sooo, another alcohol question!!

[lillygator]

Alcohol at at kids party come on, if you having an adult dinner party or something and wanna drink youself into oblivion be my guest. I don't think its appropriate at a kids party.

it's not appropriate to serve to children or not have someone keep an eye on the liquor but there is nothing wrong with serving the adults at the party....

 

[Bob Slydell]

Alcohol at at kids party come on, if you having an adult dinner party or something and wanna drink youself into oblivion be my guest. I don't think its appropriate at a kids party.

I think it all depends on the kids party. I mean, party for a group of 4 year olds at Chuck E Cheese -- not appropriate (albeit probably wouldn't hurt ).

But a party for your child's birthday that's mostly adults, like a family cookout. I don't see the problem with that.

 

[lillygator]

I can bet already that this will be a heated thread.....

 

[lemondog]

Yes, we are like this. I don't think it harms my children to see adults drinking responsibly.

Denae

Ditto.

 

[bajanswife]

Guess I missed this debate.

It was quite a while ago - I just have a long memory

There were quite a few against it then ... so far that hasn't been the case on this thread!

 

[babar]

Alcohol at at kids party come on, if you having an adult dinner party or something and wanna drink youself into oblivion be my guest. I don't think its appropriate at a kids party.

Even when there are 3 children and 17 adults?

 

[Stitch Inside]

Well, sort of, Chuck E. Cheese serves beer.
Anytime my family gets together, there's usually alcohol. Never around DW's, though.
My son nearly narced on me once in front of the in-laws. A Samuel Adams commercial was on and he piped up with, "Isn't that the root beer you like Dad?"
"No son, I like Barq's."

 

[Aidensmom]

I think that making alcohol such a taboo thing around children could actually harm them in the long run.

I completely agree. A child is not going to know what responsible drinking is if they never see it.

We served beer and wine at my son's 2nd and 3rd birthday parties, some people drink, some people don't, and no one acts like they are at a frat party. (The only reason we didn't have it at his 1st is because it was at a park where alcohol is not allowed.)

Some children's parties we have attended serve alchohol, and some don't, and I really have not noticed any differences in behavior from the adults or children.

 

[Missy1961]

I think it all depends on the kids party. I mean, party for a group of 4 year olds at Chuck E Cheese -- not appropriate (albeit probably wouldn't hurt ).

But a party for your child's birthday that's mostly adults, like a family cookout. I don't see the problem with that.

 

[Viking]

I think that making alcohol such a taboo thing around children could actually harm them in the long run. When I was growing up all forms of alcohol was called "devils brew" and was seen as a MAJOR sin. Not only did no one in my family drink, but I was not allowed to even look at alcohol in the grocery store. Fast Forward until I was 21 and I started drinking heavily just because it was just something that had been built up so negatively that I thought something must really be great about it. All was fine and dandy until I got alcohol poisoning and ended up laying on a strangers porch laying face down in my own vomit until 5 am while my dh watched a movie with his friends.

That taught me to drink in moderation. I still have a glass of wine a few times a week. But I think if I had seen people drinking RESPONSIBLY growing up I think it wouldn't have been such an issue for me.

Second this:
In my country you are allowed to drink beer, wine, champagne and similar light stuff at 16, liquor at 18. As a teenager I was a member of two different youth groups. : A catholic group at Frankfurt Cathedral, and a group at our Ambulance Service (Similar to Youth Red Cross). In the Catholic group beer was allowed, we had two fridges with about seven different brands of beer, Coke, Sprite, etc. People who liked a beer simply had one - no taboo (As long as you were at least 16). Everybody took care of each other and learned to handle the stuff.
The other group at the Ambulance Service was strictly 'dry'.
Both groups did field trips over a weekend every other month. In the Catholic group we never had problems on those trips, because it was nothing special for the people to have a beer - or two
With the other group we always had wild parties with heavy drinking, because it was something special to be abroad and be allowed to drink.
IMHO by prohibiting something strictly, you only make it interesting.

 

[littleclover]

Alcohol at at kids party come on, if you having an adult dinner party or something and wanna drink youself into oblivion be my guest. I don't think its appropriate at a kids party.

I don't see any posts that say people want to get totally wasted. In fact just about every post that says yes makes a point to say it should be in moderation, that is just common sense.

I don't think there is anything wrong with alcohol at kid's parties.

 

[caitycaity]

99.9% of the people i attend social functions with can control themselves and can realize that there is a difference between a bunch of 20 somethings going out to a club for a friend's birthday party and a wedding or a backyard bbq where kids will be present. so, in 99.9% of the cases, it doesn't bother me, because no one is getting trashed and being obnoxious.

however, there was a wedding that we attended a few years ago that i might have left if i had had small kids with me. it ended up with the groomsmen throwing handfuls of the wedding cake at the bride and a bunch of people falling down a hill in the backyard because they were so drunk.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I personally don't serve alcohol at my kids b-day parties.

My friend does--I guess the only problem I have with it--the kids that come are 5 and under.....and it's like once the party's started--time for the shoes to come off and the drinking to begin. It just strikes me as odd and inappropriate, but that is just me.

However--if it is not a child's celebratory event--I have no problem with alcohol (like picnics, family celebrations other than children, et cetera).

 

[jellymanoffspring]

well I tried to have no alcohol at my DD 1st birthday...(she is now going to be 16)
But My MIL thought that was wrong and had to buy beer for my BIL...

I sort of gave up at that point and now have some beer and wine at all family parties....no one gets drunk...so I think its ok

Just thought a 1 year olds Bday did not need any.....

Now we are having a sweet 16 party for my DD at a catering hall this summer...about 30 relatives (most over drinking age) and 40 teens.....
I will probably have some beer and wine for my relatives...


Actually , the only time I really get to have a drink is at these parties.... I never open wine any other time......

 

[JVL1018]

I never have alcohol in the house, other than an occasional bottle of wine that we get as gifts and give away as soon as we find someone who wants it. LOL
We don't drink wine, Dh doesn't love beer, I hate it, so there's never a need.
Ii am not a teetotaler and do drink at weddings and DH's Christmas Party and fire dept dinner..and very occasionally I'll have a margarita at the Mexican restaurant we go to--probably 3-4 evenings a year I drink.

That said, I have no problem with alcohol being around, though I would NEVER get drunk if I had my children with me.
We never serve alcohol at the backyard parties we throw, but it is BYOB if you choose to, and if people choose to bring it, that's absolutely fine.

I was surprised, at DD's end of the year T Ball pizza party, they had little nips of MGD..not disapproving but a little taken aback.
My husband did have one and it wasn't an issue. No one got drunk though, and if any parent got drunk at their child's TBall party I would 100% be thinking how trashy they were.

ETA: No wine or beer has ever been served(or brought) at any of my childrens birthday aprties.
They are only family parties and both my family and my inlaws are the same way-why have a beer when you can have a soda, no one on either side is the type to have a beer after work at home, so any beer we bought would most likely be unused after the party was over. A waste for oour families.

 

[Crankyshank]

The first time I went to a family gathering of any sort without alcohol was at my in-laws' house. It took me 5 glasses of punch to realize I wasn't as comfortable numb as I wanted to be and figured out why

My family all like to eat, drink, and be merry. Very rare is the occasion when someone is obnoxiously drunk and usually that's my loser uncle who got arrested after getting hit by a car while walking drunk. He's not allowed at most family functions.

Growing up in this environment alcohol was not a taboo and therefore lacking in the whole forbidden fruit aspect. I also knew that addiction does run in my family for generations and it was important to know my limits, know what effect alcohol has and thus understand what is acceptable social behavior where alcohol is concerned.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

well, they aren't naked, falling over, or starting fights!!

Well, then, I'm not coming to your party!

We normally serve alcohol at parties with our children present. We don't get drunk, but having a drink or 2 is par for the course.

We've gone to parties where alcohol is not served and that is ok, too.

T&B

 

[coliebird]

We always have beer. My daughter sees her father have a beer every now and then. I don't think it is harmful. I grew up seeing my parents drink wine and liquor, no big deal. I hardly drink. We are having my daughter's 3rd birthday party Saturday at our house and there will be beer there for any adults that want to partake.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I think it all depends on the kids party. I mean, party for a group of 4 year olds at Chuck E Cheese -- not appropriate (albeit probably wouldn't hurt ).

That's where I'd really need a beer!!!

I agree--if I'm hosting a bunch of little kids (a kid party, not one with a lot of adults) then I wouldn't drink. But that's not what some are talking about.

T&B

 

[chadfromdallas]

in fact, any family gathering i've gone to has alcohol.

Are you guys like this? or not when children are around?

Just about! Someone always goes and picks up some Mike's or other form of flavored drink.

The 4th of July is the annual family drunk day on my mothers side it seems