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AIBU?

Ice Cream Vans

101 replies

sbear · 12/07/2013 20:29

Am I being unreasonable to suggest ice cream vans should be banned from areas near schools (for health reasons) and in built up residential areas so that the tunes do not annoy people?
There is a growing problem with obesity in children in this country and to strive to improve school meals to help kids but then to allow ice cream vans to park near schools seems to defeat the object.

I live near a park, a school and my DD's nursery. Summer is ice cream van hell. I don't like:

  1. The noise pollution which is only going to get worse now that the government has decided to relax the laws and they can play for 12 seconds rather than 4 seconds. Also they can now play whilst stationary. They play all day every day from may till october. When my DD was a young baby she couldn't nap in the day as the vans going past blaring out their tunes would wake her up! ( I don't think they were keeping to the 4 second rule either) www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/shortcuts


  1. giving my children sugar if I can help it so its really annoying when I can't leave the house without an ice cream van being nearby.


  1. That the ice cream is terrible anyway! Maybe if they sold good ice cream or frozen yogurt or something healthier it would be more acceptable. But the sugary terrible ice cream they sell is awful.


The only bright spot is that I told my DD that when the music plays it means they have runout of ice cream so if they are playing for longer... not sure how long she will believe that for though.

I would love to hear what other parents think.

all the best
sbear.
OP posts:
gillywillywoo · 12/07/2013 20:30

YABU

Bye bye currently eating icecream Grin

WorraLiberty · 12/07/2013 20:34

YABU

You're the parent, it's up to you to moderate how much ice cream your child does or doesn't eat.

As for the noise, it's something we've all survived and will continue to do so.

EauRouge · 12/07/2013 20:35

I don't mind most ice cream vans but there is one that plays his chime so loudly it drowns out the conversation in my sitting room. This might be the year that I finally murder him.

DawnOfTheDee · 12/07/2013 20:35

The summer grinch is here! Everyone back indoors! Stop having fun this instant! Grin

olivo · 12/07/2013 20:35

YABU! I lurve the sound of ice cream vans; some days I might buy something for the DCs, sometimes I don't. You can still like but not buy!

Wabbitty · 12/07/2013 20:36

YABU. I hate the 4 second ruling - makes it sound very unfinished (makes me feel like Sheldon did when Amy was training him)

Mama1980 · 12/07/2013 20:36

Yabu I love the ice cream van! Grin

PatsyAndEddy · 12/07/2013 20:36

Bah humbug

BlackeyedSusan · 12/07/2013 20:39

will yuo bloody shut up about ice cream vans and sugary ice cream


now I want a lovely, sugary ice cream....


which of course implies that yanbu.

Bowlersarm · 12/07/2013 20:40

YABU

Blissful memories of childhood.........

Sirzy · 12/07/2013 20:42

YABU.

There are a million and one more annoying noises, at least the ice cream van doesn't last for long.

If you don't want to buy ice cream don't. Your the parent say NO.

A balanced diet has some foods which aren't 'good' for you anyway, the occasional ice cream as part of a balanced diet isn't going to do anyone any harm.

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/07/2013 20:43

Dear fucking god, you are a misery!

Justforlaughs · 12/07/2013 20:44

I requested that the local ice-cream van come down my cull de sac as they never did and i LOVE ice cream from vans looks forward to festival tomorrow where i can eat as many as I like. I resent paying far more for an ice lolly than I can get them at the supermarket - but then I don't buy those as I already have a freezer full of them Grin
As for the noise, how else am i supposed to know that he is there?

carabos · 12/07/2013 20:45

YABU. They can only play their jingle once every two hours in the same street. 4 secs or 12 secs, once every two hours during daylight hours at most isnt a nuisance in my world.

flipchart · 12/07/2013 20:45

YABU

When the ice cream van comes around by us the conversation goes like this.
Mum can we have an ice cream please?

and I say 'yeah, go on then. pass my purse. or 'no, not tonight love.'

End of conversation.

I hate that stupid lie you have told your DD that the ice cream has run out.

The tune doesn't annoy me, i hum along to it!

GameSetAndMatch · 12/07/2013 20:47

Im with you OP because:

the fumes from the exhausts of the vans that drone on and on. (hate stationary vehicles leaving engines on)

ice cream sellers not washing their hands (I remember someone on another thread about this one) and touching/scratching/blowing nose (Im so obsessed with hygiene as it is).

I used to love them as a child but with food standards and things Im surprised the health people dont come down on sellers more.

(same with mobile burger bars and things).

and no, i dont like summer!!

Alibabaandthe40nappies · 12/07/2013 20:56

Game without summer there would be no Wimbledon! Shock

decaffwithcream · 12/07/2013 20:59

YABU. And insensitive. Some of us live in countries which are being threatened with a national ice cream shortage due to the rarity of a heat wave.

TravelinColour · 12/07/2013 21:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

onedev · 12/07/2013 21:02

YABU

HappyDoll · 12/07/2013 21:03

YABU

  1. 12 seconds of noise pollution...dear lord however do you cope?
  2. If you don't like giving your children sugar, don't. No-one is forcing you to give your children ice cream just because it's nearby. No is an actual word you know.
  3. Again, no-one is force feeding you the delicious crappy ice cream. Just say no?
GameSetAndMatch · 12/07/2013 21:03

Alibaba- ONLY good thing about summer is Wimbledon!!!

even so, at least if its cloudy! or nice cool breeze!

and back to original subject (cos we tennis fans could go on and on about ti Grin, I prefer buying icecream from the supermarket and making up cones and sundaes at home!

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SofaKing · 12/07/2013 21:04

Yabu.

Our local ice cream van is, I am almost certain, just for laundering drug money. That means they only turn up infrequently, most memorably at 8 pm on a soaking November evening.

I'd be so glad if we had a van that turned up reliably in the summer because it was a legitimate business!

newestbridearound · 12/07/2013 21:05

YABU

I love hearing the ice cream van, it always makes me feel like summer has arrived and reminds me of treats as a child. It wouldn't be the same without the tune.

DoItTooJulia · 12/07/2013 21:08

Frozen yoghurt is full of sugar!

Cheer up OP!

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