Alcohol at primary school disco

[tiredoutgran]

or am I just being a miserable old fart? My children attend a primary school that has mainly 'well heeled' families. There is to be a welcome disco for the reception families with the whole school invited, the invite states that alcohol will be available or you can bring your own. Am I wrong in thinking that alcohol does not belong at what is essentially a party for children. I get the impression that all the parents will be sat glugging beer or wine and chatting away whilst totally ignoring what their children are doing. Don't get me wrong, if you have a family/friends party at home and have the odd glass of wine then that is different but I really think that at this sort of thing the booze should be kept out of it.

Gosh, I'd better not invite you to a kid's play date at our school, we have prosecco....

My only concern about wine at the disco, is that it would probably be fairly undrinkable (ours at school events always is).

YABVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVVU

A few wines really enhance kids parties IMO

And just as a bye-the-by - I don't really drink!

But I'm quite happy for others to.

(Bet some on here would be really at the parents-only event that our HT got a little merry at...)

I wouldn't drink alcohol whilst responsible for a young child. I've also never come across a school event where alcohol was served.

Would one glass of wine affect you that much Noodle?

Genuine question btw. As this thread has proved it seems to affect people very differently.

noodle but people are also responsible for their young children, when everyone is at home. Can't I have a glass bottle of wine with my supper when my children are in bed in my house? Are you suggesting people don't drink until their youngest is 18?

Blimey. At our school's summer 'fayre' the Pimms tent is traditionally manned by the infants' teachers. One year the Pimms ran out after an hour as the NQT teacher was making it very strong!

That's not fair. If I couldn't drink until my youngest was 18, then my older two would be the only ones drinking...

Dh and I have a glass each of mulled wine at the Christmas fair, Dh might even treat himself to two if he's feeling jolly, and we often recklessly polish off a bottle between us on a Friday night with a curry, all the while in charge of two Dc.

We have never even remotely been incapable of looking after them.

workhouse I hope no-one tells social services about your DH's mulled-wine habit.

wow, what a lot of responses. I can't even begin to reply to individual quotes but, the last event I attended, for the leavers, the parent doing the announcing on the stage had a bottle of lager in his hand throughout, looked lovely with his tux and was clearly drunk by the time the presentation was finished, slurring of children's names included - even the teaching staff looked embarrassed. This is what has put me off this time I think. From what I saw that night glugging was definitely the correct word!

I have seen the awful behaviour of ignored children at events first hand and yes, my children behave impeccably at all times (not really but I would be watching closely to ensure their behaviour was acceptable at a public event) I can accept being an old fart, it just all seems very odd to me, in the old days alcohol was allowed at adult events but never at the ones for children. I used to dance with my kids when they were smaller rather than sit chatting all night

I don't drink because of meds although I don't really miss it having never really being a big drinker but OH will have a drink now and then, not often because he drives for work and won't drink if he is working the next day. I will report back if I feel differently after the event!

Yup, this is weird. I am a teacher and there is no way we'd have alcohol within school. Is it a private school or a free school of some sort?

I'd say something in all honesty. If a few parents get drunk all sorts of stuff could kick off - even just gossip surrounding some flirting or something - it's just not something that should be encouraged around children. Young children can find even slightly tipsy adults quite frightening.

My kids' schools events just about always have a glass of wine for the parents (or orange juice, or water - plenty of Muslim parents, teetotal parents, and just people who have to drive) and squash or water for the kids.

Parents evening is the exception. We only get coffee.

I can't think of anything more crashingly boring than going to a disco aimed at pre-teens, tbh. I imagine they're worried nobody will go without a bit of incentive, even if that incentive is only being able to have a beer.

"whilst totally ignoring what their children are doing"

It's a kids disco. I'm surprised parents are even invited (I imagine it's so they don't have to worry about staff ratios and CRB checks).

My children's primary and secondary shebeens schools were both ordinary state ones.

pippin who do you mix with?

My teens and adult kids handle alcohol like well.... adults

That's because we didn't ban it we taught them how to behave.

Your school sounds awful.

There is always wine and beer at my child's school events which are held in the school. Never seen any problems.
I recall in the 70s and 80s when I was at school there always was for parents then too.
Really surprised people see this as an issue. Quite an eye opener!

My 4 kids all state schools and CofE schools.

Alcohol at all events

Completely normal

Yep my furis

Pippin, I agree with you. Children who grow up in households where alcohol consumption has been problematic can become very frightened indeed around adults who are drinking. And these are often the children who need such social occasions to help them settle in at school.

None of the schools I know allow alcohol when the DCs are present. They tend to allow it at Adult Only events such as quiz nights.

1976 our school play. Cheese and wine for The adults and squash for kids.

Life isn't run on the premise that kids have seen the worst in life

Thank god.

No, life isn't. But schools should be run on what is best for all the children attending.

dione perhaps it is for the best for all the children present to see that normal alcohol use is a normal part of a normal life?

At some point, yes. I just don't agree that that point should be a "getting to know you" school disco for Reception age children.

I think all the children benefit from a parent community that bonds and gets to know each other at events where alcohol can oil the wheels (yes some may say sad, but it's true), and get on well, so that they are happy to go along to fundraisers etc regularly (and contribute cash to the school as part of that). because they feel like they have friends there and (yes, again ), can have a drink and a laugh with...these things need to be fun for parents as well as children if they are to be well supported.

I love Mumsnet

Glugging, kicking off, ignoring children, frightening children, gossiping, flirting.

How have I lived for 45 years in boroughs that are as rough as fuck and still never witness or hear of these things happening?