When were were in England, we liked to eat in pubs...and there was no problem in the places we tried, at least, bringing in our teenage daughter. We'll be Italy, France, and Spain this summer -- it sounds as if there are at least some wine bars that also serve food (such as tapas, in Barcelona?). If so, what are the rules regarding bringing a 15 year old in to eat at places like that?

Thanks!

NO

No problem eating and drinking in wine bars in the countries you mentioned with a 15 year old. It's completely legal for the 15 year old to eat with you.

If you order wine it's quite likely the 15 yr old will counted in the number of glasses brought to the table unless he/she looks young for their age.

You'll have no problem taking your 15 year old to eat with you in wine bars in these countries.

I'm curious, are there any countries where a 15 year child would not be allowed to eat with her parents?

It's never been a problem for in the US either.

Where we live in the States, you can't take a minor into a bar/pub unless it has a "restaurant license" -- and many, if not most, don't, even if they do sell food. I'm glad to hear that Europe is more open minded.

One question: Even if my 15 year old *is* given a wine glass, is she legally allowed to drink? I don't mean will folks look the other way -- I'm wondering what the laws say.

She can drink. I saw a 12 year old (appearing) drinking a beer in Milan (at table with parents).

All the teens in my family that have been in Italy were given their own glass so they could have some wine if they wanted and if their parents approved. Sassy described it well. Enjoy, your family will be making some beautiful life long memories I am sure!

Eating in wine bars or tapas bars with kids simply isn't a problem. They won;t serve alcohol to young kids - but older teens will usually be automatically included in wine served tot he table. (Out step daughters were from 15 or 16 on).

The following rules apply to almost all continental European countries:

1) Minors are allowed in wine bars.

2) It is perfectly legal that minors drink alcohol.

3) If their parents (or adult guardians) are present, it is legal that they are served alcohol, regardless of age.

In continental Europe, it is considered a human right that parents shall decide what is good and what is not good for their children. The state must not intervene into the parents' rights.

Not really, at least in Spain. While it´s true that the law is not always enforced, those under 18 can´t legally drink or buy tobacco in any bar. But yes, they will drink at a restaurant if accompanied by their parents, nobody will say a word. There has always been a HUGE level of tolerance towards alcohol in our society.

I think there's normally a difference between the right to buy and drink alcohol on your own (between 16-18 in most European countries) and the right to drink alcohol if in company of your parents or other legal guardians. I think most countries don't really regulate the latter case but it's up to the judgement of the parents.

>>In continental Europe, it is considered a human right that parents shall decide what is good and what is not good for their children. The state must not intervene into the parents' rights.<<

Glad to hear that. The concept of parental rights -- or individual rights at all for that matter -- seems increasingly lost on our government at all levels here.

I think the difference is that in europe every 16 year old doesn't have a car - which they drive as if they're invincible (as most 16 year olds think they are). the problem is not teens drinking (in many cases - it's that they're drinking and then immediately getting behind the wheel with a pack of drunken friends).

The objective in raising the drinking age in the US was to cut back on the number of auto accidents and deaths - which it has done. I'm a believer in the innoculation method - which our parents used with us and we did with my step-daughters. If you're allowed to drink a little when younger with your parents you 1) get used drinking a little andn ot having to go overboard, 2) learn how to handle it and 3) learn a little something about what you like and don't. This way they develop a taste for something decent and don;t go out and down a pint of Olde Sweat Sox the first week they go off to college.) But - we always made sure to overimpress NO drinking and driving at all - not even one.

In Italy one must be 18 years of age before the can acquire a DL to drive a vehicle and they must also take a driving course which is very expensive for the average person. So it is true that those younger are not behind the wheel of a vehicle. But those younger than 18 years of age are allowed to drive a scooter. I think they have to be 14 years of age to do so if memory serves me correctly. And drinking and driving scooters has become a problem in Italy. Even a friend's son was in an accident due to having some drinks and than getting on his scooter. Thankfully he didn't injure anyone else and his injuries were not life threatening. And drunk drivers, those 18 years old or older, have become a problem in Italy, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.

But that is all a different scenerio than teens visiting Italy with their adult family members and enjoying a drink of course.

I remember asking a bartender in Spain once about what the drinking age was for kids in his bar. He answered, "If he is tall enough to reach up to the bar and put down his money, I will sell him one, Senor."

I can see drinking and scootering would also be an issue. But you can;t load scooters with 5 or 6 teens who go out and wrap a car around a tree at 100+ mph - killing all of them. That kind of thing was happening all the time - never mind the drinking and drag-racing in hot rods - where often a driver would lose control and end up in a crowd of pedestrians. In most of the country 16 means an automatic license (and the driving test could be passed by a not very bright chimp).

Drinking and driving under influence are different topics.

Here in Europe, we are very strict with driving under influence, regardless whether it is a car or a scooter. We have a lot of checks (electronic breathalyzers) and the punishment is severe. Every teen is aware that driving under influence is risky. Even riding a bicycle under influence is subject to punishment!

Accordingly, the kids plan their parties carefully. When they intend to drink, they leave their vehicles at home and take the bus or stay overnight with their friends. Or they have one designated driver who does not drinkt that evening.

Thus, you do not need to rise the drinking age in order to avoid drunken driving.

There are usually no laws stating who is allowed to drink and who isn't - the law usually states that minors not accompanied by their parents are not allowed to be served/sold alcohol. This way, if a 16 year old goes and buys a bottle of vodka in a shop, the shopkeeper has broken the law - not the kid.

And concerning drunk driving, a DL is a privilege, not a right. It can be easily revoked if you are caught drunk at the wheel, and driving without valid DL is a criminal offense.

We were recently in Italy with our 15 yo grandaughter and she wanted to try a glass of wine. We asked the waitress what the drinking age was in italy and she replied "uh--- two"