Do you get drunk in front of your children?

[HugoDarracott]

I know drinking and children can be contentious but I'm wondering what is generally considered acceptable. Is drinking alcohol in front of children ok? Is it ok to get properly drunk? as in slurred speech, and a bit wobbly. Not talking very small children where their safety might be an issue but older primary age or secondary. So more about the example you're setting to them.

No I wouldn't. I never saw either of my parents drunk either. I think parents acting out of character or impaired in some way can be unsettling, and it's not something I want my kids seeing. But I don't really have strong opinions about other people doing it assuming they aren't putting their kids in danger or something.

No I don’t, but I’ve got plenty of friends that do. It’s not for me. I rarely drink though and when I do it’s just a few. DH has been but it’s usually when he’s had a night out and I’ve been in and sober anyway, and DS would be asleep.

Most of my friends drink heavily in the house along with their partners and with their kids present and don’t think anything of it. I feel like the odd one out when it comes to alcohol to be honest. Makes me feel a bit anal 😂

No. I don't drink anymore and dh doesn't drink because of medication he is on but even prior to that never. Alcohol hasn't played a big role in my life since I was a teen though, my parents weren't really drinkers and I suppose that having wine in the evening or whatever thing was never the norm when I was growing up so it's never really been the norm for me either.

No, never.
I rarely drink and I have never been drunk thank goodness.
I’m a total lightweight when it comes to alcohol, I hate the slightly lightheaded feeling hence rarely drinking.

Well yes, because we are part of a very sociable group and do lots of bbqs / parties etc

(we even had cava at our toddlers summer birthday party which I’m sure will horrify)

Our children are great friends with friends children so are always off with them, it’s not like the kids are sat around bored while we drink vodka

Is drinking alcohol in front of children ok? Yes

Is it ok to get properly drunk? No

Agree. Lots of alcoholics in my extended family and do not want my family seeing it as a goal!

@ThatFraggle I agree that is the question.

I think it's ok to drink sensibly in front of your children and also model no.

But I attended a party recently with a lot of primary age children and some of the parents were very drunk. To me it crossed a line as in modelling poor behaviour.

Also sometimes my husband and I both drink in the evening while the children are in bed and don’t stop to think who would drive them to hospital, another MN phenomenon

(we even had cava at our toddlers summer birthday party which I’m sure will horrify)

I’m sorry but this just screams “we’re not regular people we’re cool people” 😂 absolutely zero need for alcohol at a toddler birthday apart from a rampant need for attention satisfied when people react with horror 😂

we even had cava at our toddlers summer birthday party which I’m sure will horrify

Most parties we go to have prosecco etc for the adults

I wouldn’t say people get drunk though, just sociable and tipsy (hate that word but can’t think of less than drunk)

I never consider this either. DH can't drive due to a medical condition, I'd never think that therefore it isn't safe for him to care for them alone because he can't drive them to hospital.

I wouldn't get drunk, I'd want to be able to respond sensibly in an emergency. But the drink driving limit is quite low (rightly!) so I imagine I'd be over that from not that much wine.

I do drink at home, but never to the point of being drunk as I hate the feeling of it. Couple of drinks is my limit really.

XDP drinks more than I do but not loads, never a slurring/drunken situation.

our dc are teens

I've been absolutely S faced in front of my kids but only drank the once, hangover and kids don't mix, never again!

No, I've not been drunk at all since I had dc. I might consider it once they are adults.

I have an occasional drink but never to the point where I would be over the drink drive limit because I have a child with complex health needs who often ends up in the local paediatric assessment unit so we can get back on top of things (and there is no DH any more to rely on if we do need to go).

no, we do it because we are inviting people to a party at our house and want to be good hosts. It’s totally normal within my social circle.

Doing stuff to look “cool” - didn’t people give that up when they were about 16?

Oh yes. When DC were younger there were lots of parties with the school gate brigade. BBQs with adults and DC. I was usually the more sober one because I couldn't deal with that much.

While our parents were drinkers, DC really aren't though. Different generation.

They have seen me tipsy bit I'd never be drunk infront of them.

I've never been drunk in front of DD, but I will caveat that by saying I don't drink a lot - a couple of drinks over the course of several hours is about my limit.

I'd much rather DD sees that DH and I drink sensibly, but as neither of are especially bothered about drinking to get drunk it's highly unlikely she'll ever see us rolling drunk.

Never been falling down drunk or slurring in front of them. I suppose I've been 'merry' at parties etc. I stopped drinking about a year ago anyway so unlikely they'll see me hammered now. X

No never, DH has come home steaming drunk only once in over 20 years together and I kept him well away from DC til he'd slept it off, they never knew a thing about it. We'll both have a couple of drinks around DC (now teenage) but I don't think either of us have ever been visibly affected, I'm not keen on being around drunk people myself so wouldn't subject DC to it.

Yes but mine are adults

You would think...

But then my social circle would think a friend who gives alcohol out at a toddler party needs an intervention so we obviously associate with very different people! I don’t think there’s anything wrong with adults socialising or hosting or getting drunk for that matter, but making children’s events about an adult want/need for alcohol is unnecessary IMO. Get drunk as much as you want when your kids are elsewhere is more my school of thought. Lots of different thoughts on it though as this thread shows so must just depend who is around you and how they behave.

No. Only because I have two toddlers and have to focus really hard at all times to ensure they don't critically injure themselves through their daredevil behaviours 😅

And also the hangover is never ever worth it! Maybe when they're older, though.