Alcohol at Chuck E Cheese yes or no - What do you think??

[jekajekalynn]

It doesn't really matter to me one way or the other... I'm not that big on alcohol myself though...



After your best friend is killed an hour before she was comming to your birthday party in her car by a boozed up drunk suburban lady going 70 down a rural road... It starts to make you think....

 

[stemikger]

I used to be a fool and have a drink and drive. Now if I am the designated driver, I drink soda. Not even one beer. I was the type of guy who could drink a six pack and you would have no idea I was drinking. I always held by liquor very good. In fact, when I see people acting crazy from drinking, that never really happened to me.

However, these days at 42 years old, my limit is about three drinks and I'm done. But don't confuse the two I strictly think if you are driving, you can't drink. Period. But if you are not the driver, you should be able to indulge and have a good time. There is nothing wrong with that.

That is why I love going to EPCOT. I take the bus from my hotel and have a good time walking through the countries having a few beers and not worrying about getting into a car.

The best things in life are wine, women and song. Let us just be eat, drink and be merry as long as we aren't driving.

 

[jekajekalynn]

Exactly...If you drink...PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF GOD don't drive...

If you ever try to get behind the wheel after a drink or two please insert the image of a sweet 14 year old girl named Danelle Ann in your head who was killed instantly by a lady who also thought that 3 martinis shouldn't of got her that drunk... but it did... and now Dannie's gone ...

 

[pearlieq]

pearlieq - For our family, it's not a fantasyland, it's reality. It irritates me that those of you who drink think that you are more reasonable and realistic than we are because we don't drink. I absolutely have implied that children should be taught that alcohol is an adult activity, but to say that your reality is going to serve your kids better because it includes alcohol, is totally ridiculous. Fantasyland implies covering things up, not speaking the truth, and glossing things over to alter reality - we are not going to do anything of the kind when it comes to alcohol. We don't drink it and it's not in our home; therefore, we will have to teach our daughter about the fact that it is an activity that some people enjoy, as well as some people abuse, but to say that she is somehow going to be at a disadvantage because we don't drink is pretty backward logic if you ask me.

Tiger

Well, if you'd like to back up about 500 ft. from that huge conclusion you jumped to, I actually don't drink and there isn't alcohol in our house. I'm simply saying I can tolerate it in a restaurant. And I actually do think excluding it from a restautant would fit your definition of Fantasyland.

But you seem completely polarized in your opinion, so there's not much point in us discussing it. If you don't like it, don't go to places that serve alcohol.

 

[TexasCourt]

I do not see the big deal. I think this is fine, especially if there is a 2 beer limit.

 

[pajamommy]

I haven't read the whole thread, but while I sit here having my glass of wine, I thought I'd just chime in and say.......I love the wine and beer at CEC!! I am a preschool teacher for 8 hours of the day, a Mom 24 hours of the day....and if I have to be subjected to CEC after all of that, well, bring on the wine!

 

[Tiger926]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one! The fact remains that I have been called "regimented", "uptight" and "living in a Fantasyland," all because I don't believe that alcohol should be served at places in which the target clientele is children. I never once said the government should ban alcohol from all restaurants - not sure how anyone made this conclusion. I merely gave my vast experiences with teenagers who drink and whose families drink, as well as the fact that I honestly believe that it is ridiculous for parents not to be able to last an hour at Chuck E Cheese without having a drink. My hubby and I are proud of the fact that we don't waste our time, money or energies on consuming chemicals such as alcohol or coffee, as these are not value worthy activities for us. Just because I say that my hubby and I don't prefer to drink, doesn't mean I'm saying that there is something wrong with people who do - there is no basis for that connection, nor is that my position to do so.

The fact remains as I've already mentioned that our family has had many negative experiences with alcohol (alcoholism and drunk driving victims - 3 to be exact) and so yeah, my hubby and I do have very strong viewpoints of this drug and we are allowed to do so. The fact that some of you felt the need to insult me by calling me rigid or uptight is ignorant given the fact that I told you of my negative family experiences with alcohol. The fact remains that our society is one of excess, so your idea of moderation in regards to alcohol may not be mine; therefore, since Chuck E Cheese is an establishment that caters to kids, I don't feel that alcohol should be served, since kids can't drink. If we use this argument, than there should be play lands at all adult bars and adult establishments (bars, cafes, etc.), as well as children's movies shown on screens at sport bars because kids may accompany their parents to these places and they may want to play while they are there. Silly argument, isn't it? There is a time and place for everything, and alcohol at Chuck E Cheese or Magic Kingdom, or showing children's movies at sport bars for that matter, is not age appropriate based on the target audience.

Tiger

 

[jodifla]

I guess we'll have to agree to disagree on this one! The fact remains that I have been called "regimented", "uptight" and "living in a Fantasyland," all because I don't believe that alcohol should be served at places in which the target clientele is children. I never once said the government should ban alcohol from all restaurants - not sure how anyone made this conclusion. I merely gave my vast experiences with teenagers who drink and whose families drink, as well as the fact that I honestly believe that it is ridiculous for parents not to be able to last an hour at Chuck E Cheese without having a drink. My hubby and I are proud of the fact that we don't waste our time, money or energies on consuming chemicals such as alcohol or coffee, as these are not value worthy activities for us. Just because I say that my hubby and I don't prefer to drink, doesn't mean I'm saying that there is something wrong with people who do - there is no basis for that connection, nor is that my position to do so.

The fact remains as I've already mentioned that our family has had many negative experiences with alcohol (alcoholism and drunk driving victims - 3 to be exact) and so yeah, my hubby and I do have very strong viewpoints of this drug and we are allowed to do so. The fact that some of you felt the need to insult me by calling me rigid or uptight is ignorant given the fact that I told you of my negative family experiences with alcohol. The fact remains that our society is one of excess, so your idea of moderation in regards to alcohol may not be mine; therefore, since Chuck E Cheese is an establishment that caters to kids, I don't feel that alcohol should be served, since kids can't drink. If we use this argument, than there should be play lands at all adult bars and adult establishments (bars, cafes, etc.), as well as children's movies shown on screens at Sports Bars because kids may accompany their parents to these places and they may want to play while they are there. Silly argument, isn't it? There is a time and place for everything, and alcohol at Chuck E Cheese or Magic Kingdom for that matter is not age appropriate.

Tiger

Again, an argument not tied to reality. In fact, many sports bars around have games for kids to play. Ever been to a Dave & Busters??

MGM and Epcot are family places, just like MK. Plenty of liquor there.

Edited to add: Never had a beer at Chuck E. Cheese, but this thread has inspired me to start! I will try to avoid spelling on the little ones, though.

 

[Tiger926]

Again, I love how several posters feel the need to educate me about what's reality and what isn't - do you live in my city or in my household for that matter? We have strict rules about kids being allowed in bars, or restaurants that serve alcohol in my city. I've grown up in a restaurant family for 35 years - restaurants, private dining clubs, cafeterias, etc., so I am well aware of liquor rulings in my city. That being said, none of the sport bars in my area have anything to do with kids, in fact, we have a bylaw in effect where kids aren't allowed in most of these establishments past 9:00 pm due to alcohol and smoking restrictions. As of May 31st, my entire province will be under a new smoking law in which all enclosed workplaces and public places in Ontario will be smoke-free, so I'm used to things running differently in my city.

In fact, many of these places in my city have nothing suitable for kids at all, even during the day - no children's menus and can't even get highchairs from what I've been told by friends who have been to these places. Their target audience is adults, and that is how they conduct themselves, so why shouldn't Chuck E Cheese follow suit? Most parents I talk to don't want kids anywhere near these places, but they want beer at Chuck E Cheese, again, doesn't seem fair to me. Also, never been to Dave and Busters, so I wouldn't know about that.

Tiger

 

[Toby'sFriend]

Again, I love how several posters feel the need to educate me about what's reality and what isn't - do you live in my city or in my household for that matter?

rather similar to the way you have told several posters that the ONLY proper way to be a role model to children is to completely forgo drinking alcohol - because we are all raising our children to be huge lushes by allowing them to see us drink a glass of wine at The Olive Garden such.

Their target audience is adults, and that is how they conduct themselves, so why shouldn't Chuck E Cheese follow suit?

Why shouldn't they? Because they have found it to be a good business practice to serve a product that their customers want. If that bothers you -- don't go.

To me, the real question is WHY SHOULD they be prevented from serving a legal product in a legal manner in their own business simply to suit your personal sense of parenting morality which quite frankly is far out of wack with most of society?

 

[jodifla]

Again, I love how several posters feel the need to educate me about what's reality and what isn't - do you live in my city or in my household for that matter? We have strict rules about kids being allowed in bars, or restaurants that serve alcohol in my city. I've grown up in a restaurant family for 35 years - restaurants, private dining clubs, cafeterias, etc., so I am well aware of liquor rulings in my city. That being said, none of the sport bars in my area have anything to do with kids, in fact, we have a bylaw in effect where kids aren't allowed in most of these establishments past 9:00 pm due to alcohol and smoking restrictions. As of May 31st, my entire province will be under a new smoking law in which all enclosed workplaces and public places in Ontario will be smoke-free, so I'm used to things running differently in my city.

In fact, many of these places in my city have nothing suitable for kids at all, even during the day - no children's menus and can't even get highchairs from what I've been told by friends who have been to these places. Their target audience is adults, and that is how they conduct themselves, so why shouldn't Chuck E Cheese follow suit? Most parents I talk to don't want kids anywhere near these places, but they want beer at Chuck E Cheese, again, doesn't seem fair to me. Also, never been to Dave and Busters, so I wouldn't know about that.

Tiger

What do you mean, it doesn't seem "fair"? It doesn't seem fair to allow adults of legal age to drink?

You also obsess about teens getting the wrong message. There are no teens at Chuck E. Cheese. And most youngsters don't care what their parents are drinking, they care if they have enough tokens for the games.

It is too bad there isn't more in your area for kids. But it hardly seems that selling beer and wine ruins the Chuck E. Cheese experience for anyone but you.

 

[pearlieq]

I have been called "regimented", "uptight" and "living in a Fantasyland,"

Not to interfere with your desire to be offended, but can you please quote exactly where someone directly accused YOU of "living in a Fantasyland"?

I called your opinion "polarized" and I'm happy to cop to that, but the comment I made was referring to the exclusion of alcohol from a kids restaurant as creating a Fantasyland. It had nothing to do with you personally.

 

[lillygator]

What's scary to think is that Tiger is impressioning these views (and considering the strength to their beliefs) on children......it's one thing to say you can drink at xxx age and another to say it is wrong and should be classified with caffine and cigs....where does sex aside from reproduction rank in there...ph ph ph please....

ETA: I don't mean positive views...I mean views in the sense not allowed in the home etc..which is the impression I get.

 

[TnKrBeLlA012]

I personally don't think alcohol should be served at ChuckyCheese. It is a place for kids. When I take my 4yr I don't order myself a couple drinks. I go there for my daughter to have a good time. Drinking and then driving my child home is not a great idea. I think I could control myself for a couple of hours. I have seen adults drinking beer the whole time the child plays. That is wrong. Is alcohol that important in people's lives that they can't go without? But we do live in America. Anything goes!

 

[Planogirl]

But we do live in America. Anything goes!

I agree with this part of your statement. People have the right to engage in any legal activities that they wish to.

 

[Aidensmom]

I have had a beer at Chuck E Cheese (and believe me, I can go for more than an hour without a beer. However, I have never been at Chuck E Cheese for only an hour. )

I have also had beer at Animal Kingdom, MGM, and Epcot, and *gasp* even the pool at the hotel, all while my child is there. Had the free ones at Busch Gardens and Sea World too.

We also eat dinner sometimes at a local sports bar. DS likes to play the games, and DH and I will have a beer or two while there.

There is a big difference between having a drink or two and being drunk or an alcoholic. I think it is actually good for a child to learn that drinking can be done in moderation. Its the forbidden things that a child usually wants to try the most....

Bottom line, I see nothing wrong with CEC selling alcohol. Having a beer on ocassion does not make one an unfit parent, and it doesn't hurt a child to see their parent enjoying one now and then.

 

[disneyfreakjackie]

I visited Chuck E Cheese about 2 weeks ago and noticed that wine and beer was on the menu. I was extremely surprised and appalled to see it being offered at an establishment that is geared towards children. I saw one woman walking around with a plastic cup of beer. When I sent an e-mail to Customer Service, I was told that they surveyed mothers, and they felt it was "appropriate" and even "desirable" to sell alcoholic beverages.

What do you think?? Should Chuck E Cheese sell alcohol to adults who might be responsible for transporting children in a car??

ABSOLUTELY INAPPROPRIATE!! BAD CHUCK E ...

 

[Tiger926]

So, I discussed this with my hubby last night - I'll keep his comments to myself - LOL! - and here is what we came up with:

1. Pierlieq - You didn't need to directy say I lived in a Fantasyland since you made the statement that excluding alcohol from kids' establishments would create a Fantasyland - this directly connects to me (and any of the other posters who feel the same way, I guess) as I believe that alcohol should be excluded from these places; therefore, I would be contributing to this Fantasyland. If this wasn't your intention, then you woudn't have referenced the Fantasyland statement since it was directed at those of us who share this belief.

2. The entire crux of this argument is the fact that many of you don't like your rights taken away and this can be proven by this statement: "But we do live in America. Anything Goes." No comment is necessary from me here as I don't want to get into a cultural debate with any of you since I am not American and I absolutely don't subscribe to this theory - which I'm sure many of you already figured out. Life is about sacrifice - giving up a beer for a few hours while your kids play at Chuck E Cheese is not that big of a deal.

3. Most parents I know demand that I am a positive role model and very moral in my beliefs at all times when in the company of their children; therefore, it is not acceptable nor encouraged for teachers to frequent kiddie bars in my city because we would be interacting with our students. In fact, some principals even suggest that teachers don't drink in public at all, nor frequent strip clubs, get caught gambling excessively at the Casino, etc. You can say it's creating a Fantasyland, but that's not how we look at it since we are are trained to remember that each and everytime we step out into our community, we must conduct ourselves in a positive and responsible manner = good role model at all times, even when not on the clock; therefore, most of us who take our vocation of teaching very seriously, don't frequent bars at all, or very sparingly, whether it's during the day after work or at night. This way, no potential problems can arise as we've heard many stories of students approaching teachers to buy them drinks, change grades, sexual flirting issues, etc. Regardless of whether it's one drink or a teacher is drunk, our view is, if don't put yourself in these situations, then you've averted a whole host of problems. Every parent I know absolutely appreciates this, and so that's my viewpoint with eliminating alcohol at child centred establishments.

4. In direct relation to this, I am going to provide 2 scenarios here that directly use the logic that many of you rebutted to me. They directly relate to my role model comment, and the fact that many of you believe that since drinking is legal, it is totally fine to partake in it around children. Here goes:

a) An elementary school teacher takes her class to Chuck E Cheese for a special field trip during school time. The teacher subscribes to the same theory as many of you: I like to drink, so I therefore should be able to drink - never mind that my priority should be my class and this isn't the most appropriate time to do so. Alcohol is legal, and so she has 2 beers during the time her class is at Chuck E Cheese.

b) I take my high school students (ages 14-19 - some underage, some not) to Toronto or New York for a field trip (museums, galleries, theatres, etc.). Each night, we eat at a different restaurant: Hard Rock Cafe, Italian restaurant or Planet Hollywood, for example. I like to drink, so again, since alcohol is legal, I have a couple of drinks each night while I am directly supervising your children. As well, for lunch, we have picnics in the park, so since I enjoy alcohol, I pull out a bottle of wine for myself to enjoy while I am eating my lunch, again, while directly supervising your children.

I would love to hear your responses on these two scenarios as they use the same logic based on your rebuttals to me. In neither scenario do I become drunk, as I only have a few drinks in moderation. The point is though, as with Chuck E Cheese, anytime alcohol is served, you do have the potential for problems with drunkeness, etc., and being in the company of children, this would not be good. Anyway, the first one is hypothetical, but I absolutely know that the parent volunteers who accompanied this teacher would be calling our school boards within minutes of returning home to report this teacher, and would more than likely sue our board or demand for her resignation (similar situations have happened in my city). The second one has actually happened several times in my city: one teacher was suspended and demoted (was a department head), the other one was fired.

So, what are your reponses? Using your logic that alcohol in moderation is fine in children's establishments (elementary scenario), or, that responsible drinking is ok as we are all adults (high school situation), I should mostly see that you would be ok if I did this as a teacher/role model while caring for your children, based on your rationals and responses to me.

Tiger

 

[MrsKreamer]

4. In direct relation to this, I am going to provide 2 scenarios here that directly use the logic that many of you rebutted to me. They directly relate to my role model comment, and the fact that many of you believe that since drinking is legal, it is totally fine to partake in it around children. Here goes:

a) An elementary school teacher takes her class to Chuck E Cheese for a special field trip during school time. The teacher subscribes to the same theory as many of you: I like to drink, so I therefore should be able to drink - never mind that my priority should be my class and this isn't the most appropriate time to do so. Alcohol is legal, and so she has 2 beers during the time her class is at Chuck E Cheese.

b) I take my high school students (ages 14-19 - some underage, some not) to Toronto or New York for a field trip (museums, galleries, theatres, etc.). Each night, we eat at a different restaurant: Hard Rock Cafe, Italian restaurant or Planet Hollywood, for example. I like to drink, so again, since alcohol is legal, I have a couple of drinks each night while I am directly supervising your children. As well, for lunch, we have picnics in the park, so since I enjoy alcohol, I pull out a bottle of wine for myself to enjoy while I am eating my lunch, again, while directly supervising your children

I would love to hear your responses on these two scenarios as they use the same logic based on your rebuttals to me. In neither scenario do I become drunk, as I only have a few drinks in moderation. The point is though, as with Chuck E Cheese, anytime alcohol is served, you do have the potential for problems with drunkeness, etc., and being in the company of children, this would not be good. Anyway, the first one is hypothetical, but I absolutely know that the parent volunteers who accompanied this teacher would be calling our school boards within minutes of returning home to report this teacher, and would more than likely sue our board or demand for her resignation (similar situations have happened in my city). The second one has actually happened several times in my city: one teacher was suspended and demoted (was a department head), the other one was fired.

So, what are your reponses? Using your logic that alcohol in moderation is fine in children's establishments (elementary scenario), or, that responsible drinking is ok as we are all adults (high school situation), I should mostly see that you would be ok if I did this as a teacher/role model while caring for your children, based on your rationals and responses to me.

Tiger

In both instances the teacher is on DUTY! Both of your scenerios are completely ridiculous. It is one thing for a parent watching their own child to have a drink, but completely different if it is a teacher or other childcare provider drinking while on duty! To compare the two is really absurd!

 

[dcgrumpy]

In both instances the teacher is on DUTY! Both of your scenerios are completely ridiculous. It is one thing for a parent watching their own child to have a drink, but completely different if it is a teacher or other childcare provider drinking while on duty! To compare the two is really absurd!

ITA, I've never worked at any job where you could drink while on duty