17 year old wants to take cider when camping..do I allow?

[febel]

Hi, just a quick post cos could do with advise! My 17 year old daughter is going camping later this week for 2 nights with some other friends, all of whom are 17. She wants to take 4 cans of cider with her too to drink, says the others are taking alcohol, assures me she won't get drunk etc and as I have pointed out, they could run the risk of being thrown off site if they are very rowdy/drunk and also would she want to be poorly from drink when she is under canvas?!
I am a little uncomfortable with it as technically she shouldn't be drinking along on a campsite as she is underage but on the other hand if the others are...... The campsite owner apparently knows they are 17, or so she says.
What do you think?

[PotteringAlong]

She'll do it whether you agree or not. Be chuffed she's told you and spoken to you about it and say yes.

[NickiFury]

She's 17, almost there. I would say yes alongside lots of pleadings to be sensible .

[Birgitz]

I would say yes at 17 too - she sounds sensible enough and you have to start trusting them

[Madratlady]

Better to be OK about it and make sure that she feels able to call you if something did go wrong (I.e. one of them drank too much) than forbid it and leave her afraid to call for help.

[headlesslambrini]

Yes but buy it for her - lower alcohol/ smaller cans etc. You will have control over this at least.

[Timeforabiscuit]

Its good she spoke up, get the lower strength stuff and PLENTY of snacks to soak up the alcohol.

Remind her about the weather, heatstroke etc while drinking.

I might do a sneeky google for nearby off licenses - but that may be a step too far!

[ajandjjmum]

I would let her - along with a conversation that you're expecting her not to abuse the trust.

[febel]

Yes, I felt it good she told me cos let's face it SOMEONE will take alcohol, and rather cider than vodka! Thanks for everyone for advice, will pick it up when shopping for her supplies with her tomorrow!

[AnyFucker]

I would allow this. She sounds sensible. Well, as "sensible" as teenagers get

[LongTimeLurking]

I would say yes. It is better to have it out in the open and retain some control over it than have her sneaking around behind your back.

She will have a drink whether you approve or not anyway and 17 is too old to be trying to fight this particular battle.

[BravePotato]

at 17 do you still have a say?

[bigTillyMint]

I would also say yes. In fact, I am that she has got to 17 and this is the first time she is asking.

[chocoluvva]

I'dtry to hide my concern, wish her a good time and advise her to ask for help if anyone gets worryingly ill. Better to be baled out than take the risk of getting seriously ill for fear of getting into trouble.

Are her friends reasonably sensible? They'll look after each other. Better to 'practice' drinking with her friends than to wait until she's 18, living away from home and going mad.

[iwantgin]

Yes, I would definitely allow it.

At 17 I had been buying and drinking lager/cider etc for 3 years or so. I wasn't the only one, far from it.

DS is 16 - and I don't expect him to ask me if it's okay to drink when out with friends/at friend's house/parties etc.

[specialsubject]

has anyone checked that the campsite will allow a group of under 18s with no supervising adult?

I bet she hasn't checked. Bet they will be turned away. Bet she thinks the campsite owner came down in the last shower...

[bigTillyMint]

specialsubject DD(15) thinks she will be able to go camping with her mates in the summer, sans adultes

[Travelledtheworld]

Yes it is very difficult to find a campsite which was take under 18s or even a group of under 21st. But you never know.

[dramafluff]

It's a yes from me. Of course you don't want them to, but at least she wants to take Cider and nothing worse. Just make sure it's supermarket cooking cider and not the good stuff which will knock the back of her head off!

[ThatBloodyWoman]

Yes.
I left home at 17 and was living my own life and making my own decisions.

[specialsubject]

I still think that it doesn't matter, they won't even get to pitch their tents.