Alcohol at children's birthday parties (toddler, snacks, 10 year old, healthy)

[tvdxer]

If I am understanding many of your posts correctly, many parents attend their childrens' friends' birthday parties with them?

This would be an absolute embarrassment when I was young - just 10-15 years ago. I attended other kids' birthday parties from their 6th or 7th onward. My parents dropped me off, and then when it was over they would pick me up. Other parents did likewise.

Maybe it's accepted today, and probably for good reason. The '90s seemed more innocent (though statistics disprove that).

[Vic 2.0]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

If we could get past people being defensive about their drinking habits then we could just get some answers to the original question.

The discussion is about alcohol at kids birthday parties. Not family parties and not junk food and not how many beers you drink.

Okay, fine. What's the problem with it? Just know that the answer you give will prompt a response, which may include a comparison to something else (to make our point).

Originally Posted by tvdxer

If I am understanding many of your posts correctly, many parents attend their childrens' friends' birthday parties with them?

This would be an absolute embarrassment when I was young - just 10-15 years ago. I attended other kids' birthday parties from their 6th or 7th onward. My parents dropped me off, and then when it was over they would pick me up. Other parents did likewise.

Maybe it's accepted today, and probably for good reason. The '90s seemed more innocent (though statistics disprove that).

Then it would seem parents need to get to know the other kid's parents so they'd have reason to feel comfortable/uncomfortable just dropping their kid off at their house and leaving. The presence or absence of beer at the party isn't enough to make any assumptions on, particularly because there are soooo many hurtful influences an adult can have without a beer in sight and so many other excuses with which to justify/explain neglect.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by PoppySead

The discussion is about alcohol at kids birthday parties. Not family parties and not junk food and not how many beers you drink.

Well for us kids birthday parties and family parties don't differ all that much. For a kids party we might invite a few more kids from sports and school but the rest of the guest list would be similar.

How many beers one drinks is relevant to the discussion. I am not impaired after I drink two beers, with food, in a few hours. I would be impaired if I drank four beers in the same time frame. I would not drink a lot if I was responsible for kids (mine or other peoples).

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

If I am understanding many of your posts correctly, many parents attend their childrens' friends' birthday parties with them?

This would be an absolute embarrassment when I was young - just 10-15 years ago. I attended other kids' birthday parties from their 6th or 7th onward. My parents dropped me off, and then when it was over they would pick me up. Other parents did likewise.

Maybe it's accepted today, and probably for good reason. The '90s seemed more innocent (though statistics disprove that).

It depends on the party and the parents. If the party were at some busy place I would stay. If I didn't know the parents at all I would stay. Most of the time I dropped the kids off though because my kids only really wanted to go to parties of kids they knew pretty well.

[AJBarney]

Originally Posted by Momma_bear

It depends on the party and the parents. If the party were at some busy place I would stay. If I didn't know the parents at all I would stay. Most of the time I dropped the kids off though because my kids only really wanted to go to parties of kids they knew pretty well.

I would stay if the beer selection was pretty good.

[violetree]

Originally Posted by me in RI

I don't think you should...and I have never attened a child's birthday party where alcohol was being served. If it is a kids party, alcohol has no place there. If parents can't sit through a child's birthday party without a drink, that's just another issue altogether. It's not about making it a good time for the adults, it's the CHILD'S day. Drink on your own birthday!

I couldn't agree more!! Parents you have other opportunities to drink, whether it be for after-work drinks, Christmas parties, cook-outs, out with friends, etc. Really! Your kids only get to be a kid once, so stop whining and enjoy your kid 's birthday!!

[Vic 2.0]

Originally Posted by violetree

I couldn't agree more!! Parents you have other opportunities to drink, whether it be for after-work drinks, Christmas parties, cook-outs, out with friends, etc. Really! Your kids only get to be a kid once, so stop whining and enjoy your kid 's birthday!!

I don't see a single good reason to firmly insist people not drink alcohol at a kid's birthday party here. And this...

Originally Posted by me in RI

It's not about making it a good time for the adults, it's the CHILD'S day.

just doesn't make sense at all.

[Kibbiekat]

Originally Posted by tvdxer

If I am understanding many of your posts correctly, many parents attend their childrens' friends' birthday parties with them?

This would be an absolute embarrassment when I was young - just 10-15 years ago. I attended other kids' birthday parties from their 6th or 7th onward. My parents dropped me off, and then when it was over they would pick me up. Other parents did likewise.

Maybe it's accepted today, and probably for good reason. The '90s seemed more innocent (though statistics disprove that).

It depends on the party and the age of the child. Some parties are meant for adults and children to enjoy together. Others aren't.

[violetree]

Originally Posted by mimimomx3

This whole thread reminds me of when I was growing up in the '70s. All my parents' friends drank, many smoked. Our birthday parties were small, quick, and not a huge deal. We also never had a 'party' after age 10- we might invite a friend to a movie, or have a sleepover.

My parents and their friends all drank around us, in fact, we used to tend bar. Somehow we all ended up just fine, and infinitely better adjusted than most of the kids I see now.

Hmmm...then why are so many teens today abusing alcohol? It seems most posters here agree it's OK....so that's a problem right there. Kids today have enough pressure, becoming a teenager, resisting temptation from drugs and alcohol...which is starting much earlier with kids today. I have attended parties where minors as young as ten, were drinking in front of parents. If they are getting that message at home, it's tough to tackle as they grow older. So be an example ....because kids ARE abusing alcohol earlier.

[Momma_bear]

Originally Posted by violetree

Hmmm...then why are so many teens today abusing alcohol? It seems most posters here agree it's OK....so that's a problem right there. Kids today have enough pressure, becoming a teenager, resisting temptation from drugs and alcohol...which is starting much earlier with kids today. I have attended parties where minors as young as ten, were drinking in front of parents. If they are getting that message at home, it's tough to tackle as they grow older. So be an example ....because kids ARE abusing alcohol earlier.

The incidence of youth drinking declined from 1991 to 2007. It did not increase. It decreased.

The median age of initiation also increased. It did not decrease. It increased.

Facts are your friends.

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