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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

Wine in school?

54 replies

Soapysuds64 · 27/11/2013 23:45

Year 6 are having a small Christmas show, and the teacher wants to provide mince pies and wine for the parents. Thing is, it will be at 2.30 in the afternoon, with plenty of parents needing to drive home or go to after school activities. I know it is up to the school to make these decisions, but should they really be providing alcohol in the afternoon like this? What would your school do? Can't decide if I am being too 'Bah Humbug'

OP posts:

teenagetantrums · 28/11/2013 09:08

YABU, i loved it when my kids school provided wine, made yet another show/concert more bearable, lets face it after years of attending these things they do get a bit tedious. I think most adults are not going to get pissed at a school event.

WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 28/11/2013 09:12

I think it's fine, the adults can choose for themselves and demonstrate to their children when it is or isn't appropriate to drink alcohol.

SavoyCabbage · 28/11/2013 09:21

At our school the school host a 'cheers and tears' event on the first day of the year with wine and it's at 9am.

cornflakegirl · 28/11/2013 09:21

YANBU. I also get annoyed when my work does an occasional little celebration thing at the end of the working day with alcohol provided. It's encouraging drink driving.

Bottle Green's Spiced Berry Cordial makes a delicious mulled wine style drink when served warm.

NCISaddict · 28/11/2013 09:22

We provided mulled wine after the nursery nativity play. Parents mostly came with someone else so one had a glass and one didn't. They're all adults and can make up their own mind. No one got even mildly tipsy.

meditrina · 28/11/2013 09:25

I don't think there's anything wrong with providing wine at school functions.

But agree that at afternoon ones it's a bit odd (lunchtime or evening would be fine) as it's not a 'drinking' time of day, and it would be much harder to gauge the amount that's likely to be consumed. If you're on sale or return, or can afford a 'wine float' (IYSWIM) then you probably don't need to cater particularly closely though.

CoffeeTea103 · 28/11/2013 10:20

Get a grip. Adults can decide for themselves. What's the difference if parents go out for a lunch over the weekend and have wine and drive home?

Daddypigsgusset · 28/11/2013 10:33

Our school uses any excuse for a tipple. Nativities, assemblies, easter service, harvest festival, some start at 2.30, others 9.30am, the summer fayre has a bierkeller, all discos are held in the local pub. That is why people fall over themselves to get their kids in a Catholic school. Nothing to do with the better teaching/funding etc.

Daddypigsgusset · 28/11/2013 10:35

In fact, where I grew up and later on taught, they sold alcohol in the school canteen for the teachers and visitors. Kids had to make do with 0% lager shite though

Arabesque1 · 28/11/2013 11:04

They do this at DD's school. The parents are very responsible though. If they're driving they give their glass to the child instead. Have you thought of this option?

nipersvest · 28/11/2013 11:07

we do mulled wine, so it's 1 part wine to 4 parts orange juice/water/other stuff, too weak to take anyone over the limit unless they drank the whole lot.

Bellebois · 28/11/2013 11:27

The prep in which I worked (Surrey) provided sherry for all staff at lunch on the last day of term... Had done for years and years. Terribly civilised! We also served copious amounts of wine to parents in the intermission of the lower and upper prep productions, not to mention all the other social events over the course of the year.
Let adults make their own decisions about alcohol... Children should see it being used in moderation and appropriately (for a celebration at Christmas for example)
The days of getting sloshed on school camps/trips are over though, fair enough.

Enjoy the festive season, good on the school for planning a lovely afternoon!

eurochick · 28/11/2013 11:40

I don't see how it is encouraging drink driving. People are perfectly able to say "no" or e.g. have one small glass at the start of the event that will have been metabolised by the time they leave. And it's even possible that some people will use those two things below their bums and, you know, walk to the school!

manicinsomniac · 28/11/2013 11:47

YABU.

Where I work there is wine at every parent function, including parents evening, shows etc. The only thing I can think of that doesn't do wine is sports matches which has tea and coffee only. Teachers and parents nearly all drink the wine.

In fact, when we have teacher only special events at lunchtimes such as a leaving send off for a colleague or a governors lunch then most of us drink wine too. In the middle of the day before going back to teach. Shocker!

littlewhitebag · 28/11/2013 11:51

My DD attends a private school and they provide wine for the parents at everything they host. I was at an open evening last week about her course choices and there was wine served. I was driving so i made a sensible adult choice to have some water instead. I often wish i lived nearer to school so i could partake.

somersethouse · 28/11/2013 11:58

YANBU you are being totally, utterly, bloody ridiculous.
I have heard it all now.
What a silly opinion. Honestly. Those saying 'boil off the alcohol, it is 4 parts Oj to 1 part wine' etc. What a load of crap. Do you really think people can't just decide for themselves, or do you want to bug their houses and check what they do and do not drink there also?

Do grow up OP.

ArbitraryUsername · 28/11/2013 12:00

New Puritanism. Isn't it lovely!

How terrible, the school offering parents wine at an event if they choose to drink it... Won't anyone think of the children?

Honestly, what is your reasoning for thinking this is Not On (I'm picturing you with a DM sad face picture too)?

It isn't encouraging drink driving. It's trusting people to make their own decisions based on their one circumstances. Not everyone will be driving.

somersethouse · 28/11/2013 12:01

You are officially the 'most boring mum on the school run' by the way. To want to police people like this, it just is incredible.

Killinascullion · 28/11/2013 12:05

No, YANBU.

Hate when schools and work places waste money on alcohol. And early afternoon too!

Ludicrous.

Looking forward to total drink drive ban to go with smoking ban.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/11/2013 12:10

Perhaps they shouldn't waste money in having the parents in at all then.

cornflakegirl · 28/11/2013 12:11

I don't have a problem with midday drinking. I do have a problem with supplying alcohol at a short event where a significant proportion of people will be driving afterwards. I think it encourages people to think "I'll be okay if I have just one small glass". And I would vastly prefer it if the drivers that I encounter have had no small glasses of wine.

Gileswithachainsaw · 28/11/2013 12:13

And I'm sure many will walk or whatever

OddFodd · 28/11/2013 12:15

and have a to go with it

somersethouse · 28/11/2013 12:36

Poor teacher, organising a Christmas Show, providing mince pies and a glass of wine for those who want it and there is a pain in the arse parent complaining, contemplating whether this is appropriate.

Keep it to yourself OP, you will do your DC NO favours. None whatsoever.

PeriodFeatures · 28/11/2013 12:48

Great. How very civilized. I hope when my DC are school age that their school offers wine at all functions.

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