To think shots for parents while kids trick or treat is bad?

People are already walking around with their kids in the dark, all darting about and it seems common sense with crossing roads goes put of the window on Halloween. Adding alcohol to the mix, doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

I think there would be people who would take one and warm up a bit, then there would be others that get very drunk (I’d probably be in the second group if I’m being very honest). I get that it’s trying to create a party atmosphere but I think inevitably it would lead to some embarrassed children and parents the next day if not a fight or an accident or lost child.

No, it’s not an American thing. I’m an American living in the US, and I have never heard of this. In many states it would likely be illegal anyway.

Given that the UK consumes more alcohol per person than the US, it’s more likeky to be a British thing. But MN hates Americans…

I don’t drink much but I don’t see anything wrong with this. As previous posters have said, Halloween is different in the US. Even my experience of traffic and walking around for trick-or-treating is different in the US.

I don’t see it as needing alcohol to do something with your children. It would be more about leaning into the social/party vibe as parents. The previous example of a hot chocolate station represents this well.

There are so many cultural differences between the UK and the US and I often think that Americans are judged unfairly without taking these differences into account.

I went to one recently in Italy with shots of Limoncello.

Wait till you get home, you need your wits about you making sure you've not accidentally lost your kid and got the wrong witch, and minding the flappy costumes around the pumpkin candles. Plus cars. A nice glass of something when you get home instead!

I feel like parents with kids are the highest drinking part of the population in this day and age. I see parents drinking so much around their kids, and yet I barely see anyone else drinking now (outside of people watching live sport).

When I was growing up alcohol was huge with teenagers, starting from alcopops age. Now clubs are dying out because younger generations just aren't that interested. The old man trip to the pub after work has basically died out for various reasons - money, smoking ban, no one else is doing it etc.

I don't have kids and none of my child-free friends drink regularly. It seems mainly just parents drinking to cope with their kids.

It will be interesting to see if the next generation turns to alcohol to cope with their kids or if they just end up staying away from it.

@ThoraZ - Yes, it's very much as you imagine. Most people are set up at the end of their drive or garage, so you don't really knock on anyone's door. There's usually lots of people milling around, telling the kids how awesome they look. Offer a warm drink and sometimes something a little stronger, hotdogs, Chilli. Popcorn. People here really make an effort.

That sounds nice.
And I would imagine the shot thing supposed to be more like Here’s the treats for the kids and by the way, would you care for a novelty alcoholic shot <adult neighbour> (which they can obviously refuse) than a conspiracy to turn trick or treating into parents getting completely wasted and reckless.
I know a lot of my neighbours have parties on Halloween night where there seems to be a mild to moderate amount of drinking going on so I don’t suppose it would be that strange to offer another neighbour a drink when they knock on your door. Some communities are very close and friendly, others aren’t. I wouldn’t be too worried about “mystery liquid” (or sweets from strangers) since if there was anything iffy in them it could easily be traced back to the home address of the person who gave it to you.
I probably would say yes to one or two tbh. Most of the houses we go to belong to people we know. If we went to a party instead I’d probably have a drink or two anyway so why not.

They are at least usually in a sealed packet!

Halloween in the USA though is a wayyyyy bigger deal than here. It's a party. In some places they really celebrate it.

Also their streets are different. It's can be wall to wall Halloween with every house going bigger and better with the decor. The UK have definitely started getting bigger with Halloween but we're nowhere near USA proportions with it.

I'm not sure we're in the position to judge. If there was a cul-de-sac, full of families and kids, where the climate meant it was still light and warm out and where predominantly everyone knew each other and parents wound up doing a few shots on their way round - I think that would be seen as a bit of fun and not a big deal.

Like I say, I'm just not sure we're in a position to judge because we don't know the location, nor do we have the same culture.

YANBU (and I say this as someone who has taken a cheeky takeaway cup of mulled wine round with me one year 😏)

Its just a weird concept and making a kids event all about the adults. Just have an adult only Halloween party if you want to do shots..

No one is really getting shit faced. It's just a really big social event in lots of places. The houses are big & spread out so you can be spending 15 - 30 mins at each house. Your kids run off and explore the yards. There are lots of really great Halloween displays & haunted house type set ups. So you stop & chat a while, have a drink and a hot dog. The police are out handing out glow in the dark stickers & and bracelets.the fire trucks go around handing out candy. You can be out for a good 4/ 5 hours even the teens are out, which is great to see ( no one is offering them booze)You usually round out the evening by heading to a bonfire and fireworks. I've never seen anyone wondering around wasted.just lots of happy people having fun with their neighbors.

With Mumsnet, it’s either black or white - definitely no grey. It’s sad that people see absolutely no nuance in life.

Never heard about this tradition. Aren’t the best part of T&T to put children to bed and get yourself whatever drink you want thinking that now you can relax at least until Bonfire night?

No no no trick or treating is for children.

I'm wondering how many people have a problem with mulled wine at family Christmas events?

AiBU to think this would be a lot more pleasant than sober Trick or Treat? Its a mad idea of course, I wouldn't do it but it sounds like fun. I would be off to bed by house 4

we did this for years when we lived in Canada.Not shots...but we had our garage open and had a hot chocolate station, parents were offered a shot of baileys in the hot chocolate. Lots took us up on it, some even had their thermos mugs already with coffee and asked for a shot in it. It is cold, sometimes wet, and honestly whats the harm? not like they are doing ten shots of tequilla

It’s not normal where I live, I’ve never heard of any adults being offered anything when taking kids trick n treating

I just wonder why everything has to be turned into a drinking event? you can’t go even a couple of hours without drinking you have an issue of some kind.

I saw this on FB as a meme.....nver dreamed it was a thing.

I saw some photos on FB earlier of kids doing pumpkin carving while the parents gulped down red wine. I think it is sad that the message that sends is that you can only do kids stuff while tipsy to make it bareable, but that seems to be normalised in today's society.

It is very common in my neighborhood. Most of the parents are walking around with their travel cups full of something, and lots of houses are giving out hot apple cider or hot chocolate spiked with liquor. Shots of fireball are popular. most people sit out front with a fire pit on the go. You stop & chat with everyone. It's really fun & social.