I'm a bit disgusted at a friend's FB picture showing her 3 year old drinking a glass of lager.

[belledechocolatefluffybunny]

What's the consensus before I delete her? AIBU? I've already hidden her updates because of the constant swearing.

I rather think that a 3 year old drinking beer is not a thing they would be doing on a regular basis - just doesn't taste nice to a child. So I imagine the picture was posed. You might not think this idea is quite as hilarious as the mother clearly thought it (in which case, delete the picture). But I can't see why you would leap from thinking 'not a hilarious picture' to thinking 'child is being fed alcohol on a regular basis'. Unless you have other reasons to suspect the latter, of course.

Grandson (then aged 4) once kept mithering me to have a sip of the lager I was drinking. After I'd said 'no' a few thousand times, I gave in and let him try it. Still remember the look of absolute outrage on his face - as if I were trying to poison him. So I'm guessing it will be quite a few years before he tries the stuff again.

Many children have had a taste of alcohol - whether it's for the humour value of them pulling whiskey-face or popping champagne bubbles, and for them to taste it does involve drinking it, but so what?

If you said there was a video showing the child downing half a glass, then maybe you would have a point...but a mouthful?

I need to go out and replace the pearls and twinset.

Altinkum - that comment was made in response to a poster who claimed that alcohol doesn't kill.

The point I'm trying to make is, most of you find it amusing to see a toddler sipping a beer, but would be outraged if they were posed to be smoking (I'm sure). But why? Because you choose to ignore the dangers of drinking (but it's ok in moderation, blah blah), but not those of smoking (which I'm sure in moderation is alright, no?). I smoke very occossionally and drink very occasionaly, I understand the dangers of both. Perhaps this ignorance, or denial is why this country has such a problem with drink?

mmm this thread is turning into smoking vs. drinking, which is worse.

someone make a list please...

oh and OP YABU.
its not harmful, if you dont find it funny you dont find it funny, but why such a reaction to it? come back and tell me the kid has a pint every night with his beans on toast and we'll call SS...

I just don't see the difference when it comes to a toddler posing for a picture lemonysweet. Both are drugs, both woud be illegal, and both pose health risks. Both are 'kids doing adult things' but yet one is hilarious and the other not, why is this?

a toddler posing with a cigarette has a very real risk of hurting themselves, i.e burning their fingers and inhaling the smoke

if they are posing with a drink, the most the are likely to do is spill it! that is the difference

Chooks,

I would view them differently - probably because a cigareete is burning, and also because inhaling a cigarette is likely to induce instant coughing and possibly vomitting in a child. Having a sip of alcohol would not cause any effect, apart from a reaction to the taste.

Although they are both dangerous and addictive in the long run, the immediate effects are not comparable.

and besides, a toddler would not know understand the concept of alcohol, to them its just a drink, so they are posing with a drink, drinks are normal, no harm done

cigarettes are different

This would be ok then?

yes

no because you would not want to teach your child that smoking is ok

drinking is normal, they do not understand that there is alcohol in the drink. any fool would know there is a difference

That baby is learning NOTHING...it's very young

oh i see that cigarette isnt lit, i dont have a problem with it

I don't like this tbh I think it is pretty naff. I grew up in Italy where children had a teaspoon of wine at the dinner table at 8 or so, but photos of a 3 yo swigging from a pint glass? Yuk absolutely yukola

I'm not for one minute suggesting that having a sip of beer as a child will turn them into an alcoholic, not at all! I'm pointing out that I find it incredibly distasteful to pose a child for a photo with what is in fact a drug, and I'm suprised that I seem to be in the minority.

YANBU to not like this, but deleting her as a friend is IMO a bit harsh

My FB pic is a photo of me drinking from a Sweetheart Stout can (probably empty) aged about 2 or 3

I think it's probably the way things come across online Chooks. Phrases like 'disgusted' and 'incredibly distasteful' are actually very strong terms to describe something that might actually be best described a 'naff' or '', so as to save extreme phrases like 'disgusting' etc. for other uses.

It seems to happen a lot online, and I know I do it sometimes, but I do laugh at myself sometimes when I read things back!

I do think it's incredibly distasteful. always have, always will.

Yabu. I sometimes as my FB profile picture have a picture of me aged about 1 with an empty bottle of liebfraumilch in one hand and a beer can in the other. My mum cringes every time I put it up! I hardly ever drink as an adult.

Well I suppose that's why you are in the minorty then - others might agree to a degree, but not to the same extreme.

how can you tell from a photo that he's actually drinking it?