Keep in mind that in many other countries, children grow up tasting the occasional sip of watered wine or weak beer. An occasional social drink is a normal, responsible way to enjoy alcohol, and letting a teen see drinking in this context is probably healthier than a strict "Not in my house!" policy.
I know anecdotal evidence isn't reliable, but if it helps, I can provide some. My parents also allowed me to drink at 16 and 17, but only in certain contexts. If we had a party for New Year's Eve, for instance, we all got champagne -- not a lot, but enough to feel festive and sophisticated. By the time I was of legal age to drink, I rarely ordered anything stronger than a Sprite because I didn't have anything to prove and didn't find being drunk any fun. I also never drove drunk or got sick from drinking because I already had a good idea where my limits were and didn't exceed them.
Alcohol was neither a constant presence nor a taboo in my life, and I think it helped me develop a healthy attitude toward it.
Unless your sister's family has a history of alcoholism that could be genetic, she's not doing anything wrong by being a part of her daughter's introduction to one aspect of adult life. I understand your concern, but try to make peace with it and with your sister; she's not giving her kid meth, and 16 isn't 6.
IIN for my sister to let her 16 year old daughter drink alcohol?
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Keep in mind that in many other countries, children grow up tasting the occasional sip of watered wine or weak beer. An occasional social drink is a normal, responsible way to enjoy alcohol, and letting a teen see drinking in this context is probably healthier than a strict "Not in my house!" policy.
I know anecdotal evidence isn't reliable, but if it helps, I can provide some. My parents also allowed me to drink at 16 and 17, but only in certain contexts. If we had a party for New Year's Eve, for instance, we all got champagne -- not a lot, but enough to feel festive and sophisticated. By the time I was of legal age to drink, I rarely ordered anything stronger than a Sprite because I didn't have anything to prove and didn't find being drunk any fun. I also never drove drunk or got sick from drinking because I already had a good idea where my limits were and didn't exceed them.
Alcohol was neither a constant presence nor a taboo in my life, and I think it helped me develop a healthy attitude toward it.
Unless your sister's family has a history of alcoholism that could be genetic, she's not doing anything wrong by being a part of her daughter's introduction to one aspect of adult life. I understand your concern, but try to make peace with it and with your sister; she's not giving her kid meth, and 16 isn't 6.