[gostsamo]

My parents definitely offered me alcohol when I was a child. The hard alcohol was mostly to show me how it burns the throat and not to try it, while beer was bitter but okay for a sip or two to feel grownup. Alcohol also had a medicinal use in the family, though I'm not sure about the medicinal effect.

After I was 14 and more, alcohol was introduced on more regular bases, but not with social pressure to drink, just was available as an option.

Decades later, I'm just a social drinker.

[kwhitefoot]

I had essentially the same experience. I'm 67 now. My grandmother used to give me a miniature of De Kuyper's Cherry Brandy for Christmas from when I was six or seven, I made it last until after New Year!