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Original poster

Drinking wine in the park while children play?

242 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:
Didimum · 16/10/2026 14:52

Sounds lovely. Sign me up.

wishingonastar101 · 16/10/2026 14:54

Totally fine! Unclench.

Cadeaukatze · 16/10/2026 14:55

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.

Why? I sort of understand it if you think you might have to drive them to A&E but if that's not the concern, why would you care? And actually, why specifically children? If DH and I had a glass of wine and he then needed to go to A&E I wouldn't be able to drive him, I'd have to call a taxi if it wasn't an ambulance issue.

Lexy2345 · 16/10/2026 14:56

If you are genuinely concerned about the lack of toilet facilities in the park - and not the fact these people were enjoying a glass of wine with a picnic - then start a campaign for public toilets and stop looking down on your nose at people daring to have a nice afternoon.

OneNewLeader · 16/10/2026 14:56

I think this is awful.

I don’t know which though, the drinking, the judging, the glass, the poor amenity provision in the park, it not being Spain.

Newusername0 · 16/10/2026 14:56

I wouldn’t think twice if I saw the same in a pub garden whilst the kids played.
Also, I’ve been known to picnic with a bottle of Nosecco… wonder if anyone though the same of me at the time 🤣

Chalula · 16/10/2026 14:57

MN is so weird sometimes. Wouldn’t even cross my mind to comment on this and I wouldn’t notice tbh, seems a normal thing to do on a nice day in the park.

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!

Boomer55 · 16/10/2026 14:59

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?

Why and how did it bother you? 🤷‍♀️

I drink wine with my adult daughter - shoot us now🙄

Best get on with your life. 👍

Jeez 😂

DeftGoldHedgehog · 16/10/2026 14:59

I fondly remember my first mat leave meeting up with another couple of mums when DD1 was a few months old. Sunny picnic and a bottle of wine in the park on a Friday afternoon.

Cherrytree86 · 16/10/2026 15:00

Disgraceful and irresponsible

Bishbashbuush · 16/10/2026 15:01

MellowSubmarine · 16/10/2026 14:45

There’s nothing to suggest they needed alcohol. Maybe they just wanted some.

I don’t drink at all so wouldn’t do this. But I don’t think we can say that from one instance of two women drinking but not appearing drunk (I think OP would have mentioned) that there’s a big issue with their behaviour or their relationship to alcohol.

Show quote history

I guess I just don’t understand why someone would take their children to a play park and decide to drink alcohol at the same time. It’s not something I’d ever do and (besides the two women I mentioned) I’ve never witnessed it locally. I personally find it unusual and unnecessary but again, each to their own.

Thepeopleversuswork · 16/10/2026 15:04

I barely even drink these days but I think this is ridiculous.

Small amount of wine with food in a park, what exactly are you worried is going to happen? If they were chugging Tennents Super you might have a point.

Unclench.

RisingSunn · 16/10/2026 15:07

So just similar to Friday afternoon summer picnic.

Pallisers · 16/10/2026 15:08

Small amount of wine with food in a park, what exactly are you worried is going to happen? If they were chugging Tennents Super you might have a point.

Why? Half bottle of wine is ok but a Tennnts Super isn't? Why would that be.

SpecialShark · 16/10/2026 15:09

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.

This clarified nothing, sorry.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/10/2026 15:10

Yes of course it's fine. Some of the play parks where I live have cafes that sell wine and beer.

Gwenhwyfar · 16/10/2026 15:11

Bishbashbuush · 16/10/2026 15:01

I guess I just don’t understand why someone would take their children to a play park and decide to drink alcohol at the same time. It’s not something I’d ever do and (besides the two women I mentioned) I’ve never witnessed it locally. I personally find it unusual and unnecessary but again, each to their own.

Show quote history

Almost everything is unnecessary except eating and breathing.

MrMurphysComeuppance · 16/10/2026 15:12

Is there any specific reason you chose to name change for this thread OP, or did you join MN just to ask about this?

BillieWiper · 16/10/2026 15:14

So? I grew up among French family and a picnic always involved wine.

If they looked visibly slaughtered and struggling to stand/speak etc then obviously that's not on.

But you shouldn't judge people until they've actually done something wrong or dangerous/illegal. Rather than just something you wouldn't choose to do yourself.

Just ignore them and enjoy the park.

Thepeopleversuswork · 16/10/2026 15:16

Pallisers · 16/10/2026 15:08

Small amount of wine with food in a park, what exactly are you worried is going to happen? If they were chugging Tennents Super you might have a point.

Why? Half bottle of wine is ok but a Tennnts Super isn't? Why would that be.

Well, fair cop on the Tennents vs wine but my point was there's nothing to suggest they were getting hammered. There's a big difference between having a couple of drinks socially and getting drunk.

I don't think routinely getting pissed in front of your kids is a good idea but two women sharing a bottle of wine with their kids playing is pretty benign. Unless they rolled onto the pub afterwards but there's nothing to suggest that's the case.

FrodoBiggins · 16/10/2026 15:19

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.

Of course you're judging.
Why are you pretending your concern is about your own bladder issues when in your post you asked "would you think it was ok to crack open a bottle of wine in the play park?" - not "would you have a drink where there was no nearby loo".

AnswerIsNo · 16/10/2026 15:21

I'd be more concerned if they are still there at 0.57am and progressed onto the Buckfast

Goldensprat · 16/10/2026 15:21

It's all right as long as they had three flavours of crisps.

SharkyBait · 16/10/2026 15:22

There is a surprising number of people who can’t seem to do anything that doesn’t involve guzzling alcohol.