Besides it is not what I think that means anything but what God thinks. If you enjoying your drink and then get angry cos somebody else doesnt enjoy what you enjoy..thats no good. Cos ppl have their reasons for not poisoning themselves.
That is why we have laws about drinking cos its so harmful for children. Not everyones body can handle it, and there are MANY cases of ppl dying from it, so...dont understand why you so defensive. I know at least two personally who have died from it and they did not drink everyday. Also it was cos of other ppl around them. I also know someone who drank, lost control of his car and killed someone. You may think you immune but you really not aware of how your behaviour affects other ppl under the influence. Would you offer children alcohol? No.
And its not like so,ething special that everyone is supposed to have. So you cant force ppl to drink it. Thats just rude.
I don't think anyone feels that way. No one minds if people do or don't drink. Again, I don't drink alcohol and no one minds either way. The divide is just a matter of whether or not drinking alcohol itself (putting aside drunkenness and excess) is bad or not.
The case people are making is this:
-Drinking alcohol (with responsibility) isn't wrong.
-Not drinking alcohol, whether it is because of one's tolerance to it or because they simply don't like the flavor, isn't wrong.
-Drinking in excess is wrong.
-Obsessing over alcohol (even if drunkenness doesn't follow) is wrong.
A friend of mine who's a doctor and a Christian made an interesting point once that if a glass of wine is recommended to a patient for health reasons and the patient doesn't do it strictly because he doesn't like the taste, then the patient isn't practicing temperance. Temperance is about control in doing the right thing when the easier thing to do is give in.
You asked if I would offer children alcohol. My own children, only after a certain age, and in close monitoring, yes -- a little bit -- and of course judging by the children's behavior. This is used as a model of teaching moderation and temperance. It is not a lesson that "drink as much as you want when you is" is OK. In fact, the purpose is to teach the opposite -- that things like this can't regarded carelessly.
Then again, I'd also want them to recognize that their father chooses not to drink alcohol -- that not drinking alcohol is as much of a valid option as growing up to enjoy it in moderation.
This is how I remember my parents doing this. My father also doesn't drink alcohol -- he's a root beer and green tea kind of guy. My mother, however, enjoys wine but only has one glass on occasions. They taught me and my 5 brothers and sisters this from a young age and we've all grown to in understanding this. Granted, we're only an example, but I think it's a fair one. It's also legal as well (§10–117) provided it is not in leading to intoxication, provided by the parents, or done within religious ceremonies. It goes state-by-state, but this is at least going by Maryland where I grew up as a child.
