Some parents feel that it is wise for people under eighteen to be exposed to alcohol at home---in a controlled setting---before they go elsewhere (in an unsupervised setting) to experiment with it, either before graduating from high school and/or when they first experience living away from home with all the liberation and experimentation that often welcomes.  Tasting the 'forbidden fruit' early can remove some of the mystique and novelty, the thinking goes.

While opinions on the practice of allowing your own child to taste this 'forbidden fruit' at home will no doubt vary, one slippery slope outcome of the practice was an even more serious point of contention in the district I worked for.  Specifically, some adults were providing alcohol to other children in the community...without the consent of their parents.  Does anyone really believe this is acceptable?  Imagine how angry you would be if another parent provided alcohol to your child for use at a party.  Or if your child was served alcohol at the home of a friend (so they wouldn't go elsewhere to use it) and later operated a motor vehicle.  The consequences could be grave for themselves and others.

However widespread the practice was in the district where I worked, the debate on the local blog was lively indeed.  The billboard above indicates that other communities grapple with this issue too. 

Alcohol use by those under 21--> now or later when never is unlikely?