When I was a kid my parents would give me small portions of Port wine or of a mild liquor that we call "agua-pe" (translating would mean something like "foot-water" ). Didn't kill me and might have done more good than harm. These days I drink socially and I think my attitude towards alcohol is quite healthy.

I remember, as a kid, my mom drizzling bright green "creme de menthe" liqueur on our ice cream for dessert after our corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick's Day, and we'd have our parish priest over for dinner.

I remember one Halloween, we all drank a bottle of ripple wine with our dinner so that I could dress up as a drunken hobo, with the empty bottle, a cigar in my mouth and coffee grounds on my face as a beard. Not funny these days, but this was 50+ years ago. Yep, I'm Irish.

I really don't think starting six year olds on whiskey , is a very good thing . Too many alcoholics already . It is common knowledge that alcoholic husbands are typically also spouse and/or children abusers . Teaching small children that alcohol is a sign of maturity is exceedingly stupid .