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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU Diet Coke at a party?

517 replies

early30smum · 28/01/2017 18:50

DD (7) has just got back from a party. The only drinks put out for the kids were Diet Coke! She did get some water in the end, but the drink provided for each child was a mini can of Diet Coke!

AIBU to think this is a bit weird/uneccesary for a birthday party of 7-8 yr olds?

OP posts:
Highalert · 28/01/2017 19:43

If you don't want your children to drink fizzy pop or eat party food,maybe decline any further party invitations

I'm sure your children will thank you for it or get therapy when they are older.

bigmouthstrikesagain · 28/01/2017 19:43

Diet drinks without exception taste like shit. If you are going to drink fizzy stuff then own it, have the sugar, and be moderate in the amount you drink. I would maybe raise my eyebrows at diet coke for a primary school party, dd2 is 8 and won't drink anything fizzy, so there should be a choice but other than that, at a party, it is not that big a deal.

Original poster
early30smum · 28/01/2017 19:44

Yes DD loved the party and, as I said, was able to ask for water, which she was given. So it's not a huge deal. As I said, I just wanted opinions on whether people thought it was a bit weird to only offer Diet Coke as a drink or not.

OP posts:
MrsMarigold · 28/01/2017 19:44

Why can't they just have water or milk, or watered down apple juice if they must have a cool drink. I would be surprised if anyone served fizzy drinks to my DC but then that lunchbox thread made me realise I'm very conservative when it comes to processed food.

Trainspotting1984 · 28/01/2017 19:44

I don't like normal coke it's too sweet

fourquenelles · 28/01/2017 19:45

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha...........hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha..........hahahahahahahahahahahhaahahhaha (and breathe).

A party. Something out of the ordinary. Cake, sweets, crisps, jelly, ice cream, and a very small can of diet coke - things you don't have every day because...........it was a PARTY. Unclench, Jeez.

Original poster
early30smum · 28/01/2017 19:45

I never said I didn't want her to eat party food?! I'm v relaxed about that. And actually, if she liked Coke or Diet Coke, I wouldn't mind her having it as a treat at a party. As I've said (numerous times now) I just thought it was odd to be the only Choice available without specifically asking for anything else.

OP posts:
Highalert · 28/01/2017 19:46

Water at a kids party is like being given grape juice at an adults party.

FrustratedFrugal · 28/01/2017 19:46

Out of curiosity, what would you offer instead?
Fruit juice is evil as well...

TinselTwins · 28/01/2017 19:47

I would never ever ever buy diet coke for my kids myself

One can at one party though - fine!

OverAndAbove · 28/01/2017 19:47

It's the caffeine surely, that's the issue? I'm all for having fizzy pop as a treat but Diet Coke can't be good, can it? I've never seen it at parties in primary school and would be very surprised to see it as the only drink offered

Trainspotting1984 · 28/01/2017 19:47

Fizzy drinks are for adults IMO. (Or you know- young adults) I mean I love wine but my children can't have it.

LucklessMonster · 28/01/2017 19:48

Out of curiosity, what would you offer instead?

Only water, because nothing else is necessary.

Ah but water is made of chemicals so... er... let them dry out?

scottishdiem · 28/01/2017 19:48

neweymcnewname - I know. These ones I had with yogurt!

OP - There is nothing wrong or weird with Coke, diet or not, for kids provided its in moderation. More choices - yes, but weird no. So you were being unreasonable OP.

AIBU Diet Coke at a party?
flowery · 28/01/2017 19:48

The bar for being a smug parent has obviously taken a nosedive if not being happy about only Diet Coke for small children gets over that bar these days.

scottishdiem · 28/01/2017 19:49

Reread it - sorry - you are NOT being unreasonable to think only one drink choice was ok.

mathanxiety · 28/01/2017 19:49

One little can isn't going to kill anyone.

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2017 19:49

If you don't want your children to drink fizzy pop or eat party food,maybe decline any further party invitations

Agreed.

It's odd there was no other choice apart from Diet Coke but I don't think it constitutes negligent parenting in the way that some people appear to.

Sallystyle · 28/01/2017 19:50

Aspartame is fine.

Diet coke at a party is fine. More options would have been better.

Pepsi max is much nicer. My 8 year old agrees.

Trainspotting1984 · 28/01/2017 19:50

It's not one though is it? According to MN it will be at every party, and sometimes my kids go to 2 in one day 😂

Original poster
early30smum · 28/01/2017 19:50

At my children's parties I've offered water... once or twice I've offered proper fruit juice (not juice drinks) and yes too much fruit juice is bad, but a small (150ml) serving is fine, and 1 of your 5 a day. I found that most kids were perfectly happy to drink water and weren't too bothered about juice which is why in later years I just did water...

OP posts:
kel1234 · 28/01/2017 19:51

I wouldn't have a problem with my child having it as a treat at a party. However I do find it a bit stranger that only one type of drink would be offered.
I do remember the mini cans though. I used to take one to school every day for our break.

Dancergirl · 28/01/2017 19:51

OP YANBU at all. Amazed by some of these responses.

My dc are 15, 13 and 9 so I've been doing and taking them to parties for a long time. I can't recall there ever being fizzy drinks at a birthday party. It is usually water or juice.

Floggingmolly · 28/01/2017 19:53

It kind of depends how long the party went in for, flowery. Unless it's an all day affair; it's perfectly possible to go for an hour or so without gulping down water and still not mutate into a desiccated husk.

PurpleDaisies · 28/01/2017 19:53

I can't recall there ever being fizzy drinks at a birthday party. It is usually water or juice.

I have never been to a children's party without fizzy drinks. Most of my friends/relatives are of the view that it's a party and the occasional glass of pop won't turn their children into obese, raging