Homebrewing & Children

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I think there's more going on than "demystifying alcohol" by including children in home brewing/vinting/meading activities. For instance, on these forums, whenever we have one of our "what to you do" ect. discussions, it usually turns out that we're all a pretty eccletic bunch. If we're not making mead, we're in the vegetable garden, making our own bread, noodling around with a favorite instrument, reading good fiction that isn't on the top ten best seller list at the grocery store, lots of other stuff. Involving kids in the making of fermentable beverages is including them in a lifestyle of self sufficiency and creativity that is off the beaten track of everyday life.

Or when they see Daddy or Mommy stop in his/her tracks, get a gleam in their eye over a new idea for a mead and burst out with "I've GOT to make this . . ." they can see it's not about the alcohol. They may also be thinking their parents are a bit touched in the head, but they get the idea. ;D

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Yes, I think we might have!

My daughter, age 14 now, certainly has felt that way many times. On the other hand, I overheard her once, showing her friends the basement, telling them "This is where the mead is made." ;D

In more mediterrean based cultures, wine is present at family gatherings and the general mood is of celebration and community. This is what the children are raised with. I could see this in Robert Mondavi's biography, where he had his first exposure to college student drinking. He saw people getting hammered on hard liquor and couldn't understand it. It wasn't how he was raised, for him wine was about joy and celebration, and good food.

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I agree with Mc Feelley, in cultures where alcohol is a normal part of life there is less alcoholism. To deny it to those under 21 causes it to be more attractive to the adolecent, and they learn binge drinking as a norm. (get it while they can and drink all they can at one time) Not healthy practices. Legal or not everyone at my grandpa's table had wine with dinner, for the little ones it was an ornate thimble sized glass. I remember my friends in High school being amazed that there were bottles of hard liquor as well as many bottles of wine (I helped Dad make wine as well) not locked up. To me it was no big deal, never thought to touch it except for special occasions to bring it upstairs to be served.

Jim