1 00:00:03,440 --> 00:00:05,560 Speaker 1: It's the Happy Families Podcast. 2 00:00:05,920 --> 00:00:09,119 Speaker 2: It's the podcast for the time poor parent who just 3 00:00:09,240 --> 00:00:10,399 Speaker 2: wants answers now. 4 00:00:10,680 --> 00:00:13,440 Speaker 3: And if you've got a particularly curious teenager, you don't 5 00:00:13,480 --> 00:00:15,319 Speaker 3: know what's the neck glass or you don't know that 6 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:17,919 Speaker 3: they've finished their zero percent bottle and then poured some 7 00:00:18,000 --> 00:00:19,080 Speaker 3: of yours into. 8 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:23,240 Speaker 1: In about fifteen Okay, fair enough, fair enough. 9 00:00:23,160 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 2: And now here's the stars of our show. 10 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:26,880 Speaker 1: My mom and dad. 11 00:00:27,200 --> 00:00:29,560 Speaker 3: Today on the Happy Families Podcast, Kyli and I are 12 00:00:29,560 --> 00:00:33,520 Speaker 3: going to be talking about kids and alcohol. Well, we're 13 00:00:33,520 --> 00:00:35,400 Speaker 3: going to talk about that, but we'll also be talking 14 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,360 Speaker 3: about kids and. 15 00:00:36,800 --> 00:00:39,760 Speaker 1: Non alcoholic alcoholic drinks. 16 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:42,960 Speaker 3: That is, the drinks that look like, taste like, smell like, 17 00:00:43,080 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 3: and feel like alcohol, but aren't alcohol. I'm speaking about 18 00:00:47,360 --> 00:00:51,400 Speaker 3: the mixes and the mocktails that you can buy now, 19 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:53,960 Speaker 3: and the beers, the zero percent beers that are out there. 20 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,000 Speaker 3: That's the conversation we're having today now at the outset, 21 00:00:58,000 --> 00:00:59,400 Speaker 3: I should highlight we are non drinkers. 22 00:00:59,440 --> 00:01:00,680 Speaker 1: Neither Kyline I drink. 23 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:04,640 Speaker 3: Alcohol at all. But Kylie I had this. I was 24 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:06,760 Speaker 3: in the airport lounge recently. I catch a lot of aeroplanes, 25 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: so I get to sit in the lounges, and for 26 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 3: those of you who haven't been in the lounge, once 27 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:12,880 Speaker 3: you go in there, they've got a bar and drinks 28 00:01:13,080 --> 00:01:16,080 Speaker 3: are on tap. You can literally go in and preload 29 00:01:16,160 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 3: before your flight. If you're a drinker. There's wine, there's beer, 30 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:21,000 Speaker 3: there's all. When I go in there, I normally just 31 00:01:21,000 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 3: get some soda water because that's about as heavy as 32 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:23,119 Speaker 3: I go. 33 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:24,440 Speaker 1: Every now and again. 34 00:01:24,440 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 3: I'll live on the edge, and by not by sorry received, 35 00:01:26,600 --> 00:01:29,680 Speaker 3: because they're free a lemon limon bitters. That's what I'm 36 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,720 Speaker 3: really getting out there. But just recently, when I asked 37 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:35,720 Speaker 3: what drinks they had available, they mentioned that there was 38 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 3: a cider and I said, oh, I wouldn't mind an 39 00:01:38,280 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 3: apple sider. 40 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,400 Speaker 1: Hang, I'm sick. Does that have alcohol in it? 41 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,120 Speaker 3: And they said, oh, yeah, it's an alcoholic sider And 42 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 3: I said, ah, no, I don't drink alcohol. 43 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: Water will be fine. 44 00:01:45,560 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 3: And they said, well, we've got a zero point zero 45 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 3: percent Peroni. I don't never know what Peroni was, but 46 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,720 Speaker 3: I said, so you're saying that it's a non alcoholic 47 00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 3: alcoholic drink, but it's a zero percent So Peroni is 48 00:01:58,600 --> 00:02:00,960 Speaker 3: a kind of beer. And I said, yeah, zero percent 49 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 3: and I thought, I've never had it, I've never tried beer. 50 00:02:04,280 --> 00:02:06,000 Speaker 3: I'm going to give it a go. I'm going to 51 00:02:06,040 --> 00:02:09,720 Speaker 3: have it a zero percent crack at this thing. And 52 00:02:09,800 --> 00:02:12,320 Speaker 3: as somebody who was getting close to fifty and does 53 00:02:12,360 --> 00:02:15,960 Speaker 3: not and has not consumed this sort of stuff before, 54 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 3: I put it to my lips. I smelled it and thought, 55 00:02:18,720 --> 00:02:20,520 Speaker 3: I don't like the smell of this, but I'll give 56 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:23,200 Speaker 3: it a crack. I had a sip and I thought, 57 00:02:23,720 --> 00:02:26,120 Speaker 3: that is possibly the grossest drink I've ever had in 58 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:26,639 Speaker 3: my life. 59 00:02:26,800 --> 00:02:28,720 Speaker 1: Sorry to the people who make paroni, but I just 60 00:02:28,800 --> 00:02:29,840 Speaker 1: I hated it. It was gross. 61 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,320 Speaker 3: And I thought, but everybody loves beer. Everyone makes in Australia, 62 00:02:32,440 --> 00:02:34,480 Speaker 3: such a big deal about beer. I'm going to give 63 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:37,120 Speaker 3: it another go. Like, the second sip can't possibly be 64 00:02:37,160 --> 00:02:38,920 Speaker 3: as bad as the first sip. People say that you 65 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 3: have to what's the word, you've become accustomed to a drink. 66 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:45,720 Speaker 1: You have to acquire the taste, that's it. 67 00:02:45,800 --> 00:02:47,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, And I thought, maybe I just need a second 68 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:51,239 Speaker 3: sip so I can acquire the taste. How did that? 69 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:52,760 Speaker 1: I was so cross? 70 00:02:53,000 --> 00:02:54,919 Speaker 3: So I left pretty much a full bottle of zero 71 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,400 Speaker 3: points zero percent Peroni on the table. 72 00:02:58,600 --> 00:03:01,160 Speaker 1: I couldn't ring it. It was just just awful. 73 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:04,560 Speaker 2: Well, this actually comes off the back of an article 74 00:03:04,840 --> 00:03:08,240 Speaker 2: on the ABC website by Kelly Scott, and she poses 75 00:03:08,280 --> 00:03:12,160 Speaker 2: the question about whether or not giving our curious teens 76 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:16,160 Speaker 2: non alcoholic drinks is problematic. Yeah, so I'm posing the question, 77 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:19,920 Speaker 2: doctor Coulson, is it a problem for us to give 78 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 2: our kids non alcoholic drinks? 79 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 3: Well, let me pose the problem back to you in 80 00:03:24,400 --> 00:03:27,520 Speaker 3: the form of a real life incident or scenario. So 81 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 3: we've got we've got six kids. Imagine our thirteen year 82 00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,120 Speaker 3: old daughter. She calls in it Coles or woolli is. 83 00:03:32,680 --> 00:03:35,000 Speaker 3: And while she's there buying some groceries for us because 84 00:03:35,000 --> 00:03:36,720 Speaker 3: we're too lazy to go to the shops ourselves or 85 00:03:36,720 --> 00:03:39,320 Speaker 3: something like that, I don't know, she sees on the 86 00:03:39,360 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 3: shelf on special a six pack of Peroni zero percent beer. 87 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:46,839 Speaker 3: You can buy it for like fourteen or fifteen bucks 88 00:03:46,920 --> 00:03:48,600 Speaker 3: or something. I've looked it up on Google just now. 89 00:03:48,600 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: And you must have your credit huh okay, And she. 90 00:03:51,360 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 3: Says, you know what, it's zero percent alcohol. Mom and 91 00:03:54,720 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 3: dad will never know. I'm going to buy the six 92 00:03:56,920 --> 00:04:00,280 Speaker 3: pack and give it a go. How would you feel 93 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 3: about that? Like, would you be okay with our thirteen 94 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 3: year old trying zero percent beer on her way out 95 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 3: of coals? And that's probably a pretty bad look. But 96 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:12,960 Speaker 3: just for the sake of the argument, how would you 97 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 3: feel about it? Or even if she was sitting at 98 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,120 Speaker 3: our table, would you be comfortable sitting down and saying, Hey, 99 00:04:17,200 --> 00:04:19,440 Speaker 3: we want you to see what beer tastes like, kiddo, 100 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,400 Speaker 3: here's a zero percent beer, there's no alcohol in it. 101 00:04:22,600 --> 00:04:23,760 Speaker 1: Have to go? What do you reckon? 102 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,440 Speaker 2: So, because of the life style choices that we make, 103 00:04:28,360 --> 00:04:31,040 Speaker 2: I think i'd probably be really uncomfortable with the fact 104 00:04:31,080 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 2: that she's done it behind my back if she was 105 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 2: to go and buy it by herself. 106 00:04:34,600 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 3: And yet I would feel so uncomfortable with her sitting 107 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:38,799 Speaker 3: at my dining table as a thirteen year old drinking 108 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:40,080 Speaker 3: what is supposed. 109 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: To be a beer like that. That's going to be provocative, right, that's. 110 00:04:43,839 --> 00:04:47,000 Speaker 2: Confronting, Yes, very much so. But again I'm questioning why 111 00:04:47,080 --> 00:04:49,160 Speaker 2: she's doing it. Is she doing it to push my buttons? 112 00:04:49,440 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 1: Okay? 113 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 2: Or is she doing it because we've had a conversation 114 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 2: about and she's curious, Like there's so many scenarios that 115 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:58,080 Speaker 2: this could play out. But I think that for the 116 00:04:58,120 --> 00:05:01,440 Speaker 2: most part, because of the choice that we may, it 117 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 2: would be confronting either way. 118 00:05:03,120 --> 00:05:03,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. 119 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 3: Yeah, and that's because we are non drinkers, and we've 120 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:07,760 Speaker 3: discouraged our children from drinking as well. 121 00:05:08,279 --> 00:05:12,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, but I think in spite of all of that, 122 00:05:14,560 --> 00:05:18,120 Speaker 2: my initial response is, my thirteen year old is going 123 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:21,159 Speaker 2: to open that bottle up and she's going to take 124 00:05:21,160 --> 00:05:23,800 Speaker 2: a whiff, and that's going to kill ahead in she's 125 00:05:23,839 --> 00:05:26,039 Speaker 2: going to be like me, but she's literally going to 126 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,200 Speaker 2: be like you. I remember when my nan she asked 127 00:05:29,200 --> 00:05:31,720 Speaker 2: if I wanted a hot chocolate one morning, and I 128 00:05:31,720 --> 00:05:35,600 Speaker 2: said yep, And she brought to the table a cup 129 00:05:35,640 --> 00:05:38,160 Speaker 2: of coffee, right, And I said, Nan, I think this 130 00:05:38,200 --> 00:05:40,440 Speaker 2: is coffee. I mean they're totally different colors, and we 131 00:05:40,520 --> 00:05:43,360 Speaker 2: don't done it coffee either, and she said, no, it's not. 132 00:05:43,440 --> 00:05:45,760 Speaker 2: She got really really upset at me. Well, we didn't 133 00:05:45,760 --> 00:05:48,280 Speaker 2: realize until a little bit later that she was there 134 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:49,760 Speaker 2: was the beginning stages of dementia. 135 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:51,440 Speaker 3: Okay, so you don't think she was trying to trick 136 00:05:51,480 --> 00:05:54,119 Speaker 3: you into drinking. She brought to you and said hot chocolate, 137 00:05:55,080 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 3: but she'd forgotten how to make it. 138 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:56,520 Speaker 1: Yeah. 139 00:05:56,640 --> 00:06:00,440 Speaker 2: Yeah, And I took one sip of this stuff and 140 00:06:00,440 --> 00:06:02,920 Speaker 2: I was like, there is I cannot drink this. 141 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:05,840 Speaker 3: Right, And the coffee drinkers who listen to our podcast 142 00:06:05,920 --> 00:06:07,760 Speaker 3: right now, which is pretty much ninety nine point nine 143 00:06:07,760 --> 00:06:09,680 Speaker 3: percent of our audiers, is going, what is the matter 144 00:06:09,680 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 3: with you people? 145 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:12,080 Speaker 1: You don't drink alcohol, you have six children, and you 146 00:06:12,080 --> 00:06:12,880 Speaker 1: don't drink coffee. 147 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 2: I can't even stand the smell. 148 00:06:14,839 --> 00:06:17,080 Speaker 1: Like I avoid the isle in the supermarket. I don't 149 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: like the smell either. 150 00:06:18,040 --> 00:06:22,120 Speaker 2: I have friends who obviously non drinkers alcohol or coffee, 151 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: and they love the smell of a coffee bean. Right. 152 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:26,680 Speaker 2: I just can't stand the smell of it. 153 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,080 Speaker 3: It's like when you go to the perfume bar and 154 00:06:28,120 --> 00:06:30,640 Speaker 3: you've got to with the coffee in between it, and 155 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:32,640 Speaker 3: I'm like, no, no, no, I'm going to get high 156 00:06:32,640 --> 00:06:34,640 Speaker 3: on the perfume instead, Like seriously, I can't do it. 157 00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:37,919 Speaker 2: So for me, just thinking about I guess the logistics 158 00:06:37,920 --> 00:06:40,719 Speaker 2: of our home. I'm not going to be too stressed 159 00:06:40,720 --> 00:06:44,039 Speaker 2: out about my kids trying any of these things because 160 00:06:44,080 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 2: it does require an acquiet taste and if they don't. 161 00:06:47,240 --> 00:06:51,480 Speaker 3: Have a So you're saying trying these zero percent things 162 00:06:51,720 --> 00:06:55,159 Speaker 3: and just seeing what it tastes like yeah, yeah, okay. 163 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:58,159 Speaker 3: I'm thinking this through, and I think there are two 164 00:06:58,160 --> 00:07:00,680 Speaker 3: sides to this. So if you're in a family where 165 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:04,120 Speaker 3: alcohol is not the norm, where you drink very rarely 166 00:07:04,200 --> 00:07:08,600 Speaker 3: or not at all, this probably sits pretty well like 167 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:10,320 Speaker 3: this what we're talking about. 168 00:07:10,360 --> 00:07:13,520 Speaker 1: That feels right to me. But I'm thinking in. 169 00:07:13,480 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 3: Spite of that, there's a lot of kids who really 170 00:07:16,440 --> 00:07:18,280 Speaker 3: they feel like they need to drink this stuff because 171 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 3: they look cool. They it's like the forbidden fruit. So 172 00:07:21,840 --> 00:07:25,760 Speaker 3: whether it's cigarettes or vapes or whether it's alcohol, there's 173 00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 3: a certain status that goes along with being seen to 174 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 3: be drinking this, and kids want to be grown up. 175 00:07:31,560 --> 00:07:34,200 Speaker 3: I kind of think though, with that whole grown up thing, 176 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 3: like when we bring out the Patrity, which is a 177 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 3: non alcoholic grape juice that's been carbonated, or if we 178 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 3: bring out the apple Tizer, or maybe we go to 179 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:42,800 Speaker 3: a restaurant we decide we're going to splurge, which happens 180 00:07:42,800 --> 00:07:45,000 Speaker 3: like twice a year, and I'll order a mocktail. The 181 00:07:45,120 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 3: kids go crazy, They're like, I want the mocktail too. 182 00:07:47,440 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 3: I want the mocktail too. But I don't think they're 183 00:07:49,120 --> 00:07:50,480 Speaker 3: doing it because they want the alcohol. I think they're 184 00:07:50,480 --> 00:07:53,520 Speaker 3: doing it because they just really like the taste of 185 00:07:53,520 --> 00:07:55,840 Speaker 3: these drinks, like they're actually pretty sweet, they're pretty nice. 186 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:58,040 Speaker 2: Well, I was about to say, those drinks are really 187 00:07:58,120 --> 00:08:00,160 Speaker 2: different to what you're talking about with you zero two 188 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:04,800 Speaker 2: percent stuff like that, because they it's literally the taste 189 00:08:04,840 --> 00:08:08,800 Speaker 2: of a beer without the alcoholic content. It's the taste 190 00:08:08,800 --> 00:08:13,480 Speaker 2: of a non alcoholic wine, Like it literally tastes like wine. 191 00:08:13,800 --> 00:08:16,280 Speaker 2: Whereas you know your apple tie. 192 00:08:16,120 --> 00:08:19,040 Speaker 1: Or you're ye. They're not actually meant to be alcohol substitutes. 193 00:08:19,800 --> 00:08:22,320 Speaker 2: It's their fancy drinks for people who don't drink. 194 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:25,440 Speaker 3: Okay, So moving back to it, the initial response, at 195 00:08:25,520 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 3: least in a family like ours, is not going to 196 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,600 Speaker 3: be an initiate because the kid's going to taste it 197 00:08:28,640 --> 00:08:30,240 Speaker 3: and it won't feel like forbidden fruit. It's just going 198 00:08:30,240 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 3: to feel like it's disgusting. 199 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:35,840 Speaker 2: Well, and they've got the modeling in the home that 200 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 2: we don't drink. You know this concept that for kids, 201 00:08:39,800 --> 00:08:43,520 Speaker 2: they feel like drinking or smoking cigarettes or doing drugs 202 00:08:43,559 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 2: or whatever is a gateway to adulthood. It's a gateway 203 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:48,520 Speaker 2: to independence. 204 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 3: Right, Yes, we're adults, though we're modeling that not a 205 00:08:52,920 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 3: need alcohol or Yeah. So the Alcohol and Drug Foundation 206 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:58,959 Speaker 3: are concerned that kids are going to be conditioned to 207 00:08:59,080 --> 00:09:03,800 Speaker 3: drink real alcohol beverages in the long term, and they're 208 00:09:03,920 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 3: arguing that it could be a gateway to alcoholic consumption 209 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:11,679 Speaker 3: as the kids get older and then then start to 210 00:09:11,679 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 3: get access to the real deal. I want to talk 211 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 3: about the flip side to our situation for families where 212 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:20,800 Speaker 3: alcohol is part of daily life and whether or not 213 00:09:20,840 --> 00:09:23,959 Speaker 3: it's a good or a bad thing in that context. 214 00:09:27,440 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 2: So I'm thinking about this a little bit deeper, obviously 215 00:09:30,320 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 2: coming from a non alcoholic background. 216 00:09:32,480 --> 00:09:36,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, sorry, a non alcohol consumption background. Let's just let's 217 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 3: just clarify just because your drink doesn't mean that Kylie 218 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:41,960 Speaker 3: suddenly called you an alcoholic. I'm just wanting to be 219 00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:44,120 Speaker 3: really clear about that. I know that's not what you mean. 220 00:09:44,160 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 3: Everyone knows that everyone loves you. 221 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,439 Speaker 2: But I'm thinking about our kids, who you know, are 222 00:09:50,480 --> 00:09:54,640 Speaker 2: watching their families drink on for social accase, whether it's. 223 00:09:54,520 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 1: A barbequ or a wine at dinner or whatever it 224 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:57,600 Speaker 1: might be out at the restaurant. 225 00:09:57,240 --> 00:10:02,480 Speaker 2: And they're now taking of a non alcoholic beer yes 226 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:03,839 Speaker 2: with the family. 227 00:10:03,520 --> 00:10:06,240 Speaker 1: Because dad's drinking his over there. My mum's drinking hers over. 228 00:10:06,080 --> 00:10:08,160 Speaker 2: There, and we've acquired the taste for it and we 229 00:10:08,280 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 2: enjoy it. Yes, and now we're at a party and 230 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,880 Speaker 2: there's not so much supervision available. We know what it 231 00:10:14,920 --> 00:10:18,719 Speaker 2: tastes like, but we've never experienced. 232 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:20,000 Speaker 1: The effects the effects. 233 00:10:20,120 --> 00:10:24,440 Speaker 2: Yes, yes, and so at home, I could down six 234 00:10:24,480 --> 00:10:25,959 Speaker 2: of those because it has no effects. 235 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:27,199 Speaker 1: But you probably wouldn't. 236 00:10:27,520 --> 00:10:29,439 Speaker 3: At home, if it's zero percent, you probably wouldn't drink 237 00:10:29,480 --> 00:10:31,880 Speaker 3: six of them, especially if you're a kid. 238 00:10:32,280 --> 00:10:35,760 Speaker 1: You're just not going to. But at the party you 239 00:10:35,840 --> 00:10:37,559 Speaker 1: might try one or two. 240 00:10:38,040 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 2: Well, and even if you stood your ground, for instance, sa, no, no, 241 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,199 Speaker 2: I just want the non alcoholic one. How do you 242 00:10:43,240 --> 00:10:46,240 Speaker 2: actually know, because the alcohol content's not going to change 243 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:47,479 Speaker 2: the flavor that much. 244 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,079 Speaker 3: Well, you wouldn't expect that it would at all. I'm 245 00:10:49,080 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 3: even thinking. It doesn't have to be a party. It 246 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,760 Speaker 3: could be a family barbecue. And if you've got a 247 00:10:53,800 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 3: particularly curious teenager, you don't know what's the neck glass, 248 00:10:57,200 --> 00:10:59,400 Speaker 3: or you don't know that they finished their zero percent 249 00:10:59,440 --> 00:11:03,120 Speaker 3: bottle and some of yours into in about fifteen Okay, 250 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:04,240 Speaker 3: fair enough. 251 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:06,280 Speaker 1: Fair enough, But you're right. 252 00:11:06,320 --> 00:11:07,920 Speaker 3: They've become familiar with the taste, and I think that's 253 00:11:07,960 --> 00:11:11,240 Speaker 3: where the that's where the Alcohol and Drug Foundation are 254 00:11:11,320 --> 00:11:13,720 Speaker 3: raising their concerns. They're saying, you get used to the taste, 255 00:11:14,080 --> 00:11:17,480 Speaker 3: and that means that when you're getting access to alcohol itself, 256 00:11:17,960 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 3: the taste isn't offensive to you. You have acquired that taste, 257 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:23,080 Speaker 3: you're familiar with it, and you want the status that 258 00:11:23,120 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 3: goes along with it. 259 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:26,200 Speaker 1: I think that it sends the wrong messages about alcohol. 260 00:11:26,280 --> 00:11:29,640 Speaker 3: If I'm really honest about it, I don't reckon it's 261 00:11:29,640 --> 00:11:32,600 Speaker 3: a good idea that kids should be drinking it at all, 262 00:11:33,080 --> 00:11:35,240 Speaker 3: full stop and a story, because what it sends a 263 00:11:35,240 --> 00:11:37,800 Speaker 3: message to our kids is you're not old enough to 264 00:11:37,840 --> 00:11:39,360 Speaker 3: drink alcohol, but we're going to let you pretend that 265 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:40,760 Speaker 3: you're an adult. We're going to give you access to 266 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:44,240 Speaker 3: something that looks like it. It just doesn't feel quite 267 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,560 Speaker 3: like it yet. But they get to sit there at 268 00:11:46,559 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 3: the table as a ten year old, twelve year old, 269 00:11:49,280 --> 00:11:51,720 Speaker 3: fourteen year old and they get to hold a bottle 270 00:11:51,800 --> 00:11:53,200 Speaker 3: that looks like it's beer. 271 00:11:53,280 --> 00:11:54,600 Speaker 1: I mean, didn't you used to do this when you 272 00:11:54,600 --> 00:11:54,920 Speaker 1: were a kid. 273 00:11:54,960 --> 00:11:56,840 Speaker 3: Anyway, Pretend that you had I don't know, maybe a 274 00:11:56,880 --> 00:11:59,920 Speaker 3: stick in your hand, or pretend that you were smoking. 275 00:11:59,600 --> 00:12:02,160 Speaker 2: Or it reminds me of those little boxes of fags 276 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:02,959 Speaker 2: that used to buy. 277 00:12:03,080 --> 00:12:03,240 Speaker 3: Yeah. 278 00:12:03,320 --> 00:12:05,040 Speaker 1: Yeah, well you're not allowed to call them that anymore. 279 00:12:05,240 --> 00:12:06,760 Speaker 1: That's what they were when that's what they were called them. 280 00:12:07,080 --> 00:12:08,480 Speaker 3: I can't remember what the new name for them is, 281 00:12:08,520 --> 00:12:11,839 Speaker 3: but yes, the little pretend cigarette things, the candy cigarettes, 282 00:12:12,520 --> 00:12:14,760 Speaker 3: and you would actually pretend. 283 00:12:14,520 --> 00:12:15,120 Speaker 1: To be spoken. 284 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,880 Speaker 2: Yeah. So it's a really good primer, isn't it. 285 00:12:17,920 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 3: So if you've got a fourteen year old sitting at 286 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:23,480 Speaker 3: the table holding that glass bottle with that amber colored 287 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:27,080 Speaker 3: fluid in it, they get all of the sense of status, 288 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 3: they get all that sense of look at me, I'm 289 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:32,079 Speaker 3: an adult and it won't be long now until I 290 00:12:32,120 --> 00:12:34,360 Speaker 3: can actually hold the real thing. So I have some 291 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:36,960 Speaker 3: really big concerns about it. My initial response as we 292 00:12:37,040 --> 00:12:40,160 Speaker 3: began talking was very much, oh, yeah, the kid's gonna 293 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,760 Speaker 3: hate it. But as I think about it more, and 294 00:12:41,800 --> 00:12:45,120 Speaker 3: particularly in families where alcohol is the norm, my very 295 00:12:45,480 --> 00:12:49,480 Speaker 3: real concern is that this could go in a dangerous direction. 296 00:12:49,720 --> 00:12:52,080 Speaker 3: I think that the alcohol and drug Foundation a right. 297 00:12:52,120 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 3: This could be a gateway entry point to alcohol consumption. 298 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 2: So I think I know what your answer is on this, 299 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,160 Speaker 2: But if it's not a substitute, a non alcoholic substitute. 300 00:13:05,760 --> 00:13:07,920 Speaker 2: What are your thoughts on parents kind of just letting 301 00:13:07,920 --> 00:13:09,200 Speaker 2: their kids have a sip. 302 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,720 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know what my answer is, and it's no. 303 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:16,640 Speaker 3: There's this thing called the Mediterranean effect, and a whole 304 00:13:16,640 --> 00:13:20,200 Speaker 3: bunch of people will argue that it's perfectly safe and 305 00:13:20,320 --> 00:13:24,280 Speaker 3: reasonable because over the Mediterranean nations they do this, apparently 306 00:13:24,600 --> 00:13:27,000 Speaker 3: to let your kids sip alcohol and have access to it, 307 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:30,040 Speaker 3: and just let them be exposed to it and consume 308 00:13:30,080 --> 00:13:32,280 Speaker 3: it in small quantities when they're young, so that as 309 00:13:32,280 --> 00:13:35,320 Speaker 3: they move into adulthood they won't be problematic drinkers. The 310 00:13:35,440 --> 00:13:38,560 Speaker 3: research evidence doesn't support that it doesn't actually exist. 311 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:42,120 Speaker 1: The effect isn't there. People in European nations, particularly those 312 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:45,800 Speaker 1: around the Mediterranean, still have high levels or as high 313 00:13:45,840 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: as US levels of alcoholism and other problems. 314 00:13:50,320 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 3: And more than that, we've got good evidence not just 315 00:13:53,440 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 3: from here in Australia, although this is where some of 316 00:13:55,200 --> 00:13:58,040 Speaker 3: the best evidence is, but we've got good, good evidence 317 00:13:58,040 --> 00:14:00,960 Speaker 3: from around the world that when we let our kids 318 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:05,640 Speaker 3: sip real alcohol, we give them I guess you call 319 00:14:05,679 --> 00:14:10,040 Speaker 3: it a parental endorsement of consumption, which means that when 320 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:11,600 Speaker 3: they're with their friends, they're like, oh, yeah, my mom 321 00:14:11,600 --> 00:14:12,960 Speaker 3: and dad let me do it all the time. And 322 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:16,600 Speaker 3: it's associated with increased levels of binge drinking and also 323 00:14:16,840 --> 00:14:20,480 Speaker 3: higher levels of alcohol consumption with kids in their teen years. 324 00:14:21,040 --> 00:14:23,320 Speaker 3: More than that, though, once they start getting into the grog, 325 00:14:23,880 --> 00:14:27,040 Speaker 3: we know that they're much more at risk of social problems, 326 00:14:27,200 --> 00:14:30,720 Speaker 3: psychological challenges, physical injury, and the list goes on, like 327 00:14:30,760 --> 00:14:32,440 Speaker 3: it's a really dangerous game to play. 328 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:32,920 Speaker 1: I had. 329 00:14:32,960 --> 00:14:34,360 Speaker 3: I had a mom come up to me just the 330 00:14:34,400 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 3: other day when I was traveling and I was inter 331 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:40,520 Speaker 3: state at a school, and she said, Ah, my sixteen 332 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:42,240 Speaker 3: year old just came to me and said it on 333 00:14:42,280 --> 00:14:45,240 Speaker 3: Friday night, there's a party and it's BYO and the 334 00:14:45,280 --> 00:14:47,200 Speaker 3: parents aren't going to be there, and I don't know 335 00:14:47,200 --> 00:14:49,080 Speaker 3: what I'm going to do. And I looked at her 336 00:14:49,120 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 3: and I said, I want to be really nice about this, 337 00:14:51,920 --> 00:14:53,880 Speaker 3: but can I tell you what I think might be 338 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,840 Speaker 3: a good solution. And she's like, oh, that's why I'm 339 00:14:55,880 --> 00:14:59,120 Speaker 3: asking you. And I said, don't let it go. Just 340 00:14:59,160 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 3: don't she has to go. Don't let it be yo, 341 00:15:02,600 --> 00:15:05,400 Speaker 3: Like she's not taking any alcohol, she's sixteen, and pick 342 00:15:05,440 --> 00:15:07,200 Speaker 3: her up before anyone gets in strife. Picked he up 343 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:09,080 Speaker 3: at nine nine point thirty ten o'clock at the latest, 344 00:15:09,280 --> 00:15:12,400 Speaker 3: before anybody's so plastered that the risk of injury, risk 345 00:15:12,440 --> 00:15:15,600 Speaker 3: of harm, risk of danger increases that much like if 346 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:17,200 Speaker 3: she just has to be at the party, work out 347 00:15:17,240 --> 00:15:18,560 Speaker 3: a way that she can do it safely and get 348 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:21,560 Speaker 3: home early. Better yet, host your own little party at 349 00:15:21,560 --> 00:15:24,640 Speaker 3: your house where it's not BYO, but treat the kids 350 00:15:24,640 --> 00:15:26,840 Speaker 3: to all kinds of great stuff that they can't get 351 00:15:26,840 --> 00:15:30,320 Speaker 3: at the party. And I think that's the approach we 352 00:15:30,360 --> 00:15:33,200 Speaker 3: need to take. There's no evidence, no evidence at all 353 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 3: that it's a good idea for Eckens to be getting 354 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:37,720 Speaker 3: into the alcohol, and we need to be the parents 355 00:15:38,000 --> 00:15:38,640 Speaker 3: and say no. 356 00:15:39,400 --> 00:15:41,240 Speaker 2: Well, I thought you were going to shock me with something, 357 00:15:41,240 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 2: but you didn't. 358 00:15:42,640 --> 00:15:45,840 Speaker 3: Good research, evidence and an encouragement to be a great 359 00:15:46,040 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 3: parent who's involved in their kids' lives. How good is 360 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 3: it though, that she said, Mum, I want to go 361 00:15:50,160 --> 00:15:51,880 Speaker 3: to the party and here's the situation. I think that 362 00:15:51,880 --> 00:15:54,840 Speaker 3: that's a really big plus and hopefully their relationship will 363 00:15:54,840 --> 00:15:58,320 Speaker 3: survive mum saying no. The Happy Family's podcast is produced 364 00:15:58,320 --> 00:16:02,000 Speaker 3: by Justin Ruland for Bridge Media. Is our executive producer. 365 00:16:02,320 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 3: For more about this, see the show notes. I've linked 366 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,160 Speaker 3: to both the ABC article as well as some research 367 00:16:07,200 --> 00:16:09,560 Speaker 3: from the University of New South Wales highlighting why the 368 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:14,280 Speaker 3: Mediterranean effect is a furfey and what we can do 369 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:17,280 Speaker 3: when it comes to helping our kids to have healthy, 370 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,560 Speaker 3: safe conversations around alcohol. If you want more information about 371 00:16:20,560 --> 00:16:22,880 Speaker 3: making your family happier, of course, check out my brand 372 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,440 Speaker 3: new book, The Parenting Revolution. It will show you how 373 00:16:25,480 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 3: to really help your kids have those conversations. You'll find 374 00:16:27,920 --> 00:16:31,280 Speaker 3: The Parenting Revolution online at Happy families dot com dot 375 00:16:31,320 --> 00:16:31,360 Speaker 3: a