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Original poster

Drinking wine in the park while children play?

248 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:
Pearlyb · 16/10/2026 19:07

They weren't being rowdy or neglecting the children or anything (if they were I'd assume you would have mentioned?), so don't see the issue?

mumumental · 16/10/2026 18:49

WitchesCatWhisker · 16/10/2026 17:34

Why? What’s going to happen?

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For a start, supervising kids on roads is likely to be , shall we say, observant. or on play equipment, for that matter.

mumumental · 16/10/2026 18:47

Cherrytree86 · 16/10/2026 17:18

@mumumental

its true though 🤷‍♀️ soz

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Oh of course. It’s Friday and school is over!

Notmycircusnotmyotter · 16/10/2026 18:42

Totally normal. Do this fairly often in the summer.

It's not "needing" a drink. It's not getting drunk while in charge of children. It's socialising as a parent who can trust their own judgment.

Luddite26 · 16/10/2026 18:31

off topic but I find it odd that in York for example you can sit in the wine bar of the art gallery overlooking the museum gardens and drink alcohol and if there are any pop up events like a hot chocolate stall with Bailey's etc you can sit in the cordoned off area in the gardens. But drinking alcohol in the gardens is not allowed.
I spend a lot of time in parks but never seen people drinking alcohol, at least I haven't noticed anybody. But weed oh my it's everywhere. And drug dealing.

PhilosophicalCheeseSandwich · 16/10/2026 18:21

We sat in an outside bar in Lisbon a few weeks ago that was attached to a municipal playground. Friday teatime, there were loads of parents from the nearby international school (of various nationalities, we noticed) enjoying a couple of beers while the kids played and nipped back to their parents every now and then. It seemed a blissful way to round off the week for everyone.

Mumofyellows · 16/10/2026 18:15

I don’t see a problem?

ForPlumReader · 16/10/2026 18:15

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.

Oh dear, I was a bit late getting that memo. I agree parents shouldn't be staggering about drunk, but at what age do you think is reasonable for parents to drink in front of their children? 10/13/16/18?

Fidgety31 · 16/10/2026 18:14

Wine is socially acceptable . If they’d sat there supping from a can of lager then people would be much more judgmental!

PeatandDieselfan · 16/10/2026 18:11

ChateauMargaux · 16/10/2026 14:58

The playmobil playground set had a park bench and a nice green bottle of whatever for the parents... just saying!

Playmobil Funpark near Nuremberg has an actual beer garden in the middle of the park, right there amongst the joyful toddlers and life sized playmobil playsets. It's brilliant. I've been 3 times. Nobody was wasted, littering, irresponsible etc, just lots of cheerful families enjoying a day out. Some people enjoying a drink on their day off, some not. Doesn't need to be a drama.

Sunnymysunshine · 16/10/2026 18:07

Mine are older but I'd put mine in a fake Stanley cup so you'd never know 🤣🤣🤣

Wildgoat · 16/10/2026 17:48

mumumental · 16/10/2026 15:47

No it’s not reasonable, FFS. Drinking half a bottle of wine when out with children isn’t safe.

I’m guessing there is a back story to your extreme reaction and logically you know it’s perfectly safe, you don’t need to explain but I hope you’re ok.

WitchesCatWhisker · 16/10/2026 17:34

mumumental · 16/10/2026 15:47

No it’s not reasonable, FFS. Drinking half a bottle of wine when out with children isn’t safe.

Why? What’s going to happen?

Wildgoat · 16/10/2026 17:32

I can’t comprehend how there is even a thread on this,

sounds lovely op. If yoh have severe bladder issues as you indicate I would see a gp, it is not normal to have to pee after a small glass of something, and that requires medical attention,

sheisforrealatiger · 16/10/2026 17:29

My family did this once years ago on my dad’s birthday. My older two siblings had youngish DC and we all shared a picnic with raspberry cider. Nobody got drunk. It was lovely!

MayJuneMay · 16/10/2026 17:24

Birthday celebration, promotion, passed exams, new home - any number of reasons to celebrate. Or, how lovely to have a catch up and a chat.

Cherrytree86 · 16/10/2026 17:19

BobbleBear · 16/10/2026 16:53

I’d feel sorry for the little child in that family.

Normalising drinking alcohol in a children’s playground in the middle of the afternoon isn’t a remotely positive experience.

@BobbleBear

how exactly do you think it would affect the child. ?

FrodoBiggins · 16/10/2026 17:19

AnonyMumAuDHD · 16/10/2026 17:14

Yes, it’s just you. even my husband can get to the bottom of his second pint before needing the loo, and he’s in his late 50s.

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I agree, I think @jamimapuddlejump should spend less time worrying about women having a picnic with their family and maybe pop to see her GP about her continence issues

Cherrytree86 · 16/10/2026 17:18

mumumental · 16/10/2026 16:58

You do you.

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@mumumental

its true though 🤷‍♀️ soz

AnonyMumAuDHD · 16/10/2026 17:14

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.

Yes, it’s just you. even my husband can get to the bottom of his second pint before needing the loo, and he’s in his late 50s.

Movingonup313 · 16/10/2026 17:11

Dont see a problem with it. Rather that than holed up indoors. Kids playing out, fresh air, exercise, social learning with other kids and mum unlikely to get trollied on half a bottle with her mum.

cuckoolodger · 16/10/2026 17:05

LowlandLucky · 16/10/2026 14:31

And very soon those children will be drinking in the park because they have grown to believe it is normal behaviour.
Hopefully none of the children in their care ever have an accident when Mummy & Granny are boozing in the park or go missing. Can you imagine the paramedics or police turning up and you reek of booze?

Me parents never ever once took e to a park and drank in that park. Not even a pub park. But I took my 4 kids to good pubs with great parks and also for pintos in the park and yes I did drink. My kids are 18-28 and for the most part completely tea total. My sons have never ever even sipped an alcoholic drink and my DDs will have a glass of wine or a gin at Christmas/Easter. And they have never sat drinking in parks 😂. I do this all over again now with my grand kids and my dd doesn’t object in any way shape or form. She had a great childhood.

katzrooldogzdrool · 16/10/2026 17:03

There might be a 'no alcohol' rule in the park, but the point of that rule is to stop large groups getting drunk and rowdy. It's unlikely to be enforced against a couple of mums having one cup of wine with a picnic.

mumumental · 16/10/2026 16:58

Cherrytree86 · 16/10/2026 15:56

@mumumental

a bottle of wine is not a large amount . No one is staggering about puking and pissing themselves after half a bottle of wine

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You do you.

BobbleBear · 16/10/2026 16:53

I’d feel sorry for the little child in that family.

Normalising drinking alcohol in a children’s playground in the middle of the afternoon isn’t a remotely positive experience.

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