Kids in liquor stores.... First impressions?

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

If you are doomed I don't know what I am! My first job was in a head shop! And I was paid under the table to boot. and are you ready My Mom worked there to!

Best part was I "knew" what the stuff was for but didn't know anything about using it, I was 14 and pretty innocent. I liked smelling the different scented papers tho and I used them with my hot curlers to keep my hair from tangling ! I remember selling bongs and not knowing how they were used. I did get really good at learning all the tricks for stealing a poster and how to spot a shoplifter. ah and I could spend a long time smelling all the oils, best part is my DD likes those now and gets them at the grown up hippie shop in town and anytime I go in there I just stand and smell because it smell just like our old shop and I have a deja vu moment from my youth. Also makes me miss my Mom cause after a while all your clothes smell like the shop, a delicious blend of incense and oils. Until my DD smacks me and says Mom quit grinning.

One of my favorite memories from my youth would be walking down Main Street with my Mom and some older Teen or young adult would say hi Mrs. S like they were old friends and she would greet them back. And I would say Mom do you know who that is? that is one of the biggest druggies in town and she would say I don't care/know that all I know is he is a very polite and mannerly boy who comes into the shop.

We also used to when we were little/elementary school run down to the corner store to buy cigarettes for my mom and dad regularly. And not a single one of us grew up to smoke.

Wonder how we ever managed to grow up into educated, productive members of society if you listen to the overprotective/helicopter Moms of today?

ummmm...raspberry incense....still takes me back!!!

another post mentioning breweries reminded me: we toured a brewery (and other sites) on a SCHOOL FIELD TRIP!!! It is a historical brewery that was around during prohibition and made root beer during that period. We were in a extra curricular history group - 7th grade.

they even had a beautiful old bar where every one on the tour got a small, free beverage. All us kids got root beer and the teachers actually did partake in a small sample of beer!!! Can you imagine that now!?

as others have said - hiding this stuff does no good, it is teaching responsible drinking that is the key!!!!!!

 

[maelcu]

LOL thank you!!!

 

[rubato]

I guess I'm guilty too. I would rather have my son next to me in the liquor store than alone in the car in the parking lot.

Oh, and I've purchased large quantities of liquor at one time.

Oh, and I've had a glass of wine in front of my child.

Oh, and I've purchased cigarettes for my father. I even did this while pregnant. Lots of looks there!

 

[mdsoccermom]

My mother smoked heavily when I was young. I remember being in middle school and buying her cigarettes for her! Now that I think about it, I cannot believe she had me do that.

 

[cm8]

Recently I was in a liquor store buying a bottle of wine for a party I was headed to. It was a Wednesday night work party thing. As I was walking around the store looking at what to buy (I didn't want to spend to much, and I don't go to liquor stores often, so seeing all the neat bottles was kinda fun. There was one in the shape of a skull for $45.99...lol) there was a mom in there with her two kids. I recognized the mom because of her scrubs - she was one of the moms in my daughters kindergarten class. The kids were talking to one of the store employees about the renovations that were being done. They seemed comfortable talking to him, like they knew each other. Then I went to the check out and I was behind the mom and her kids (only line open). The mom was purchasing a good amount of beer and hard liquor (and cigarettes) and paid with a pre-written check. They seemed to all know each other pretty well, the kids were talking to the check out person (a different employee) about school.

So what would be your first impression of this? What would your "judgement" be about this? This is only a liquor store, they don't sell anything else, other than maybe pineapple juice for mixers. Would you bring your children into a place like this? Would you do it if it were just a one time thing, or would you do it on a regular basis not even thinking twice about it. I've talked to a few people about it, and I get different reactions from everyone.

Our "liquor store" is the shoppette and they sell gas, ice cream and other little snacks that children want. We have no choice but to take them indoors sometimes. I don't think it's a big deal. I will not judge her as a parent for that

 

[Magpie]

My mother smoked heavily when I was young. I remember being in middle school and buying her cigarettes for her! Now that I think about it, I cannot believe she had me do that.

Oh gosh! I remember when I was nine, my mother would send me over to the seven-eleven to pick up her smokes for her.

When I was ten, some new law passed and I started having to bring a note from her saying I was allowed to buy cigarettes. Then a couple years later another law passed, and I wasn't allowed to pick them up for her any more.

Funny thing is, despite having a mother who thought it was the height of sophistication to smoke, I've never even been tempted to light up a cigarette. I always thought it looked and smelled icky, and was kind of an old-person habit.

 

[twinklebug]

Our "liquor store" is the shoppette and they sell gas, ice cream and other little snacks that children want. We have no choice but to take them indoors sometimes. I don't think it's a big deal. I will not judge her as a parent for that

Agreed. Ours have silly bands. One of the best recycling centers s in the backside of a liquor store just down the road. After recycling the coke bottles and cans we have to go inside to exchange the vouchers for cash. I encourage the kids to do all this with me and they, in turn, get the money. The kids treat the store like a museum of art... Some of those bottles are amazing.

Do I think being in a liquor store encourages kids to drink, smoke or gamble?
No. The way the kids treat all three of those things will depend upon what they experience within in the family, not at a store.

 

[xJenna]

My mother smoked heavily when I was young. I remember being in middle school and buying her cigarettes for her! Now that I think about it, I cannot believe she had me do that.

I'm 19 now and mom tries to get me to buy cigarettes for her. I absolutely refuse to. She was also not allowed to smoke in my car (when I had one), even though she constantly broke that rule.


As for the OP, my family has owned a wine store in Boston forever (they sell beer, snacks, soda, juice, cigarettes, etc.) I was in that shop as an infant. I still go in there now, I find no problem with it. It never bothered me or my parents because it was obvious I was not there for alcohol, my parents were. I grab an apple juice and go on my way. I've also been around wine and beer my whole life. Meaning, I've been to family parties where that has been alcohol or the holidays, things like that. I have never tasted alcohol, never wanted to, don't plan on it in the future either. IMO bringing a child into a liquor store while you buy liquor for a party or anything will have little to no influence on a child. It all depends on how the children are raised and exposed to alcohol.

 

[AndreaDM]

My DH is a liquor rep so my house is better stocked than some stores!!

One question, are they hiring?? This seriously sounds like my dream job!

 

[KimR]

My mother smoked heavily when I was young. I remember being in middle school and buying her cigarettes for her! Now that I think about it, I cannot believe she had me do that.

My Mother actually tried to send me to the liquor store when I was 16 to buy her a bottle of vodka. She called and told them I'd be coming down to buy a bottle of Smirnoff and I had her permission to do so. Yes, she actually thought that would work.

 

[pyrxtc]

I would take my kids into a liquor store. I take my kids to parties at the bars my parents belong to, well "social clubs". I grew up going to the clubs because my parents belonged and my Aunt owned a bar downtown that we watched all the parades from and I even worked at a bit when I got old enough. I don't think it's odd.

 

[maelcu]

One question, are they hiring?? This seriously sounds like my dream job!

That would depend on where you live pm me and I can check! It is a very large company and a sweet job. I still cant believe they actually pay him to do what he does

 

[Colleen27]

We don't have those kinds of stores here I guess. Our local liquor store has a Hershey's ice cream counter, a small deli with subs and by-the-pound cold cuts, and the usual party store selection of junk food and the sorts of groceries you might run out for after the real grocery store has closed (bread, milk, OJ, etc). There are kids in there all the time, for the ice cream and the rather impressive selection of old fashioned candies, and anyone who has been in there more than a couple times is friendly with the cashiers because that's just how our town is.

 

[Colleen27]

I have no problem with people drinking (moderatly) in the house or out to dinner and infront of their kids. But to me, I would never bring my children into a liquor store. I'd wait till my husband was home to watch them, or there was a neighbor that could watch them for the 10 minutes it would take to get there, etc. To me, liquor shouldn't be that important. Just me. And sorry, but bringing your children into a wine tasting is not OK. Just me.

I just don't get that. To me, going home, finding a sitter, and making a special trip back to the store is making it far more important than it needs to be. It isn't something forbidden or taboo, and there's no need to make that big a deal over a stop at a liquor store.

 

[Colleen27]

Why is it not ok to take your kids to a wine tasting? People don't go to them to get drunk. Again, modeling responsible behavior. We've gone there when they've set the kids up with coloring books, juice and crackers. Once we were there when the vintner was there as well. He took my son around and showed them where they cork and label the bottles. Their wine festivals always have children's activities.

Still not getting this whole idea that alcohol is BAD for kids to see.

I agree. I think I responded to that post and still missed the part about the wine tastings! A number of places and events that we go as a family have wine tastings or other adult beverages, and I've never seen that as anything more than modeling responsible adult behaviour. Heck, even the apple orchard we sometimes go to has a winery and offers samples of their fruit wines and hard cider to adult guests. And it doesn't get much more family-oriented than a u-pick orchard!

 

[Spoonful of Sugar]

I take DD into liquor stores, usually just buying wine for cooking (our grocery stores don't sell any alcahol). The first time I was totally self-conscious, but I've never gotten any weird looks.

 

[shortbun]

No big deal, imho. The bigger deal is that the parents might be consuming all of it in their presence. My Dad took me to the liquor store and I filled out the order form. He also took me to the ice house for beer. When I grew up, the guys at the ice house knew who I was and I could not use a fake ID to buy beer. sigh. :L

 

[MM27]

I don't understand why anyone would care what someone else was doing or buying in any store, liquor or not. It's not like the kids are taking swigs of the stuff in the store. They are out shopping with their parent.

My dad used to take me to the liquor store in town all the time. Sometimes it was to buy lottery tickets, sometimes to buy liquor. I always talked to the man that worked there and he would give us kids candy when we went in. Guess he was trying to get us hooked on the liquor store.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I have taken my kids as has my husband on many occasions through the years. Both the liquor stores I frequent the most have a big jar of lollipops for kids. I order the occasional drink at a restaurant in front of my kids and drink responsibly at home so not taking them to the store that sells liquor seems silly. I mean I don't make a point of it, or make it into Family Night at the Booze Store, but if I am out and need to stop in and the kids are with me, so what?

We have run into: dd's jr. high principal (he was with his kids too), a few teachers, and our minister on various trips to the liquor store. My pastor drinks the same beer my husband does! At least that is what was in his buggy.

Frankly, the idea of hiring a sitter so I can go shopping for something that is legal seems kind of crazy. I find that often if we make something very forbidden and mysterious, it just ups the interest and desire to try out that very cool thing mom and dad don't want you to be a part of.

To each their own I suppose.

 

[ckay87]

I would "judge" this situation by guessing that you are entirely too nosy and need something more constructive to occupy your thoughts.

And we're not supposed to drink in front of our kids, are you JOKING? It's a legal and valid activity for adults. Heck, I WANT my kids to see how adults are able to drink alcohol in a responsible manner. I WANT them to see me turn over my keys because I don't want to risk driving. I WANT them to see me have some drinks and then know when to stop. In other words, I want to model normal, adult behavior.

sheesh

Though I will say, I'd hesitate to take kids in a liquor store because of all that expensive, breakable, pretty, touchable GLASS!