DD & the Dursleys: Alcohol (was: Better Manners...)

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 158201

--- "Tonks" <tonks_op at ...> wrote:
>
> ...
> 
> I have thought about the type of drink that he is 
> offering them.  And as someone wrote in a thread awhile 
> back, "what is up with all of the alcohol in HBP".  
> ...edited...  One  does have to wonder, what is the 
> significance of all of this alcohol?  There must be 
> something to it, I can't think that JKR would give 
> alcohol to her own children or suggest that a teacher
> or headmaster of a boarding school give alcohol to the 
> students.  ...  Still I do wonder

> 
> Tonks_op
>

bboyminn:

We have several 'Brits' in the group and I'm sure they can
give better answers than I can, but I think that age 16
in the UK is roughly the age when society feels it is 
appropriate to give a teen alcohol under /limited/ 
circumstance. Let me emphasize the 'limited circumstances'
aspect. These would include family dinners and other
supervised social occassions. Wouldn't want you to think
it was a free-for-all at age 16.

I recall when the young Hero of the 'Narnia' movie (Lion,
Witch, Wardrobe), who I think might be William Moseley, 
was on a late night talk show. I'm not sure if he is from
England or Australia, nor am I sure whether he went to a
day school or a boarding school, but his secondary (high) 
school had a PUB (tavern/bar) on the school grounds that 
served alcohol to students who were age 16 and older. 
Most likely it was limited to beer and ale, but none the
less that is a pretty progressive attitude towards 
alcohol. And to some extent, I think it reflects the 
overal attitude of Europe in general. 

The idea behind it is that you bring your kids to 
drinking is a slow and safe manner. That you help them
establish a responsible and measure attitude toward 
drink. Unfortunately, here in the USA, adults don't 
teach kids how to drink responsibly. Instead KIDS teach
kids how to drink very irresponsibly.

I've heard rumors of American teens and twenties going to
Europe and their European counterparts being appalled at
the American 'drink until your nearly dead' attitude. 

Hopefully some of our resident Brits will put this into
a little better prespective.

Relative to you question, I think JKR is reflecting 
something that is pretty typical of Europe.

Steve/bboyminn