Kids n alcohol

I had an argument with my best friend at the weekend. She was over at my house for Saturday evening fun – the kids (hers and mine) were having pizza and a movie and the adults were having dinner. To cut a long story short, one of my girls came out to us during dinner, she said she was bored of the movie – you know the usual. So I sat her on my knee for five minutes and let her sit with the grownups. She asked for a sip of beer from my glass. She’s 6 years old. And I gave her a sip. It was literally just a sip. And I thought no more of it. After the 5 minutes, she went back inside to the rest of the kids and the movie. I cleared the dinner plates off the table and my friend followed me to the kitchen asking me was I mad offering my child beer? I was a bit shocked to be honest. We went back and forth a little bit, me saying that I hadn’t actually offered her beer and that it was only a sip, and her saying how it was setting such a bad example, it was telling her it was ok to try alcohol and what did I think she would expect  age 10? In the end, we agreed to disagree, but it made think. Why was she so annoyed by it?  We’re great friends and have been for years, and we can say anything to each other, but I’ve never seen her so angry about something, that really had nothing to do with her.

What I am wondering now is ... which is better? To make alcohol such a taboo in your house that the only thing your child can think of is how they can get their hands on a fake ID OR to let them try a bit at home, under your guidance so they know what all the fuss is about. Is there a simple answer?

 

Did you let any of your kids try your drink?