WIBU to say no to Pepsi for 6yos?

[FatalCabbage]

6th birthday party, high street restaurant. Guests ordering drinks.

My child quietly, while he thinks I'm not listening, orders "coke please". I am listening, and say absolutely not, but nice try. He settles for Fanta.

Another child also politely tries to order coke. I veto that too; he has Fanta too.

It's not the sugar or the fizz (although I know neither of those is good, it is after all a party) but the caffeine. My 6yo hasn't had coke before, as far as I'm aware, and since caffeine sends me absolutely doolally I'm not keen for him to try it either.

Was I unfair? I have previously served coke at 11th birthday parties, ie to 10- and 11yos, but six is sooooo much younger physically.

And if I was unfair, was that to both children or only one, in which case which? I know I was a bit precious but did it matter?

And no, not McDonald's. Knife and fork

Can I ask w

It wouldn't be the caffeine I'd be worried about, it's still a can of fizzy sugary shit

Can I ask why some people have a ban on fizzy drinks but not cordial/squash type drinks? Surely both ate loaded with sugar?
The other one in this minefield (I am currently trying to understand as DD is 1) why does natural sugar in pure fruit juice seem to be ok but squash/cordial it isn't.
(I get the coke/caffeine issue but just not sure why fizzy drinks per se are bad but juices are not)

Yes, sorry, I should have been clearer although I dud say "it's not the sugar or the fizz (although I know neither of those Os good, it is after all a party) but the caffeine" and said "all other things being equal, would you give a caffeinated product to someone else's child? what about your own child?

I know sugar is bad; ironically DH and I are sugar-free ourselves so there is very little sugar at home. But I'm also aware that straight bans backfire.

Anyway, thanks for additional useful input. It does sound like it would have been impossible to be right or wrong, really!

I think it's because the each bubble in a fizzy drinks releases noxious fumes imbuing the child with a sense of righteous indignation that they've been palmed off with insipid milk and water for years.

Flat drinks are so much more civilized. Homemade elderflower cordial is especially revered.

Squash is banned here. Smoothie only allowed at breakfast in a v limited quantity through a straw. This is on dentists advice.
Sweets only once a month as part of lunch on Sat and Sun. Choc biscuit the other 3 weekends. Again after seeking advice from dentist.

Have a go at me if you like. But please can you be the one to take my DD to dentist every 4 months and hold her hand as she has her fillings done? She has poor quality enamel on teeth. Runs on DP side of family.

My dentist said even fizzy water and fruit teas are bad for your enamel.

We don't have squash at home anymore (well actually I have one of those new 'squashd' things hidden in reserve as when I get a chest or throat infection I drink hot squash with honey! But no point in buying a whole big bottle)

Basically water only at home, DH has tea and DCs sometimes have milk. Pretty much anything goes when eating at a restaurant as it's such a rarity it really isn't (IMO) going to impact health much to have what they want.

Generally the only time we get other drinks in at home is when we are having company.

I probably would of allowed it at a party, but it seems fair to have the same rule for everyone.

As it was a party, I'd have said no to the fizz in general because the caffeine in the coke and the sugar, colours and who knows what else in the other drinks could have sent them (more) hyper.
Sparkling spring water anyone?

I have 3 dc, the oldest being 8, they have never had a fizzy drink or shown any interest in having one. I'm not after a prize though. I don't care what other's do.

I wouldn't have let them have fizzy drinks full stop. There are worse things to worry about than bad teeth and being overweight when drinking them.

Fizzy drinks are bad because of (as well as the amount of shit in them) the CO2 in them which affects the amount of oxygen in the blood. Coke is worse than non-caffeinated fizzy drinks because of the link between it and osteoporosis.

The other night I declined to buy a drink with caffeine for a daughter of a friend 9 year old the other evening, it was nearly 9pm and her mum wasn't there to ask so I erred on the side of caution, she too had a Fanta. It wasn't a party, she and my dd had been performing at a school thing.

I wouldn't have allowed my children ( though they actually wouldn't ask anyway, they don't like fizzy drinks). But I would allow guests to order whatever they wanted provided their parents hadn't left instructions to the contrary.

Squash as a treat? I must be living in the twilight zone.

However, YABU, it a bloody glass of coke, not crack. My 3yo has be known to swipe my DH's can of Coke on occasion and guess what? He went to bed at a normal time, his teeth are fine and his head didn't drop off.

What childhood's are these kids living when a bit of diluted squash is a treat?!

The only children I know who have been restricted as children grew up to be coke swilling chocaholics with a penchant for white bread.

At that age I would have probably given them a choice of water or squash, OR asked the parents before going what they normally like to drink and give them the choices from those options.

DS had birthday tea in American style restaurant - a couple of the kids had coke -I personally cannot sea the issue as by the time you factor in the burger, chips cake etc what is the big deal on a glass of coke.... Why is it only on mumsnet that an occasional glass of coke, god forbid a fruit shoot and oh hell a McDonalds means your kids are on the road to morbid obesity ..... I am in the camp of a little treat doe you/the child no harm!!!

Forgot to add DS has just turned 7

Diet coke gives me a caffeine buzz so not something I want my active boys to have, I don't judge others though if that's what they give their kids. Each to their own

the CO2 in them which affects the amount of oxygen in the blood

Really, how does it do that then?

YABU. My DC don't have caffeine but I wouldn't make someone else's child feel bad about it. Either the kids are allowed to order what they want, or you tell them what their options are beforehand. If you feel strongly you could simply have said "time to order drinks - the choice is milk, orange juice or water".

Ooooooh, I wouldn't caffeinate another person's 6yo unless I knew FOR SURE that the parents were entirely comfortable with me doing so.

I'm not convinced about coke etc. I won't give it to DC and, once they're old enough that it'd be weird and controlling to say what they should have, I think I'd still dissuade them. I made those beautiful little bodies from scratch and can't bear the thought of them eating the shit that I have always eaten and still do when not preg/feeding and they can't see me rubbish...

YANBU (or, if you are, then I am too)

I read it in a medical paper my sister was reading... I'm not completely clear on the science but its something to do with increasing the acidity in the blood. Granted one glass probably has a minimal effect but as CO2 is something our body needs to get rid of why do we put it in our bodies?!