My In-Laws Are Being Terribly Irresponsible With My Kid. I'm Terrified, But My Husband Says It's No Big Deal.

"I recently discovered that I still can't believe: My in-laws have been allowing our 15-year-old son, "David," to drink beer at their house. Apparently, this has been going on for months! The worst part? My husband "Walter" thinks it's no big deal. He even admitted that his parents let him do the same thing at David's age! His excuse is that it's "just one beer with dinner" and they're not letting him get drunk-so it's fine. I disagree entirely. I told my in-laws that David-and his younger brother-will not be visiting them for the foreseeable future. Now Walter, his parents, and even David are ganging up on me, claiming I'm overreacting."

"Dear My Teen Should, David is about to get his driver's license within the year, and I am terrified of what could happen if he's ever pulled over with alcohol on his breath-or worse, how it might impair his judgment while driving. What are my options here? -My Teen Should Be a Teetotaler"

"You have every right to put your foot down and say that your minor son should not be drinking under any circumstances. However, try to be understanding of your husband's position; his parents let him drink as a kid and thus, he doesn't see a problem with it. His family's position isn't exactly unique, as there are some folks who think it's better to let a young person experiment with alcohol at home than to let them discover it on the streets."

A parent discovered that in-laws have been allowing her 15-year-old son to drink beer at their house, and the practice has continued for months. The husband defends the behavior, citing his own childhood experiences and describing it as a single beer with dinner. The parent banned visits and worries about legal consequences and impaired driving as the son approaches licensure. The parent seeks options to prevent underage drinking. The advisor affirms the parent's right to forbid alcohol for a minor while noting that some families believe supervised drinking at home reduces risky experimentation.

Read at Slate Magazine