My parents used to allow us alcohol once in a while as kids. It was always part of some festivity like egg nothing at Christmas or wine at a special dinner. When I went to college away from home I was astounded at how much alcohol was abused by fellow residents in my dorm who had never been allowed to drink before leaving home. They thought of it as a right of passage. To me it is a part of celebrating friendships and using it as a "social lubricant." Traveling in Europe while in college I learned about all kinds of delicious liqueurs to be served and savored out of tiny stemware glasses. I keep a fully stocked bar at home but never drink alone. Sadly, so many people have abused alcohol and can no longer partake that I hardly ever am able to serve it to friends. They never learned to appreciate the finesse with which so many wines and liquors have been made or to savor them as one would any artistic creation. So sad.