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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

WIBU to say no to Pepsi for 6yos?

140 replies

FatalCabbage · 21/06/2014 14:31

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

OP posts:

MadameDefarge · 22/06/2014 18:48

Actually I disagree catsbollocks. Coke is shit. Shit of the highest order. If you can do a party without it, do it.

Its not just the sugar, or the sugar substitutes, its also the carbonated liquid that destroys teeth.

And it supports a global brand that has persuaded folk that coke is better than water. Go coke!

FlimFlamFloo · 22/06/2014 18:50

I have this discussion with my not so DM!

I prefer my 2 to drink diet fizzy (8 and 5) rather than 'full fat'.

In my opinion, I think that sugar is worse for your health than aspartame. The articles that i have read on the subject, indicate that you have to drink a hell of a lot of diet drinks to see an effect. I don't let mine have coke/pepsi/mountain dew or coffee because of the caffeine.

As someone mentioned upthread - everything in moderation.

SirChenjin · 22/06/2014 18:53

It only destroys teeth if you're necking the stuff every day. Coke at a party is fab - it's part of the whole deal, along with alcohol (for the adults, natch) and food that is high in salt and sugar. As long as you're not drinking it every day then bring on the Coca Cola I say! (in a long glass, with ice and lemon - or perhaps some lime)

Chocotrekkie · 22/06/2014 18:59

My 6 year old would have come home confused if you hadn't allowed her to drink what she wanted at a party. She likes coke.

She would still have enjoyed the party but probably commented on it to me later as she wouldn't have understood why she wasn't allowed it.

Not a problem - she knows and accepts that different people have different rules.

TheCatsBollocks · 22/06/2014 19:05

Coke is shit yes.
But so is most of the other stuff eaten a child's birthday party.

fuzzpig · 22/06/2014 19:48

From my very small sample when I asked parents if their DCs were allowed fizzy:
One said yes can have anything
One said yes but he probably won't as doesn't like it (did try it but said yuk)
One said no just non-fizzy please

All 7 BTW. I figured at this age it was better to check.

fuzzpig · 22/06/2014 19:51

Coke is shit yes.
But so is most of the other stuff eaten a child's birthday party.

I agree. I wouldn't generally keep any party food type stuff at home, rarely even buy crisps and biscuits nowadays, and certainly no fizzy 99% of the time, so when it's a party I don't restrict at all.

Retropear · 22/06/2014 19:56

Mine are allowed a glass of coke at parties,Xmas and special occasions.They then have water.Never have it in the house.Out of 3 one hates it and all 3 at 10 and 9 are filling free.

Never noticed that the caffeine made mine hyper.That said they can handle the odd cup of tea and a few Green & Blacks squares(which keeps me awake for hours) with no ill effects too.

bellarations · 22/06/2014 21:09

Yabu and precious. It's coke not alcohol !
You do know chocolate also contains caffine don't you.
FYI - 5 children aged from 14 -6 years not a filling or a bad tooth between them,
All like coke and drink it occasionally.

369thegoosedrankwine · 22/06/2014 21:51

Honest answer - I wouldn't have given it a second thought. I would've asked what they wanted at said party and given it to them. I don't make an issue over any food or drink. It all has its place and nothing is 'bad'.

The fact that your child asks when you aren't listening says a lot. If you were acting because of experience of cAffine I would say YANBU but you don't even know so IMO YABU.

plentyofshoes · 22/06/2014 22:07

I think my ds would explode. You should see him after having love heart sweets or red fruit shoots. Its like crack.

Original poster

FatalCabbage · 22/06/2014 22:30

The fact that your child asks when you aren't listening says a lot. If you were acting because of experience of cAffine I would say YANBU but you don't even know so IMO YABU.

Yes, I agree this is a very interesting point. When DH was drinking a lot of coke (cut down significantly after a scan revealed damage to liver) DS would want to try it and we put it in the same class as beer, being "not for children, when you're a grown-up, etc". So as far as I was concerned DS was as likely to order coke as beer.

But presumably he's being offered it elsewhere - where? other parties? I have no idea. I'm not going to make a big thing of it with him, although we did later have a chat about how coke contains caffeine which keeps you awake for a bit then makes you more tired and grumpy, and which isn't suitable for children... which was why I hadn't let him have it.

And no, I'm not going to give him coke for a good while yet. I don't know when I'll relent - presumably by age 10 when also he is likely to be bigger than me and the adult/child argument will be weaker - but not now. Not now.

::rocks in corner at the idea of his getting so old so fast::

OP posts:

littlejohnnydory · 22/06/2014 22:41

Fiinding this thread strange / enlightening - I'm a lot more relaxed about dcs' diet than the average mumsnetter (generally healthy diet, "junk" in moderation) but they've never had a fizzy drink (oldest is almost 7) and aren't even allowed a fruit shoot - squash is a very occasional few times a year treat. They've never really asked, mind, although they'd love to drink squash all day.

They do eat chocolate, ice cream etc, probably no worse for them - the only sweets they don't have are the non-vegetarian kind (haribo etc).

I've only ever served water at parties, maybe other parents / children think I'm weird!

littlejohnnydory · 22/06/2014 22:42

I would definitely draw the line at coke, so yanbu, OP - I'd just have assumed that no children are allowed it, so glad I've read this thread before ds's friends start ordering it!

SirChenjin · 23/06/2014 11:38

I wouldn't presume he's being offered it elsewhere - he's just at that age where he's picking up on all the advertising and realising that other people eat and drink different things, and if he's not allowed that then it becomes much more exciting - children learn by experience, after all. It's one of the reasons that I wouldn't/don't ban anything (except illegal substances obviously) but the DCs know that some things are not great for you, and for that reason they are only eaten/drunk on special occasions.

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