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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:
witsender · 28/01/2017 20:21

My kids haven't had fizzy drinks yet (7 and 5) bar bit of lemonade this Christmas. I'd beer between saying what the hell, it's a party, and not wanting junk food to be what parties are about. Eventually I'd decide on the former and just not buy them for our parties.

LouKout · 28/01/2017 20:22

I personally wouldn't.

But what are you worried would happen? :)

OlennasWimple · 28/01/2017 20:23

YANBU - Diet Coke as the only drink choice is weird at any party, never mind a 7yo

(I prefer "full fat" Coke too, rather than the Diet version. At least it wasn't Pepsi Envy)

Pinkheart5915 · 28/01/2017 20:25

I can't see a problem with A mini can of Diet Coke tbh and I certainly wouldn't be disgusted and lose my mind over it.

A canof cola is not going to do anyone any harm

extrabiotin · 28/01/2017 20:26

Oh go and get a fekkin life you smug mums. A bit of coke (the bottled variety lol) won't kill them.

Then they will go and experiment with everything denied them after 18.

A few fizzies won't harm them.

This fizzy stuff is turning into a crusade. I bet Mum and Dad don't drink alcohol or fizzies either EVER either. Ha.

WaitrosePigeon · 28/01/2017 20:27

As long as other options were available I wouldn't have a problem. Diet Coke with nothing else on offer would make me raise an eyebrow, to be honest.

PigletWasPoohsFriend · 28/01/2017 20:28

This thread is brilliant. It shows exactly why we have an obesity problem in this country. It has become normal to eat crisps, cakes, sweets and drink fizzy drinks - with or without sugar

It is a party

Actually not having these things at all can have the opposite effect.

My friend was never allowed this type of thing as a child. She has made up for it as an adult and has battled with her weight most of her life.

Sunnysky2016 · 28/01/2017 20:30

My son was through choice. He would rather go thirsty than have anything fizzy. He's only the last year started to drink coke etc

LucklessMonster · 28/01/2017 20:31

My friend was never allowed this type of thing as a child. She has made up for it as an adult and has battled with her weight most of her life.

I think most of us know someone like that. Mine was a secondary school friend who had the kind of smug parents that have popped up in this thread. The moment she was at university away from them she went crazy, and hasn't sorted her life out a decade later.

It's very, very damaging.

extrabiotin · 28/01/2017 20:32

Some opinionated fekkers on here tonight.

But par for the course. Just crack open that bottle when the kids are settled.

Oh but I don't drink, I don't eat crap, so I don't do anything. RIIIIIGHT.

conserveisposhforjam · 28/01/2017 20:33

You could give my dd (6) diet coke but then I would absolutely have to insist that you kept her for a few hours until the caffeine had worn off...

'Cos it's not the same as a fruit shoot or squash is it? Because of the stimulant in it.

TheEagle · 28/01/2017 20:34

It wouldn't happen where I live Hmm

Diet Coke is the liquid of the Gods. I don't drink it any more because I was drinking too much of it but now I want a glass of it SO BADLY.

If your DD was given a glass of water when she requested one I can't see what the problem is. It was a party!

Original poster
early30smum · 28/01/2017 20:35

I totally agree with allowing kids everything in moderation. I've got plenty of friends who won't let their kids have any sugar at home and they're the first kids to constantly ask for biscuits/more pudding etc at their friend's houses and go totally OTT on sugar at parties. I let my kids have party food, biscuits etc. they have a healthy, balanced diet 80% of the time. They are both healthy weights, eat at least their 5 a day, and both of them do lots of exercise.

All of this is irrelevant to my original post, which was is it a bit strange to only offer Diet Coke as a drink at a party for 7-8 yr olds.

OP posts:
Sunnysky2016 · 28/01/2017 20:35

Piglet I agree with you. Have many friends who are addicted to jelly sweets because they were not allowed them. We've always had crips, sweets, chocolate and fizzy drinks available. Both go for all as a treat except ds2 who wouldn't until now drink fizzy- it felt funny on his tongue! Lol

Sunnysky2016 · 28/01/2017 20:36

So back to OP yes it is weird!!!!!

LouKout · 28/01/2017 20:36

I was allowed fizzy drinks as a child.

I still love them now and eat crap. It's not neceesarily linked.

conserveisposhforjam · 28/01/2017 20:36

Fairly sure the evidence (on alcohol at least) doesn't support the idea that if you give kids a bit of x they won't go mad for it later etc etc. But we are living in a post fact era so...

extrabiotin · 28/01/2017 20:37

@LucklessMonster

Agreed.

You just have to look at some of the threads in Relationships to see how "Control" is a major factor in people bailing out, when they can.

Kids the same when they can. Diet Coke will not be the only factor there I think!

welshgirlwannabe · 28/01/2017 20:38

Weird. Normal is a jug of orange, a jug of blackcurrant and a jug of water. That's just the party drink standard, no?

LouKout · 28/01/2017 20:39

Its hardly like they laid out lines of cocaine though

MyWhatICallNameChange · 28/01/2017 20:39

I wouldn't be impressed either. Not the fact that is was coke, but that it was the only option. My eldest doesn't drink coke, and I have two boys who go mad on caffeine, so I wouldn't be happy with them having it (last time my 14 yo had caffeine he was giggling all night!)

It seems a bit odd not to have other fizzy drinks, squash or juice on offer.

kali110 · 28/01/2017 20:40

Soon they'll be more comments about aspartme being the work of the devil soon, i'm really surprised there haven't been more!
I think they should have offered more to drink, water, squash but i wouldn't be upset by them offering fizzy pop, especially diet coke!!

Did you know coke do a no caffeine version now Grin
Perfect for the parties!

I'm confused by a poster saying that diet fizzy drinks ruin your teeth, so the full fat versions are fine to teeth then? Confused

MrsTerryPratchett · 28/01/2017 20:40

What's with the Hmm? I live in hippy central. No Coke. It's all kombacha and kale.

Miserylovescompany2 · 28/01/2017 20:42

MILK

Somatic cells are the white blood cells that are the defence against bacteria that invade the udder and can cause mastitis. Cow's milk can legally contain up to 400 million pus cells/litre. So one teaspoonful of milk can legally have two million pus cells! YUMMY :)

scottishdiem · 28/01/2017 20:43

Milk? You mean bovine lactose?