You may drink beer in pubs with a meal at 16!

[Roy Bloom]

I've heard it said that the reason the Mediterranean countries don't get as many alcoholics is because they introduce the children early to alcohol.

I don't think it's limited to Mediterranean countries. And I'm not convinced that it is becasue of the reason you suggested.
I've noticed that smoking in France has also greatly decreased during my visits.
Both alcohol and tobacco is quite a bit cheaper here, so pricing doesn't appear to be the reason.

 

[Deleted member 294929]

I don't think it's limited to Mediterranean countries. And I'm not convinced that it is becasue of the reason you suggested.
I've noticed that smoking in France has also greatly decreased during my visits.
Both alcohol and tobacco is quite a bit cheaper here, so pricing doesn't appear to be the reason.

Maybe I'm wrong but do they not introduce kids early to alcohol ?

 

[Tigercubrider]

Actually, 5 is the minimum age to drink alcohol. (Home, even if not advisable)
You can drink alcohol at 16 INSIDE a pub with food. But an 18 year old has to buy it.

Until (I think) 2003 a weird situation occurred whereby the pub garden was outside the pub, so kids were ok in the garden, yet outside the Bar. Meaning that they “could” be given alcohol.

The Act in 2003 closed the loophole meaning that the pub garden also counted as the bar, so nobody under 16 could drink alcohol (even if bought by an 18 year old)

 

[Diver Fred]

Looks my parents got it wrong then - I was weaned on to Flowers mild (at home) when I was about 8 years old.

Used to sit at the bottom of the stairs to the landlords apartment in the pub entrance hall, there'd be several of us all in that area - bottle of 'pop' and a bag of crisps! Parents and grandparents would be in the bar. Happy days.

 

[gas112]

gripe water that was for babies was technically illegal as it contained alcohol

 

[Roy Bloom]

Maybe I'm wrong but do they not introduce kids early to alcohol ?

Not that I've seen. Apart from the usual welcome glass of Kir, there's not a lot of drinking alcohol goes on, except for the oldies.
Sometimes they'll still pop into the bar for a glass of brandy at breakfast.