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Original poster

Alcohol and school run

34 replies

Lostwithin · 25/06/2024 13:53

Its not my decision as she's an adult. But do you think it's bad to drink alcohol when you need to get kids from school. No driving involved. I personally think it's bad . Because even one drink you can smell it.

Maybe I'm just being a dick .

OP posts:
Peonies12 · 25/06/2024 13:54

Very hard to say without knowing the context? If I met a friend for lunch and had a drink, I couldn't see any issue. Obviously different if someone has an alcohol problem.

Cosycover · 25/06/2024 13:56

If I was out for lunch with a friend today I'd maybe have a cocktail and then collect the kids.

However I wouldn't have a bottle of wine or 5 vodkas.

Can you give more context?

User364837 · 25/06/2024 13:56

I think occasionally is fine, if there’s a special event or something and the person has one or two and is able to function and there’s no driving then I don’t see the issue at all

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FrenchandSaunders · 25/06/2024 13:57

I used to go out for lunch with friends and have a couple of glasses of wine, then walk to get the kids from school.

It all depends ... how much alcohol? If she's turning up pissed that's a different thing altogether. Or if she's drinking alone at home.

Blouson · 25/06/2024 13:58

No driving, no problem.

G3nnyL3ccy24 · 25/06/2024 13:59

I've had lunch with DH in our local nice pub and had a glass of wine...or 2, walked home, then walked to collect DC from the school, I don't see how this is a bad thing as an occasional thing,

Cue the massive drip feed here that the mother is passed out on the couch on vodka before driving to school??

Roseyjane · 25/06/2024 13:59

Occasionally it’s fine, I can’t see the issue. Getting drunk or having too much of course not, but an occasional drink, fine.

Roseyjane · 25/06/2024 14:00

G3nnyL3ccy24 · 25/06/2024 13:59

I've had lunch with DH in our local nice pub and had a glass of wine...or 2, walked home, then walked to collect DC from the school, I don't see how this is a bad thing as an occasional thing,

Cue the massive drip feed here that the mother is passed out on the couch on vodka before driving to school??

Yes exactly. Can’t imagine in this scenario saying no I need to have a soft drink as I need to go to school and get the kids.

Notsurewhattomakeofthat · 25/06/2024 14:01

Around Christmas time, just before the kids broke up for school, I went on a Christmas lunch with friends and had 1-2 glasses of champagne then picked up my Dd. Felt weird as I’ve never done it before, but it was fine

Comedycook · 25/06/2024 14:02

One glass of wine over lunch occasionally is acceptable. Larger amounts and regularly isn't a good look

Original poster
Lostwithin · 25/06/2024 14:02

Oh maybe it's just a me thing then . 🤣

OP posts:
Youdontevengohere · 25/06/2024 14:02

I’ve had a drink at lunch out with friends/DH on many occasions then picked my kids up from school. Why would anyone be getting close enough to smell my breath? And if they did I’d tell them I’d had a glass of wine with lunch.
A group of us went out for lunch in between KS1 and KS2 sports days last week and we shared a couple of bottles of wine.

Roseyjane · 25/06/2024 14:03

Is it someone you don’t like then and you’re being judgey?

mindutopia · 25/06/2024 14:04

I’m a recovering alcoholic and I think it’s fine. 🤷🏻‍♀️ Most people drink alcohol. Having a glass of wine at lunch or in the sun with a friend is not problematic. Most people would do that with their children around, so I can’t see why you would do it when children aren’t even around before you go to collect them. Two bottles and falling down drunk on the school run is different, but I don’t think that’s what you’re talking about.

Even as someone who is keenly aware of other people’s problematic drinking, honestly I can’t smell a glass of wine or beer on someone who isn’t drinking heavily.

bergamotorange · 25/06/2024 14:06

It depends how regular and what the overall relationship with alcohol is.

ElaineMBenes · 25/06/2024 14:09

Half the parents in our school went to pub yesterday lunch time....some had an hour and half to kill between KS2 and KS1 sports days and others were just making the most of a rare sunny day!

PuttingDownRoots · 25/06/2024 14:11

Swigging a bottle of vodka on the way there not fine

Glass of something with lunch? Ok

Aylestone · 25/06/2024 14:13

I absolutely detest day drinking so it’s not something I’d normally do, I wouldn’t judge someone for it though. I must have the most laid back school in the world as a few months ago it was one teachers 40th, another’s 50th, all of the teachers went out to the races on the weekend to celebrate, and posted a pic on the schools fb page mid afternoon where they were clearly already a bit worse for wear 😂 I will admit to being a bit embarrassed one day after meeting my friend in the spoons for lunch, and she made me try a bit of her fireball as id never tried it before. When I was in the school queue not long after, the mum I was chatting with asked me if I’d had a liquid lunch. I guess the smell is fairly pungent 😳

YellowHairband · 25/06/2024 14:18

Is it worse than having a glass of wine with lunch when you have your children around in the afternoon?

I don't drink - but I don't really see a problem with a glass with lunch.

HideTheCroissants · 25/06/2024 14:47

As long as there is no driving involved and the person involved isn’t “drunk” then it really isn’t an issue.

I’d happily meet up with friends for lunch including a drink and then pick up the kids - no car.

Sports day we’d take picnics including pre mixed cans of pimms (sports day was not on school premises).

If I’d never allowed a drop of alcohol past my lips if I was going to be with my children in the next few hours I would have been teetotal for the best part of 20 years! My children never saw me “drunk” though.

ApresSailingQueen1 · 25/06/2024 14:52

I had a situation a couple of weeks ago where I was out with friends for a planned birthday lunch and DH was meant to pick up the DCs in the car. But the car clutch went and he was stranded.

So I went to pick the Dcs up on the bus. And took them home on the bus.

I know I got a 'look' from another parent. But frankly I feel it would have only been an issue if I drove. Which I did not.

As it happens the parent I got a 'look'; from took a bottle of prosecco last year at sports day and sat on the field sharing it with her husband- and one of them would have driven I think. So I felt a bit of 'fuck you with bells on' to be frank. Because the plans DH and I had made had gone awry and so I proceeded to do the most sensible and responsible thing.

NeedthatFridayfeeling · 25/06/2024 14:53

As long as not drunk or driving it's fine, we've done it occasionally that if it's been a nice afternoon we'll go to the pub in the village for a drink in the beer garden before going to wrap around to collect our daughter, same while she's at the school disco, only ever have 1 drink.

Cattery · 25/06/2024 14:58

Always used to open the bar before the school pick up back in the day. No driving tho. Walked everywhere. No harm done x

Klampo · 25/06/2024 15:01

This wouldn't occur to me as an issue, if it's just a drink or two, like you might have with colleagues before returning to the office Friday pm.

beckybarefoot · 25/06/2024 15:05

without context its hard to comment... as many have said, if i had lunch with friends i may have 1 or even 2 alcoholic beverages..

i guess if the person in question is staggering up to the school gates absolutely steaming then theres a safeguarding issue.

there's got to be a back story to this