Teenagers in house - how to secure kegs?

[TKOriginal]

I think this is exactly the behavior that the teetotaling Alabama legislators were talking about when home brew legislation didn't make it to the Senate vote after being approved in their House.

Ohh somebody is a little butt hurt about last week. Interesting, there is a hbs in montgomery, mr beer kits at publix in dothan, but a felony if you use them. On topic, educate. Our hb club leader said "our kids sampled liquor when we drank at home and do you know what they became in college? DDs" my parents locked the alcohol up and never really drank in in front of me. I didnt drink much in hs but spent my first year in college at the bars, almost kicked out.

Also.there are faucet lockes to keep the neighborhood riff raff out.

 

[Calichusetts]

I hate the "they do it in Europe and turn out fine" example. France is going through a serious teenage drinking epidemic for this same reason. The worst part is, even "reasonable" parents are often caught between their kids and grandparents who have the same ideas many posters on this site.

Some examples of reality:

If the USA was part of the EU...it would have one of the lowest percentage of teenage drinkers at 39%. In contrast, the UK and Denmark which are at about 80%.

The UK is experiencing one of the worst problems in its history with teenage binge drinking

Europe as a continent has the highest average consumption of alchohol. 3 gallons per person compared to the US 2 gallons

A greater percentage of teenagers in European countries reported being intoxicated BEFORE the age of 13

Only 3 countries, when polled, had teens report a smaller percentage of drinking to get intoxicated in the last 30 days than the US.



Thats NOT RESPONSIBLE drinking. Just google "european drinking problems" and the reality, not the myth is more clear. The legality in Europe just leads to less kids in trouble. Whether you think it is good or bad is up to you but I hate the "europeans are fine" arguement. Teach kids to be responsible and healthy and hope for the best.

 

[mychalg9]

Wow I wasn't expecting to see this many responses this morning! I will certainly look into those faucet locks, and it sounds like otherwise I may need to look into a way to lock the fridge. In regards to the kids' attitudes towards beer, it's hard to say where they will be at once they hit 15+ (which is about when I started), but right now the boy (the kids actually belong to my live-in fiance) is 10 and he likes to try a sip of whatever beer I am drinking from time to time. He pretty much dislikes everything I have, except he loves sours and always asks me when I am going to get more. He even asked if I could brew a sour but I am not that good yet so I told him it would have to wait. The girl is 13 now and shows no interest in alcohol whatsoever. Personally I think introducing kids to alcohol early on, in a responsible way is the approach I would want to take. But that doesnt mean they wont be influenced by friends to raid the liquor cabinet/beer fridge.

Im enjoying reading the responses so far so keep 'em coming, and "thank you" for the people that have responded already

 

[ColumbusAmongus]

There is a lot of bad advice on this site..... this may be the worst.

No no, this is what you have to do. People need to teach their kids that alcoholic drinks like wine / beer can be drank in a sophisticated and responsible manor. If you don't teach them this then they will learn from peers that beer is something that you pound just to get wasted.

 

[Horseballs]

I'm of the opinion that if a kid helps brew a beer, they can have a glass or two while supervised. Though I wouldn't say it was alright to give them free reign to drink as much as they want. If you drink in a responsible manner, they'll learn it in a responsible manner and it wont be such a novelty or "sticking it to the man."

 

[nulfis]

It's all about education really. If you demystify the idea of a forbidden delight, while educating on what binge drinking, DUI, and hard partying can lead to, you'll start them off a good bit better than parents who simply refuse to even have the conversation.

I would also say that involving them in the process is a wonderful way to pass on the art and magic behind creating a good beer, and possibly giving them a respect for alcoholic beverages they wouldn't otherwise have at that age. And sharing a beer with them for tasting notes isn't going to end the world or anything.

The reality is most young people have moved past beer to flavored malt beverages and hard alcohol, I wouldn't worry too much about your beer reserves getting busted into unless they get desperate. And it's not like you're going to have a bud light clone on tap either; they might test a heavy dark beer, but I doubt they're going to drink too much of it without getting suuuuuper sick. I'd probably get some tap locks or something anyway, if anything just to keep random house guests out of it.

 

[knotquiteawake]

If you only lock the taps but not the fridge then you better make sure you hide your cobra taps too. Otherwise they'll just disconnect your taps, pop on the picnic taps and help themselves.

 

[Raenon]

There are a lot of good ideas posted in this thread and others of how to secure your brews, such as faucet locks (with picnic taps hidden or kegerator locked), and you can also just lock the kegerator and disconnect the lines.
But when I see people griping about "drinking problems" in the same breath they talk about total volumes... I just sigh to myself.
To look at the volume ALONE and say it's problem drinking is a puritanical view.
Drunk driving, crimes while intoxicated, and being too drunk to function in your career or school... those are all problems. Drinking until your liver is pickled, that's a problem.

Knocking back a six pack every single night and getting up again to go to work is not a problem, and I don't really have a problem, conceptually, with the idea that a 16 year old is capable of the same thing. Drinking ages are guidelines, and seldom based on any actual evidence, just anecdotes and "common sense" (which obviously differs person to person, as show in this thread.)

Why is it in the USA that we can vote, marry, join the military (consentually or by draft) and do everything else that adults are expected to do, but not have a drink? It's an absurdity- and once you recognize that, you really have to question whether or not even 18 is such a magic number.

It's really a matter of maturity- 18/21 is intended to be a marker that nearly everyone is mature enough to make those decisions, but we still see college students behaving like spoiled kids, and teens who work to support their families as responsible adults.


A personal anecdote:
When I was around 5 years old, I expressed interest in the beer in my dad's cup- he let me have a sip, I hated it, and we moved on. Around 8 years old, I'd get a couple of ounces of wine with holiday dinners.
When I was 12, my dad pulled me aside with the greatest piece of parenting I've ever recieved:
"Son, I know that one of these days you're going to be tempted to drink. That's ok, there is no shame in it. But please, be careful. When you want a drink, there is beer in the fridge. Drink at home, with your family, where you'll be safe.
You just have two rules, one- I'm not buying beer for your friends. Their parents get to make that choice. Two, DON'T TAKE THE LAST ONE."

When I was 17, I ended up dropping out of high school. If you look at the stats, you might then imagine that I must have been one of those delinquents that started drinking early and got in trouble, right?
Wrong.
My family suffered a house fire, and my parents were already underemployed (my dad having suffered career setbacks and my mom returning to work after years away raising her kids). I was a senior in high school, and already working part time at the same company as my father, and with the financial troubles we had, I made a very hard choice, and left school so that I was allowed to work full time (students with a work permit don't have this option, a drop-out does)
I didn't just work 40 hours a week, either, I worked as much as they'd let me. Some weeks that was close to 60 hours, and for a long while, I worked 7 days a week, including holidays.

And on payday, when my dad and I drove home from work, we stopped at our neighborhood liquor store, and he'd buy me whatever I wanted (provided I had the money for my share), because at 17, I was a wage-earning adult.

I drink, and like much of my extended family and Irish ancestry, I sometimes drink to excess, but most of the time, what would be excessive for the average, is barely a light buzz for me, and the majority of my consumption has always happened at home- first with my parents, now in my own home.

I won't pretend what was right for me is right for all, but there are certainly more viewpoints to be had, and exposure at an early age doesn't automatically mean alcoholism. If anything, the complete abstinence of drink (and everything else) probably explains the college (and now high school) problems of alcoholism and unprotected sex (leading to spikes and STD's)

Is there anyone that can really argue that abstinence and prohibition really works?

 

[rhamilton]

If you only lock the taps but not the fridge then you better make sure you hide your cobra taps too. Otherwise they'll just disconnect your taps, pop on the picnic taps and help themselves.

Or just cut off the CO2, depressurize a keg, pop the lid and ladle all they want out and you are none the wiser. Doing the whole lock n' key thing isn't the best idea. Establishing respect for your hobby and your goods is key. They also need to understand that when they get older, homebrewing parents may be the best thing ever for them -- as long as it is never abused.

 

[phoenixs4r]

Google kegdroid. I think that's the name if it. Then add tasers to the droids arm if they do not have valid access. Protect your delicious beer and have a laugh at the same time!

 

[knotquiteawake]

Google kegdroid. I think that's the name if it. Then add tasers to the droids arm if they do not have valid access. Protect your delicious beer and have a laugh at the same time!

I like where you're going with this.
Why not just hook up some electric fencing to the kegs, and taps? Then if they try to use the taps they get zapped, if they try to open the kegs they get zapped!

 

[phoenixs4r]

http://m.gizmodo.com/5906483/kegdroidthe-google+powered-beer-tap

 

[Homercidal]

I don't lock my taps because I trust my kids. I don't trust all of their friends, but since they rarely have them over, and never while we are not home, I've yet to have to lock my taps. My kids understand that drinking is not a "big deal". Probably because they grew up with dad having a glass of beer or two in the evening. They also know I brew my own and the young one loves to help.

Growing up I had a friend who's parents would let their kids drink. It wasn't forbidden. Some of them still grew up binge drinking and doing other related bad things. My best friend was killed in Detroit, probably over some drug related stuff (he spent years in prison.) He and I both had access to the same beer and he just wanted to waste his life in the thrill of doing bad things.

I grew up in a house that had no alcohol and that kind of thing never appealed to me. My oldest has known for years that she can drink beer in our house if she wants. She has tasted it once or twice and never showed interest in any of it.

You'll have to judge your own kids' personalities and their friends' as well of course. There are tap locks and you can even install an electronic solenoid to close the liquid lines off with a key. That may be a more expensive option, but one of the most convenient.

 

[knotquiteawake]

I am thankful I have about 13 years to figure out what I'm going to do before I have to worry about that with my son.

 

[Phyrst]

There is a lot of bad advice on this site..... this may be the worst.

I disagree with you. Would you rather your kids learn how to drink from you or from their 19 year old friend with a funnel in one hand and a 40 oz. Natty light in the other?

My dad used to let my have a sip of his beer before I was ten years old. What I learned then was that beer tasted nasty compared to Coke and fruit juice. When I got older he would let me drink a beer or two when we were sitting on the back porch or out in the fishing boat. But he never got drunk and he didn't let me get drunk. When I went off to college, drinking was no big deal to me. I got a little crazy and went on some binges, and then I woke up in the morning with a pounding headache thinking "this sucks". So my dad taught me how to have a beer or two to get a buzz and have a good time without ending up in the emergency room getting my stomach pumped. I think that was pretty good advice.

 

[markm2151]

Drink with them so they're no longer curious... Better get them used to it before they hit college.

I support this poster. As a individual who was NEVER exposed to alcohol prior to college, I can say from personal experience, I should have been introduced to it prior to entering college. If a teenager has no experience to alcohol prior to college, they WILL find it, they WILL drink it, and they WILL abuse it until they understood how to get it under control.

While I do not have kids of my own, I fully plan on introducing them to alcohol prior to them attending college. They need to know the affects, and how to drink responsibly. You can lecture all you want, however, until the teenager can pair your lecture with their personal experience they will never take your words seriously. Alcohol should not be treated as a taboo, after all, grown adults, let alone teenagers, always want the forbidden fruit. You want what you can't have have. If alcohol is taboo, they will pursue it even more, abuse it even more. Introduce them to alcohol early. Show them how to indulge responsible. Because I ensure you, when they go to college they will be drinking. Would you rather them know how to drink responsibly, or would you have them walk into college blind? Your choice. I want my kid prepared.

 

[Logzor]

Provided an unlimited supply of sugary beverages / snacks and your kids will have a higher chance of staying away from beer. I never really liked beer until I stopped consuming massive amount of pop on a regular basis. Make them drink like 6 a day. Oh and video games, provide lots of video games. Why go out and drink when you are addicted to the latest MMORPG?

If you're used to drinking pop constantly, beer is going to taste horrible.

Growing up I was never told beer in the fridge was off limits. I sampled a few here and there, probably after I was 16. I moved out at 18 and went to college. I'm 26 now and just getting into brewing and drinking beer.

Also, put up a sign that says "one of these kegs contains a powerful laxative".

 

[neophilus]

I wouldn't be surprised if there was some type of liability concerns if you don't make an effort to keep alcohol away from your teenager's friends. God forbid someone gets injured after drinking in your house, you could end up in legal or financial trouble.

It's good to teach your kids responsibility and expose them to responsible consumption, but at the same time you have to be realistic about some of the dangers associated with alcohol.

 

[WildOnions]

It really depends on the kid, however, I would lock it up, tell them they can try some with you when they are 18.

The reality is, kids think getting drunk is fun & rebelious, maybe your child respects the rules/laws enough to where this won't be a temptation, but many kids, regardless of how their parents have shown them to be responsible with alcohol will not be able to resist. There is no silver bullet for how to handle this from what I can tell, so best to be proactive and make sure they only get into your brew on your terms, whatever those may be.

 

[pyth]

Education on the dangers of booze is one way....I personally found education on the dangers theft...especially the theft of dads beer to work best.

You can paint a much more vivid picture of the consequences of that.

Other then that though, I don't generally deny my kids a beer if they ask. They're both 16+. America tends to have an ass backwards idea about the dangers of a beer with dinner or after mowing the lawn etc.

 

[brettwasbtd]

I (25 years old) was just talking about high school drinking with my sister and brother in law (32 and 34) this past weekend. My sister was saying how she regretted it and the stupid stuff she had done in high. I didn't start drinking until my senior year of high school, but just cause I wasn't drinking didn't mean I wasnt doing a bunch of stupid stuff! My friends and I would fill ketchup packets up at the local mcdonalds and then drive around tossing them and opposing traffic drivers windshields (pretty dangerous to the other driver). We went streaking in highly visible areas (thank goodness we were never caught and even more so that we weren't 18 at the time!) And did a bunch of other stupid stuff with no alcohol or drugs in the mix!

I and my friends were pretty responsible and when we did drink it was in one location and we spent the night there - usually someones parents went out of town. A huge problem I see with high school drinking is that there is a lot of driving involved. Kids have curfews or are expected to be home and they make dumb decisions. In college, everything was walkable, and my college provided a great late night "drunk bus" route from campus to the off-campus apartment complexes. So drinking and driving was pretty non-existent.

So like others have mentioned, know your kids and make things on a case by case basis. I like what the other poster's dad had said about telling your kids what you want and letting their friends parents make the decisions for them.

I don't have kids yet, and realize that when I do my views on this topic could change, especially as I am further removed from the age. But I think responsible exposure at family functions and under parent supervision is far from the worst thing that could happen. Also suprised no one has pointed this out, but if you let your kids taste under your supervision, you will be creating another craft beer drinker instead of the BMC swill

I'd also like to point out that my wife and I are in the vast minority when it comes to drinking to get drunk/wasted amongst our friends. Seems that 90% of our friends from college still get trashed once or twice every weekend....def feel there is a lot of immaturity still of the mid-20s age group

 

[Zamial]

Locks are only going to keep honest people honest. If a dishonest person OR a person that's brain has not fully developed yet (teenagers) that struggles with right/wrong concepts they are nearly worthless.

As far as ancient cultures and other cultures go. In ancient Egypt even children were given a dish of beer. In Germany there is no drinking age if you have money and can reach the bar you get served. In France most children are given a small glass of wine with dinner.

I agree with teaching your kids about alcohol and responsibility. Even to go as far to encourage small samples (if it is legal to do so in your state.) If you turn someone into a craft beer drinker and teach responsibility when drinking AND lead by example I can not see how this is worse than putting locks on stuff. A lock screams,"I DO NOT TRUST YOU." This course also means less "out of control drinking parties" in the later high school/collage years.

Teach your children to not give into peer pressure IF a classmate/friend or themselves thinks/says "Let's have some of your dad's beer." They need to say "No. My father is a great guy and I do not want to screw up my relationship with him or do something that we have talked about being wrong." This means you will have to actually talk to your kids AND have a good relationship with them.

 

[kicary]

demystifying alcohol seems to be the best way to go. Education can lessen the draw and attraction to your beer better than any lock can. I educate my son about alcohol (he is 7) and include him in the whole process of brewing. He's great with helping clean the equipment and when I was bottling he would help clean the bottles and fill them.

Others here have commented about High School kids getting anything they want, and it is true. There will come a time that kids will be curious about the things we prohibit them to do...it is only natural. I would think the biggest worry would not be your kids, but their friends sipping on your keg and/or pressuring your kids into letting them try some. Peer pressure is very powerful.

Trust that your kids will do the right thing and allow them to be "adult" about their decisions and actions. When they do breach your trust then deal with it then.

We can not plan for everything in life, and often times we must trust in our own gut instinct especially when it comes to our kids.

 

[NickTheGreat]

The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court had a kegger at their house with dozens of high school studnets there. No charges were filed. . .

 

[buzzkill]

do you want their fist time getting drunk to be with you around to keep them safe, or for it to happen when you are not around to keep them safe. it will happen.

 

[ptakers]

There is a lot of bad advice on this site..... this may be the worst.

So in the spirit of taking everything literally, I ask that you please read every bit of advice ever given out on this board and then support your claim

 

[TKOriginal]

The Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court had a kegger at their house with dozens of high school studnets there. No charges were filed. . .

God bless the Panther State.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

So in the spirit of taking everything literally, I ask that you please read every bit of advice ever given out on this board and then support your claim

And in other truly vague and unsubstantiated news, cocky poo poo blart fart you smell.

 

[nulfis]

Locks are only going to keep honest people honest. If a dishonest person OR a person that's brain has not fully developed yet (teenagers) that struggles with right/wrong concepts they are nearly worthless..

Yeah. You also run into the issue that the more complex your lockdown system becomes, the more annoying it becomes for the user (you). And eventually you get lazy and scrap the whole idea because it's too much of a hassle.

I think some form of low grade security is never a bad thing, simply to do what stores do with shoplifting, that is, to provide a cheap, visible security solution to discourage thefts of opportunity and so on. In the end, there's no such thing as perfect security.

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

Have any of you thought of sitting down with your kids, spending some time with them, and beating them?!






No really, we have two teenage boys, 16 and 13 and I feel it's really important to talk with your kids about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse, and about the realities of responsible use of recreational drugs and alcohol. Let's be real, we all use at least one drug recreationally and our children are very aware of this, the approach of "do as I say, not as I do" didn't work in 20 years ago when I was a teen, and it doesn't work now. Our boys seldom see me or their mother buzzed, but they see us enjoy beer (and sometimes wine) most days. They understand that we enjoy tasting and brewing beer, and that intoxication is a side effect of over indulgence that responsible adults try to avoid (most of the time). I think teens are far more likely to act like the adults they see in their daily lives than they are to act completely differently from their parents/guardians just because "we say so".
Also, on the subject of giving teens a taste, or even a bottle of beer.... first off, it's legal in many states and all arguments aside, not at all immoral (IMO) if done in an appropriate fashion. I'm not saying letting your kids drink is a good idea, but I see nothing wrong with a father and his son enjoying a bottle of beer while fishing or doing yard work. I may be way off base here, but I learned about alcohol from my parents, mainly my father, who drinks a few brews a night, always has unless it's a special occasion. Even when we were little, dad would let us have a 'sip' here and there, and as we got older, he'd let me and my brother have the occasional beer if the situation was appropriate (after a hard day in the yard, on a fishin'/huntin' trip, or even the occasional evening on the patio). I'm not saying I never went balls out drinking at a party when I was younger, but I've never been an abusive drinker (meaning I've never sought to drink for a buzz) and I've never struggled with the ills of alcoholism (even though it runs rampant on my mother's side, her included).
I think it's all about teaching your kids to grow into responsible adults, and not just when it comes to drinking, but in every way. If you pretend that alcohol is this taboo that noone can touch until the magical day when they've been alive for 21 years, how can you expect them to act responsibly with alcohol at that point? I mean, last time I checked, 21 year olds were just as rowdy and irresponsible as say an 18 year old.