What you do with your own kid as far as drinking (age 17 or older) is up to you, but NEVER, EVER give alcohol to anyone else's kids.

We don't keep alcohol in the home, so this really was never much of an issue. When my father is around, he usually keeps beer around, and our oldest son, starting around 19 might have a beer with him as they worked on a project or something. That was fine with us.

The whole idea that if you let them drink at home they won't drink outside the home is a farce though. You have to teach them to respect alcohol. Drink responsibly, etc. That doesn't require even offering them alcohol quite frankly.

It worked for us. Our oldest son is now legal, but rarely drinks and always responsibly.