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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Just inadvertently fed the DCs gin.

92 replies

ILikeyourHairyHands · 27/11/2016 22:04

Sooo, we went to a Christmas market today at a place we visit often, afterwards we went to the farm-shop for some odds and sods and told the DC they could chose a soft drink to have with supper.

The shop is set up so alcoholic drinks are on a display on one side and soft drinks are on a smaller display opposite, posh fizzy drinks, fruit juice etc. They like Fentiman's rose lemonade and wanted to get a large 500ml bottle, but as they always argue about who gets most I suggested they get one of the smaller 275ml bottles each and they could have it with a straw at supper. All good.

We sit down for supper and they start drinking their lemonade and both proclaim 'It tastes a bit weird', I looked and it was the bloody Bloom Gin and Fentimans. Thing is, I know Fentimans do a pre-mixed drink with Bloom, I've had it before, the bottle is exactly the same, other than it does say Bloom Gin on the front, buuuuuttt, the drinks were with the soft-drinks, the bottles are the same, I wasn't paying that much attention because, why would I?

I'm not even sure what my AIBU is, I'll phone them tomorrow because I can only imagine it was a mistake when they were stocking the shelves, no harm was done and I'm not about to go all Daily Mail sad-face on them.

I was just a bit perturbed, what if a recovering alcoholic had picked it up, or a Muslim, or any number of people who don't drink for whatever reason?

Also my children think they are now drunk after imbibing all of 10ml and are pissing about instead of going to bed, so I guess that's why I'm a little bit irritated!

OP posts:
ILikeyourHairyHands · 27/11/2016 22:59

Anyway, faux-inebriated DCs are now asleep.

I am drinking some spiced rum I bought which I'm taking serious issue with as it tastes like cloves.

It's not spiced, it's medicated.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 27/11/2016 23:00

If you couldn't read or write, Benedik, why would you think it was lemonade rather than gin? You could just as easily think it was gin instead of lemonade... Or realistically not have a clue because you couldn't read.
Labels can't be geared towards those who cannot read them. Confused

maggiso · 27/11/2016 23:02

I do think the shop should be warned (nicely) that there is the potential for people to accidently pick up the wrong product. I tend to look for the colour of a familiar product so could easily have made this mistake if harried by DC. DS (17) has SN and cannot read but likes to go to the till in a small shop to buy his own drink/ chocolate (with supervision from a distance) as many younger children do -so it isn't wise to put similar looking gin bottles in with the pop bottles. True most people would notice as soon as the took the first sip, (so unlikely to cause harm) but the potential is there.
Its given me a laugh!

MadMadDonna · 27/11/2016 23:03

They are very similar bottles
So I'd tell the shop

TwentyCups · 27/11/2016 23:05

I can easily see how this happened! I think it's funny though - no harm done and I wouldn't call the shop about it, personally.
You'll laugh about this with them when they are older Grin

TwentyCups · 27/11/2016 23:06

Maggiso - if a child took it to the till in a shop alone they wouldn't be served it without ID anyway.

YorkiesGlasses · 27/11/2016 23:07

You're reminding me of a 'social studies' type programme I saw where they served all non-alcoholic drinks to party goers and then watched as most of them decided they were totally pissed. Slurring their words, screeching with laughter at nothing, staggering about - and they were totally sober! It's amazing how suggestive our minds are.

Anyway, your kids will enjoy a bit of kudos on the playground tomorrow, no harm done!

Sadik · 27/11/2016 23:09

"If you couldn't read or write, Benedik, why would you think it was lemonade rather than gin? "

My dad could certainly make that mistake, he's rather fond of Fentimans rose lemonade, and has limited / fuzzy sight due to cataracts so would just see the familiar shape and pink contents. (Mind you, he'd probably be quite pleased with the addition of gin, and would certainly question the discrepancy in price Grin )

ILikeyourHairyHands · 27/11/2016 23:12

I am going to tell them, but not in an 'angry complaining' way.

Just as a head's up.

I really think it was a placing mistake, it WAS with the soft drinks. I go there a fair bit.

And I was happy with the extra gin, obviously.

OP posts:
BertieBotts · 27/11/2016 23:18

If the normal product from the company is lemonade, that's why you'd think it was lemonade!

I think most children would dislike the taste of gin, even when it's mixed with something, it's very strong. I don't think there's much danger of them not noticing. And yes the shop would likely stop a child from buying it when they got to the till with that alone. I expect they didn't flag it up this time because OP was buying a load of things and it wasn't clear that the drinks were for the children.

Woollymammoth63 · 27/11/2016 23:19

I know this is a bit harsh but

Think you made a mistake and bought the kids gin without looking at the label
Also think there's a bit of denial going on to only be worried about a recovering alcoholic picking it up by mistake - lol

Woollymammoth63 · 27/11/2016 23:21

It's really not the shops fault - they didn't know it was for the children, they didn't serve it to them at table, it's actually your own fault. So there is no need for a heads up.

PickAChew · 27/11/2016 23:22

This is up there with when my little sister thought home made wine (80s - it was a novelty) was ribena and took a massive slug of it - and never shut the fuck up for the next 3 hours!

(She's teetotal, now!)

WoodsTreesWhere · 27/11/2016 23:24

Flogging there will definitely be some people along now saying that has happened to them, seen it on here before!

ILikeyourHairyHands · 27/11/2016 23:25

Woolly, I'm just going to tell them because I think they made a mistake, I genuinely think they put it in the wrong place, should I not tell them? I'm not going to be pissy - just tell them.

OP posts:
HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 27/11/2016 23:38

Yes exactly OP - just tell the shop so they can move the gin ones back to the grownup drink section. Presumably unless they sold out of the stuff, there are still some bottles in with the soft drinks.

No pissiness needed. Don't know why others think you are going to go in all guns blazing and demanding retribution!

DontTouchTheMoustache · 27/11/2016 23:50

Yeah it looks very much like the farm.shop haven't noticed they are alcoholic like you say. They do look similar and if you buy the rose lemonade often you wouldn't really look at the label especially if it's in with the soft drinks you would just grab it.very easy mistake to make

harveyyspecter · 28/11/2016 00:04

I'd never give anything to kids without at least glancing at the label. I don't think the bottles even look that similar.

BeNiceToMyCubs · 28/11/2016 00:19

Could we have a round of applause for Harvey being such a responsible and spectacular parent Grin checks Horlicks

7SunshineSeven7 · 28/11/2016 00:22

BeNice I have a habit of checking all labels and have done since I was a kid - not for a safety thing. I just remember being 7 and eating four spoonfuls of sugar sneakily out of the jar...that turned out to be coffeemate!

HuckleberryGin · 28/11/2016 00:32

I brushed my teeth with canesten a few weeks ago. Doesn't even look much like toothpaste.

No harm in telling them.

EBearhug · 28/11/2016 00:35

That's just preventing oral thrush, Huckleberry.

Cagliostro · 28/11/2016 00:49

This is probably the most Mumsnetty thread I've ever read. :o

Liquid Turkish delight you say? I think I need to try this rose lemonade (without gin, because ugh, gin)

YorkiesGlasses · 28/11/2016 00:50

Telling them would be the nice thing to do, another parent might not notice the mix-up and let their child drink the lot. Or an enterprising soul could notice and view it as an an excellent opportunity for a compensation case. They should thank you!

Floggingmolly · 28/11/2016 09:40

There is no opportunity for a compensation case there, Yorkies Confused. Someone gave their kids a bottle of Gin, which was clearly labelled Gin... Who's "fault" could that possibly be?
There might be a case of negligence to answer (by the parent), but it can't be laid at anyone else's door.