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I can remember warm summer nights when my parents would entertain a few of their friends swimming and hot tubbing in the back yard. They would invite couples to socialize with, and in the process enjoy a few cocktails.

At the time, I must have been around ten or eleven and eventually curiosity got the best of me. I began to question my parents about what made alcohol okay for them and not okay for me? Well, they seemed to have some problems answering this

question, and a bit surprised that I had picked up on this common double standard so early. My parents attempted to explain how it was an acquired taste and that I wouldn't even like it. I doubted them in my own mind, if it was so bad than why did they seem to enjoy it so much? After pestering my parents relentlessly, I remember one instance where my mom caved in and reluctantly allowed me to have a sip of her Coors Light.

I grasped the can eagerly and tipped the bottom of the can toward the sky gulping loudly as I had seen on the movies. I am not sure how much I was actually able to swallow, but the instant I tasted the bitter liquid, the muscles in my face contorted, and I began to cough uncontrollably. My eyes watered as if I had just finished chopping onions. My mother who was attempting to hold back her laughter could only say "I told you that you wouldn't like it!" She was right. From that point on I never understood what the fuss over beer was, and it took me quite awhile to "acquire" that taste.

As for mixed drinks, I still wasn't convinced. In fact during my parents' social gatherings I would ask if my dad would teach me to make the drinks. The result of that question, began my introduction to basic bar-tending. I learned to make mostly Bloody Marys, Black Russians, and Vodka Tonics. Even though I was exposed to alcohol at such a young age I do not believe it really had an adverse effect on me. I admit I would occasionally sip one of the drinks that I mixed, but never took enough to create a buzz of any sort. In fact, I actually began to make myself "virgin" drinks, because I found they simply tasted better to me. I didn't understand the concept of the liquor, and thought my parents were crazy for putting it into their drinks on occasion.

The result of my limited experience with alcohol as I was growing up I think definitely came in handy a few times. First of all, I was a little more knowledgeable about alcohol in general than most people my age, and my parents often stressed that too much of anything was a bad thing, especially alcohol. As I became older, my parents allowed me to drink wine on holidays and other special occasions. These experiences I think opened my eyes to the actual effects of alcohol. There is no better place to learn something like this than your own home around people that care about you.

This exposure allowed me to understand how alcohol affect me personally while under the supervision of my parents. While some poor teenagers experience this without people to regulate their intake, leading to very long nights, and dangerous situations. I think my experiences prevented me from making dangerous decisions, and instilled in me a sense of responsibility while consuming alcohol. While I wouldn't recommend getting waisted with young or teenage children I do think that satisfying their curiosity in a controlled setting is a bit safer than allowing them to seek answers on their own.

Learn more about this author, Drew Price.
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