WIBU to report this to the school?

[SeaSickSal]

I was at the tram stop today and there was a woman there with a child in a uniform from the school at the end of my road waiting for it. She was drinking out of a can of Stella at 3pm in the afternoon. She looked a bit older so I suspect that she might have been their gran.

It did make me think if she is necking Stella straight from the can at 3pm what are these kids going home to? It was on a busy road too. Am I being totally judgey or should I mention it to the school? I only have a description, I don't know who they are.

No I wouldn't mention it to the school.

Had she been swigging from a vodka bottle, I'd be slightly concerned and consider it, but a can of Stella?

You wouldn't report a mum sat in a nice looking cafe at 3pm having a glass of wine or someone having a gin and tonic in a pub garden with kids after school who then crossed a busy road with them.

Maybe I'm syncical but I don't know if I even believe you.

I may also be cynical sorry am trying to cook, mn and watch tv.

Why is drinking from a Vodka bottle different to a Stella bottle or can? It's alcohol, nervertheless and being drunk in a very unsociable manner that does have 'alcoholic' overtones to it.
I would report it. The family could be already giving cause for concerns in which case, you may have averted a catastrophic family crisis or it may be noted, investigated and 'closed'. Either way, no harm can come of it.
Daniel Pelza case is always ringing in my head, especially this week when we learnt that 27 opportunities were missed by professionals. What happens if this was a potential opportunity?
Drinking alcohol when caring for children in a hazardous enviornment is ALWAYS irresponsible.

Well I don't think I would have been bothered if she had been drinking in the pub garden across the road with the kids.

But I think that's half the point. It's not inappropriate to take your kids into a pub garden for a drink. It is a bit inappropriate to actually be necking cans of Stella when you're actually on the school run though. It's the fact that she was drinking in such an inappropriate situation which made me think that there was some kind of drinking issue there I think.

I think you would really only drink in a situation like that if you couldn't help yourself.

And it's the fact it looked like the gran as well. The children looked well looked after and I wondered if the mother knew.

Are you asking if you can 'report' a grown adult for drinking alcohol, just because they were in charge of a child?

No, you can't.

What do you expect the school to say? Ok random stranger who could be anyone, doesnt even know this child and could easily be a journo or spiteful neighbour, we'll get on that right away!

If Gran/Mum drinks when she picks up her child, the school will already know about it.

Yes I would tell the school

i would keep my nose out and not judge other people.

That is a good point Wellthen, they won't know if I am just a random or a troublemaker. But if, as you say, they are already aware, it may mean that they have a fuller picture of what is happening. Or even if they're not that they could keep an eye out. And also she wasn't drinking the alcohol while at school but on the way home.

I don't know I am in two minds. I wondered if anybody else might have said something too, and if so would two reports mean they would know it wasn't just a random.

More concerned by drinking from a bottle of vodka to a can of beer?

The strength of the alcohol. Most people could have one can of beer and be almost sober, couldn't say the same for people drinking the same quantity of neat vodka.

I see your point about it being socially unacceptable but I don't think it's that unacceptable to drink a can of beer in the afternoon out and about, it's much less acceptable to drink from a bottle of vodka. People are aware of that, usually those who do so, don't care and are the ones with a problem.

I think Daniel Pelka is a red herring in this case.

it may mean that they have a fuller picture of what is happening. Or even if they're not that they could keep an eye out.

And what is happening? What exactly are they keeping an eye out for?

If you had said the woman was clearly drunk then I might understand your concern (although I still wouldnt advise you call the school. I dont think people understand how limited we are in what we can actually do. The children dont actually BELONG to us.) But all you saw was her drinking. One drink.

It doesnt matter if YOU think that it is the sign of an alcoholic. You are being judgey and snobby and massively overestimating how useful 1 random statement is.

"Wait, an adult was DRINKING? Call social services!"

Yes i'd mention it to the school. I too would have judged and I wouldn't 'keep my nose out' , too many people do this for the sake of being politically correct. It's totally ridiculous, the woman couldn't resist a drink for the duration of the school run, what does this say to you?
Mention it to the school for sure

All this reporting.

Is it a small school? And was the accompanying pupil of a distinctive appearance, or perhaps carrying a clearly labeled book bag?

For if they cannot identify the pupil, there is nothing that can be done.