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Original poster

Drinking wine in the park while children play?

241 replies

jamimapuddlejump · 16/10/2026 13:45

I took my little one to the park yesterday afternoon and there was a mum and daughter sitting on a blanket with a picnic and a bottle of wine with 2 plastic glasses while the little ones were playing.
They were sitting chatting and watching the kids who were around primarily school age playing together.

I didn’t think a lot at the time but maybe thought it was a bit funny, would you think it was ok to crack open a bottle of wine in the play park?

OP posts:
RandomUserName12345 · 16/10/2026 13:47

Could be me and mum friend... why do ypu bother?

Original poster
jamimapuddlejump · 16/10/2026 13:47

To clarify, the mum of the children was with drinking wine with her own mother, not the mum and child drinking.

OP posts:
CleanSkin · 16/10/2026 13:50

Did the wine definitely contain alcohol?
Did they share the whole bottle?

DiscoCherries · 16/10/2026 13:50

Me and my friends do this often especially in summer on a nice day.

MintTwirl · 16/10/2026 13:50

Is it any different to children playing in the pub play area while their parents have a glass of wine?

Bearbookagainandagain · 16/10/2026 13:53

We've taken beers or wine to the playground before, usually on Friday late afternoon on a sunny day with a picnic for the kids.
It's the same to us as going to the pub, but better for the kids as they can play.

It depends on the setting though, we have two playgrounds nearby with big grass areas were people often have picnics.

TheJoySpreader · 16/10/2026 13:53

I’m not sure I’d even notice, if I did happen to I’d just assume they were having a drink, rather than it being the start of some kind of piss up if they had kids to look after

BuffetTheDietSlayer · 16/10/2026 13:55

Its a lovely way to spend a couple of hours.

ElixirMaker · 16/10/2026 13:56

Is this different to drinking some wine at home in the garden whilst the children play?

blankcanvas3 · 16/10/2026 13:57

This is my favourite hobby with my friends in summer. No different to having a drink in your garden whilst your kids play there. So judgemental

Original poster
jamimapuddlejump · 16/10/2026 13:57

I’m not judging, my first thought was there’s no toilet in this park and I know after the first glass I’d have to go and find a loo but maybe that’s just me.

OP posts:
mindutopia · 16/10/2026 13:57

It’s much more common than you would imagine. There is a whole demographic of parents who drink alcohol while doing even the most mundane tasks with their children. I used to be one of them (I don’t drink anymore) and I know lots of them. I used to take wine to the park all the time. I was once there and bumped into a mum I knew from nursery who was with another mum who lived next door to the park. This other mum was like, who wants a gin?! It was about noon on a Tuesday. Off she trotted to her house and returned with 3 mugs of neat gin! 😳

MyballsareSandy2015 · 16/10/2026 13:59

How lovely! I don’t see anything wrong or weird about that unless they were getting hammered 🤷🏼‍♀️

Cla7 · 16/10/2026 14:02

Genuine question, what exactly is the concern? That they get too drunk to supervise the children? That the children might get a sip from the bottle? That they set a bad example? None of these would even remotely concern me, I’m well able to limit my alcohol intake, I can supervise my child to avoid them getting in touch with alcohol, and I don’t see an issue with modelling responsible drinking to children.

MozzieFreeZone · 16/10/2026 14:04

I think the total normalising of drinking alcohol at any stage during the day is a problem especially when out with children.

Ponderingwindow · 16/10/2026 14:05

wine with a picnic is a well established tradition.

also, what do you think is in those “water” bottles all the moms are toting around on a Saturday afternoon?

MidnightPatrol · 16/10/2026 14:05

Our local park is completely full of families and friends doing this every weekend, and any warm evening in the summer.

Completely normal - fun for the kids to be outside playing in the park, fun for the adults to be able to relax with a drink.

PoppieCock · 16/10/2026 14:07

jamimapuddlejump · 16/10/2026 13:57

I’m not judging, my first thought was there’s no toilet in this park and I know after the first glass I’d have to go and find a loo but maybe that’s just me.

Well yeah it must be.

Because if it was them, they wouldn't be drinking wine in the park.

RandomUserName12345 · 16/10/2026 14:08

MozzieFreeZone · 16/10/2026 14:04

I think the total normalising of drinking alcohol at any stage during the day is a problem especially when out with children.

Why?
Or I don't lnow any parents getting drunk in the park on a daily basis. Or weekly. Or any other time.

PeatandDieselfan · 16/10/2026 14:15

I mean, if they were getting wasted and yelling obscenities at passers by, obviously it is a problem. If they were just chilling and having a civilised mood lightener whilst remaining fully responsible for the children, of course it's OK (and completely unremarkable in many parts of continental Europe, where bars next to play parks are a cultural expectation).

kombuchabucha · 16/10/2026 14:20

I would be surprised to see a parent drinking alcohol in the park. I personally dont drink. I know many of the parents of the children at our local school like a drink, but I've never seen any of them drinking in the park (we go most days after school from half 3 til half 4ish).

Probably an unpopular opinion but I personally don't think anyone who's got responsibility of a child should be drinking whilst they're in their care - at the park, at the pub or at home.

RandomUserName12345 · 16/10/2026 14:22

kombuchabucha · 16/10/2026 14:20

I would be surprised to see a parent drinking alcohol in the park. I personally dont drink. I know many of the parents of the children at our local school like a drink, but I've never seen any of them drinking in the park (we go most days after school from half 3 til half 4ish).

Probably an unpopular opinion but I personally don't think anyone who's got responsibility of a child should be drinking whilst they're in their care - at the park, at the pub or at home.

So no drinking for 18-30 years? Wow.

Nobody is pissed drinking a glass of wine or a drink.

DeanGaffneysPenisBeaker · 16/10/2026 14:23

jamimapuddlejump · 16/10/2026 13:47

To clarify, the mum of the children was with drinking wine with her own mother, not the mum and child drinking.

Have you been drinking wine too?

Ilovemyfam · 16/10/2026 14:23

mindutopia · 16/10/2026 13:57

It’s much more common than you would imagine. There is a whole demographic of parents who drink alcohol while doing even the most mundane tasks with their children. I used to be one of them (I don’t drink anymore) and I know lots of them. I used to take wine to the park all the time. I was once there and bumped into a mum I knew from nursery who was with another mum who lived next door to the park. This other mum was like, who wants a gin?! It was about noon on a Tuesday. Off she trotted to her house and returned with 3 mugs of neat gin! 😳

I noticed Bluey’s dad with a can in his hand at a barbie when I was watching with my grandson.

PoppieCock · 16/10/2026 14:24

Some MNetters just can't get their head around people drinking without getting drunk.

Perhaps it just doesn't happen for them when they drink 😳