol from me, have one with me, and form intelligent decisions rather than feel the need to "sneak" alcohol without me around. "

with axana596 an other posts.  
i had drinks with my parents as a older teenager . an i have had drinks with my kids also.  
 
but think about this . ? how many times have you seen or heard about a toddler say 5 years old gets there first taste from there parents .  
i dont see a problem with a older child to have a drink with there parents .

There is solid evidence that the later in life a young person starts drinking, the less likely they will drink heavily or be considered dependant on alcohol as an adult. Our brains are still developing into our mid-twenties and alcohol can have serious impacts on development. A lot of the reason for the legal drinking age of 18, which used to be 21 years old, is in response to medical research that confirms that drinking in your youth will impact brain development.  
 
So long as it's once in a blue moon with a meal and done responsibly, it's probably not a problem. Some will argue that if the parent doesn't introduce them to alcohol safely then they are going to experiment with friends in an unsafe environment. I argue that you can talk to your children about alcohol without actually consuming it.  
 

My parents would let me have daquiris and such from the age of 12. My mom would also buy me my bottles when i was a teenager. Her thoughts were that she at least knew where i was getting it from. I by no means have a drinking problem. A lot of heavy drinkers or alcoholics will tell you that someone in their family is a heavy drinker or alcoholic.

i agree this has been acceptable for as long as i can remember and many other countries let their children have tastes a lot more then we do, still it is ultimately the parents choice whether they want to allow their children a drink or two  
 
 
BTW i let my 5 yrs old have a sip of my drink and he said gross and so far has never asked again, which is why i did let him try it

Many establishments,now permit a more family like atmosphere in a lounge, until a certain hour (say 7pm). When I was a teenager, we were allowed a sip of wine at Christmas (if we wanted) as long as it was always when our folks were around.

Not all places will serve a minor. An establishment's own policies can go against serving alcohol to a minor even with their parents present. In this case the server will tell you they can't and it goes against their rules. This is the case in at least one place that I know of.  
Also, whoever said they had never heard of this in Ontario, it's not an Ontario law. Liquor laws are provincial.

my understanding is they had to be 16? or was it 15? I know it was not 13 or 14. And only ONE drink with a full meal. Not hard liquor, beer or wine only. I am not sure, but that is what I thought. I know it is not a Canada thing, I never heard of it until I moved to Manitoba.