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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think that to begin to tackle the 'binge drinking culture' we need to

3 replies

MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 28/11/2011 15:18

start with parents?

I've quite often seen parents encouraging their offspring to get drunk and talking about getting drunk as a given on a night out. One recent example was a friend of mine who asked her 18 year old daughter after a night out: " Did you have a nice time? Did you get drunk?" Her daughter replied: "Oh, I didn't really drink much...I only had about five drinks while I was out. Oh, and half a bottle of wine as I was getting ready." At 18, theoretically her drinking career is just starting, so to have already reached a stage where 10 units in one night is 'not drinking much' is quite worrying IMO. She's tiny as well.

Another was being pestered by her 10 year old not to drink so much.They got into a bit of a row about it. My friend snapped at the child and said: "I am on holiday and so I'm entitled to get drunk!"

A third jokingly asked her 10-year old if he could lend her some money as she was going on a night out at the weekend: "Lend me some money so I can go and get drunk!" She kept going on and on about it and I found it really cringe-worthy. Next time I saw her she joked again about being excited about going on this night out to get drunk in front of the kids.

I just find it really weird that people celebrate getting drunk as something you inevitably do on a night out/ on holiday etc. I find it even weirder to do it in front of your kids. As a kid I remember believing that being drunk was quite a shameful thing. Something your alcoholic distant relation or the town tramp did. I don't remember seeing any drunken adults at parties/ people talking about being drunk and laughing about it.

You don't joke about going out and getting stoned or drugged up to the eyeballs, but it's the same thing, isn't it? Just because alcohol is a legal drug, it doesn't make it okay to go out and get pissed in front of your kids or joke/boast about it to them.

I'm not saying I've never been drunk. I'm just saying I would never normalise this state to my kids, or ever indicate to them that it was a desirable thing to do.

OP posts:
Kayano · 28/11/2011 15:22

Yanbu

They should also ensure a pint of coke in the pub is less than a pint of lager/ cider. Some of the prices for soft drinks are nuts!!!

CogitoErgoSometimes · 28/11/2011 15:30

I know plenty of people that like a glass of wine or two, but don't know anyone that actively encourages their children to get drunk or makes jokes about it. Being howling drunk is still a 'bad thing' where I am. If you know people that behave irresponsibly and/or buy alcohol for their teens, clearly YANBU. They sound pretty trashy...

MyChildDoesntNeedSleep · 28/11/2011 16:05

I am beginning to think that maybe it is the people around me. I wouldn't mind, but most of my friends are professionals or in positions of responsibility.

OP posts:
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