Drinking Age in Cuba

[Gambitt]

This came up in another forum, but I thought it would be Interesting to get opinions here as well.

It is generally understood, that the legal drinking age in Cuba is 16.  Somewhere (I can't find it right now) I actually took a picture of the goverment sign that proclaims this. 

So, the question is: would you allow your teen to consume in Cuba, even if it would be illegal back home, and what are your general rules at home???

Here's my reply to the other forum:

I was about 12, on my first trip to Italy, and due to a translation problem, I "accidentaly" (honestly) got a little tipsy, because the "minty sprite" I was drinking (in the local pub) was actually flavoured with Creme de Menthe.

My father was born and raised near Venice Italy, and from my youngest days, there was wine on the table at dinner. The kids added mineral water, but it was available.

I should also add that back in my younger days, living at home, we had the big rec room downstairs with the TV and Pool Table, and Mystic and I used to have a lot of friends over.  My parents, (and the other friends parents that we stayed over at), were not foolish enough to think that there was "No Drinking" but as long as nobody was leaving, (we had lots of sleep-overs) and nobody got carried away, it was better to have a couple drinks in a controlled environment.

So, What are your thoughts on this?

[lizzylobs]

We have always allowed our children to have a taste of wine (with soda etc) or a small champagne for a special toast -our eldest is 17 ( 18 in June ) and yes he does drink alchohol when he goes out and he did in Cuba last year ,although he was challenged a few times in PP .He made friends with a bunch of Canadians and he probably did drink more than I would have liked ( not blaming the canadians you understand lol  )
Our youngest is 14 and he was allowed a (1) cocktail after dinner with a wink to the waiter to make sure it had plenty of fruit juice in .
Only this last weekend we attended a football match with corperate hospitality which included a meal and complementary drinks throughout the afternoon ,our 17 yr old was allowed to have a few bottles of beer with his father ,it was a lovely social event which we all enjoyed .
Alcohol is a big problem for teens in the UK ( there is a big campaign at the moment about under age drinking  ) but I don't feel its something you can put a total ban on ..its something that should be monitored but kept in the open and not done sneakily

[mojitomiss_cuba]

BIT was 16 first time we went to Cuba. She experienced her first conversation with the big white throne and the subsequent big painful head there too. She was not used to alcohol - I'm pretty much a beer and wine (dry reds) drinker and even though she would always try them, at that time she didn't like either - and she met up with some other girls (18ish) and they were drinking all these fruity (SWEET) drinks. Yep we all know how that ends

BIT just turned 19, but I'm not the ostrich type to bury my head in the sand and pretend my kid is an angel and doesn't do anything wrong. I've had many a weekend morning where I've stepped over bodies sleeping (passed out lol) on every available piece of furniture and floor space. I personally would rather have them drinking at home where I can at least monitor the alcohol intake, inebriated levels and yes the big one: NO ONE DRIVES HOME!
And no, they don't mind me being there, I usually have a drink or two with them if I'm home. Maybe because I've always had a pretty open and honest relationship with my daughter (and am called "Mom" to more kids than I ever could have birthed), she doesn't try to sneak around/out, lie about what she's doing/going etc.

Teens are going to experiment, most of them anyway, whether it's with alcohol, drugs, sex etc but talking to your kids with an open, not closed mind, is very important. I personally cannot be a hypocrite and blast my daughter for going out for drinks before she turned 19 when I did the same thing. I have friends whose kids think they are perfect and never did anything "bad" in their lives. I ask them why they honestly expect their kids to try and live up to what amounts to a big fat lie.  Maybe they forget, but I sure remember being at parties and bars with these people

[flopnfly]

My story is exactly the same as Wendy's, and I've got all the adopted kids to prove it.   

[Harlequin]

BIT just turned 19, but I'm not the ostrich type to bury my head in the sand and pretend my kid is an angel and doesn't do anything wrong. I've had many a weekend morning where I've stepped over bodies sleeping (passed out lol) on every available piece of furniture and floor space. I personally would rather have them drinking at home where I can at least monitor the alcohol intake, inebriated levels and yes the big one: NO ONE DRIVES HOME!
And no, they don't mind me being there, I usually have a drink or two with them if I'm home. Maybe because I've always had a pretty open and honest relationship with my daughter (and am called "Mom" to more kids than I ever could have birthed), she doesn't try to sneak around/out, lie about what she's doing/going etc.

I couldn't have put it better, we have done similar with the lads and their mates and we have got the photos to prove it  , the last time we went abroad the lads and their mates came with us  they are now planning another trip with us 



When we went to Egypt the lads were 18 the legal drinking age is 21, I sorted them out with fake ID's so they would be sorted at the bars, they will still be under age on our next visit but it won't be a problem if you drink sensibly the authorities don't mind

They have had a drink at the bar with us in Spain when they was aged 14, the legal age was 16 the barmen didn't mind because they wasn't being a nuisance