Kids in liquor stores.... First impressions?

[disneyquestions]

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.

 

[Kellydelly]

I would take my kids into a liquor store, I don't see anything wrong with that. The problem is the cigarrettes!

 

[MushyMushy]

I don't really have an issue with it, unless we're talking about a seedy type of place on the wrong side of the tracks. Living in PA, we can only buy our liquor in a liquor store, or beer from a beer distributor (don't get me started on that!), so it's not like you can just grab something on your grocery rounds.

And what difference does it make if the guy at the store knows the mom and kids? Who cares? The manager of our town's liquor store knows me, but not because I'm in there all that often. And if I am, I'm of legal age to purchase, so there's nothing wrong with that.

 

[marcyinPA]

I buy wine fairly regularly and have brought my children with me on a number of ocassions, even when they were younger. I always instructed them not to touch. I have no problem with it. I'm an adult, and adults can drink legally. We are social drinkers and nothing more. My oldest son knew different wine names (Merlot, Chardonnay, etc.) at a young age and my BIL taught my youngest son, 10 at the time, how to tap a keg at a family graduation party. He poured beers all day long...it was his job... He even made tips!

We are responsible parents...I would hate for people to judge me based on bringing my kids into a liquor store!

ETA: What I do take issue to are the parents who host parties and serve alcohol to minors. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

 

[C.Ann]

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.

Which means she may have been making these purchases for someone else.. (Underlining mine..)

They may all know each other because they're related somehow..

There make be a big party coming up - or a wedding..

She may make these purchases once a month for someone else because she has the time - or it's closer for her..

I wouldn't have made any judgment about it/her.. Not my business..

 

[disneyquestions]

I don't really have an issue with it, unless we're talking about a seedy type of place on the wrong side of the tracks. Living in PA, we can only buy our liquor in a liquor store, or beer from a beer distributor (don't get me started on that!), so it's not like you can just grab something on your grocery rounds.

And what difference does it make if the guy at the store knows the mom and kids? Who cares? The manager of our town's liquor store knows me, but not because I'm in there all that often. And if I am, I'm of legal age to purchase, so there's nothing wrong with that.

Thats how it is here, they don't sell liquor in the grocery stores or anywhere other than a liquor store, so you MUST go into one to get anything if you want it.
My point to the employees knowing the kids, was that it seemed to me that it ment they were in there often (especially seeing that the mom had a pre-written out check to pay). So then my brain went to "I wonder how much this woman (and husband) are drinking? Are they drinking in front of her kids?" Totally circumstantial, I have no evidence of this at all, and I could totally be wrong (really hope I am), but some times you just get that feeling, you know?

 

[marcyinPA]

Thats how it is here, they don't sell liquor in the grocery stores or anywhere other than a liquor store, so you MUST go into one to get anything if you want it.
My point to the employees knowing the kids, was that it seemed to me that it ment they were in there often (especially seeing that the mom had a pre-written out check to pay). So then my brain went to "I wonder how much this woman (and husband) are drinking? Are they drinking in front of her kids?" Totally circumstantial, I have no evidence of this at all, and I could totally be wrong (really hope I am), but some times you just get that feeling, you know?

OMG...We're not supposed to drink in front of our kids??!!! UH OH!

Did the woman appear to be intoxicated when you saw her? If not, I'd say you have no reason to assume anything.

 

[SandrA9810]

Well as long as you don't suspect the mother of being an alcoholic, I don't really see the big deal in it. I can't image a monthly or weekly party at the hospital for employees. But it's very possible she's purchasing for her husband's group poker night. Or some other after hours get together with friends. In which case, a large purchase probably won't even go that far around.

I do love all the mixers that come in cool looking bottles, like the wavy ones. I want a set just to sit in the china cabinet.

 

[disneyquestions]

OMG...We're not supposed to drink in front of our kids??!!! UH OH!
Did the woman appear to be intoxicated when you saw her? If not, I'd say you have no reason to assume anything.

LOL I will admit that I have had a few infront of my kids. Never really in the house, but out at dinner, or weddings, etc. I don't find anything wrong with it, thats not the way I ment it at all. I ment on a regular basis, to the point of getting "to" drunk.

 

[Belle0101]

I don't know anything about liquor stores except the ones in our little town but here, NOBODY can even enter any of the liquor stores without first showing ID.

I went in once with my DH when we were looking for a particular type of wine. I left my purse in our car because DH was going to pay. We weren't even 5 feet in the door when the clerk shouted, "IDs?"

I told her that mine was in the car and DH said he was paying. But she said no go. Then she showed us a sign that said, paraphrasing here, anyone on the premises had to have their ID on their person at all times or would be asked to leave. There was also a notice that even with ID NOBODY under 21 was allowed on the premises.

So, I'm surprised that kids were even in a liquor store because I just presumed this was a U.S. law. Maybe it's just another wierd little quirk of my town?

 

[FlightlessDuck]

As for what this lady does, it's none of your business.

As for my kids, they are old enough to stay home, or in the car. So I probably wouldn't bring them into a liquor store.

 

[punkin]

The liquor store owner in my shopping center knows me and my DD11 by name. I like wine and so does he and we discuss bottles periodically. Sometimes he has good recommendations for me of inexpensive but worth trying wines that I would never have tried otherwise. If I buy two bottles a month, it's a lot. I usually go in with my DD though, because it is on the way home from her school.

Now the cigarettes.....

 

[disneyquestions]

Well as long as you don't suspect the mother of being an alcoholic, I don't really see the big deal in it. I can't image a monthly or weekly party at the hospital for employees. But it's very possible she's purchasing for her husband's group poker night. Or some other after hours get together with friends. In which case, a large purchase probably won't even go that far around.

I do love all the mixers that come in cool looking bottles, like the wavy ones. I want a set just to sit in the china cabinet.

I know! I was late to the party because I couldn't stop going around and looking at them all! LOL That, and I was trying to justify with myself getting a bottle of Baileys for $24 for our house.... We rarely drink in the house (it would just be for me since my husband would never have it), so there would be no real "need" for it, but I just love the stuff, and its so expencive when your out...

 

[Carly_Roach]

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.

Without reading any of the other replies, I'd have to say that liquor stores are no different from any other specialty store. I wouldn't have a problem with children in a bowling shirt store, or a big and tall men's store, or a tobacco store; as long as they aren't running around, screaming their heads off and pulling the merchandise off the shelves and all over the floor.

I might have a problem with children accompanying their parents to a Head shop. Maybe. Possibly. Perhaps. Hmm.....I'll have to give that some thought. After all, I went to Spencers when I was young and that qualifies as some sort of Head shop. I just thought it was cool and *gasp* forbidden!

And I suppose if they're with their parents and were well behaved, I guess I don't see any issues with children accompanying their parents to a Head shop.

But children accompanying their parents to a liquor store? Nope. I wouldn't even blink twice. Unless they were running around, screaming their heads off.....

Now children at an adult toy store.....yeah. I gotta big problem with that. Especially when they walk up and ask me what THAT is used for.

 

[HeatherH]

You can buy liquor in grocery stores here, there are tons of kids in grocery stores...I can't imagine why ANYONE would even NOTICE and what kind of problem it would be?

Even for the places where you have to go to liquor stores, I have zero issues with kids in there. It's not like they're handing out free samples or anything.

As for how much alcohol a person is buying...not my business. Or yours. Maybe she's stocking up for a couple of weeks? Again, just not anything I would ever notice or judge.

 

[LuvOrlando]

double

 

[LuvOrlando]

I don't like to take my kids in because it just feels unseemly. I have brought them in on occasion when I had to buy wine for cooking but it makes me really uncomfortable. I can't explain why I feel this way I just do

I don't know what I would have thought if I was in the OP's shoes but considering how uncomfortable I feel when I do it I suppose I would have taken notice of this other woman's lack of discomfort. Again I can't put my finger on why I guess that's something to consider, very curious.

 

[famofsix]

I wouldn't give it a second thought unless the kids were choosing the liquor

 

[Tweevil]

Nah, I wouldn't think twice about it. Here you have to go to the "liquor store" to buy and if my son was with me he would go in too.

I remember the days when we did fundraisers in front of them (cookies, bake sales, flower sales, etc..). They were THE BEST! That was until someone got a hair crosswise and decided it wasn't appropriate. In my experience, the people coming and going were just everyday people and the patrons bought a zillion of everything for their wife, mom, or themselves. ~But that's another thread for remembering when people could.....

I wouldn't think anything of it unless the kids were directing the buy or the parent was intoxicated then there would be a problem. The owners would probably be the ones making the call to have it taken care of - at least that's around here. Seen it myself once.

Just my opinion...

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't know anything about liquor stores except the ones in our little town but here, NOBODY can even enter any of the liquor stores without first showing ID.

I went in once with my DH when we were looking for a particular type of wine. I left my purse in our car because DH was going to pay. We weren't even 5 feet in the door when the clerk shouted, "IDs?"

I told her that mine was in the car and DH said he was paying. But she said no go. Then she showed us a sign that said, paraphrasing here, anyone on the premises had to have their ID on their person at all times or would be asked to leave. There was also a notice that even with ID NOBODY under 21 was allowed on the premises.

So, I'm surprised that kids were even in a liquor store because I just presumed this was a U.S. law. Maybe it's just another wierd little quirk of my town?

This must be a rule for that store, it's only 21 and over at some bars here, some bars are even all ages around here. I've never been to a liquor store that banned anyone under 21 from it.

I wouldn't give it a second thought unless the kids were choosing the liquor

I live in wine country, I've taken my kids to a tasting room for a tasting before. No they weren't tasting, DBF and I were. We asked if they could come in and sit at a table while we did the tasting and that's exactly what they did. they sat at a round table in our view while we tried 6 wines, the wine was not good, we did not buy and we left. It wasn't a big deal at all. I drink wine with my kids around and I take them to liquor stores with me, I wouldn't even think twice if I saw someone in a liquor store with kids, unless as the PP said the kids were choosing the liquor! I wouldn't even begin to presume (or care) why she knows the owner so well, it's not my business until it impacts me or my kids. Around here you can buy liquor/wine/beer etc in any grocery store but we regularly go to Bev Mo! and take the girls with us.