AIBU to expect parents not to drink at sports day?!?!

[KCAREYW1987]

Have just returned from a very hot primary school sports day. A group of parents decided to crack open a few cold cans of pimms at about 11am. AIBU to think that this is totally out of order at a primary school sports day? I mean I know it's not cans of super brew but still I would never dream of watching my little ones in the sack race while getting sloshed in the sun! Would love to hear other opinions on this.

I have a feeling it would probably cost more than £21 in my area, although I don't know for sure.

Interesting. And I know I have sidetracked the discussion slightly, sorry about that!

I was really surprised at the thought of alcohol at Sports Day. It had never occurred to me that this happened anywhere.
Our PTA sold tea, coffee, cartons of apple or orange juice, crisps, scones with cream and jam. We thought the £150 profit we made was good

OP tbf if the parents are drinking and driving and turning up to work under the influence, AND drinking somewhere it's illegal to drink, then those are the issues. The sports day thing is kind of irrelevant!

It's possible to drink legally a sports day, without then getting behind the wheel and turning up pissed for work!

You know, I hadn't considered that it might not be automatic.

I know some local heads who refuse to have alcohol on school premises full stop but most are happy.

surely you realise that in the UK every event has to be accompanied by copious amounts of alcohol - people in UK can't enjoy themselves without alcohol

I really dislike seeing adults drinking around children at any of these events tbh, especially a kids sports day.

Question: Why does everyone 'need' alcohol to survive in this country and have a good time? Isn't this just an underlying addiction if this is the only way people can say they really enjoyed themselves?

Yes I do have an occasional drink. But never so to make sure I have a good time, I can do that without it.

The bacteria on top of soda cans would be enough to put me off doing this anyway. Anyone for a Pimms with a side order of rats piss?!

Ahh Blueflowers so when you have a drink it's fine, but when other people do it, it's because they need it and cannot have a good time without it. Fascinating.

I think it's a bit silly to drink alcohol at a school event. Our drinking culture is an issue. I do find it a shame that so many people turn any event into an excuse to drink alcohol.

On the flip side, Pimms on a hot day at what I find a boring event sounds rather nice and I am not a big drinker.

But drinking alcohol in the morning at a school event?

If I saw someone bringing in their own alcohol for sports day I would judge.

MerchantofVenice I agree, it's all the other factors that are the issue in this case.

In regards to rat piss, most multipacks are covered in plastic these days so such this haven't been an issue for a long time.

Our sports day in the morning - we have a retro van serving fancy coffee and juice. Booze at that time and in that environment would seem wrong and I like a glass of wine as much as the next parent but not at 11am watching my child in an egg and spoon race.

Merchant oh don't be so trite as to pull out the whole "You seem very angry" thing.

It's an awful thing to say and it's also historically been a way to shut women down.

"Don't lose your temper now"

It's almost creepy.

I'm not angry...not one of my posts is angry...and you know it. You just don't feel comfortable with what I'm saying.

I'd bloody love a Pimms Tent. It sounds like a much more relaxed affair then parents being frog marched from event to event while the alpha parents scream encouragement from the side lines. Much better to have a picnic and consider it a community event and not hunger-games-lite.

hackmum That's because it's Pimms which is a nice middle class drink.

Same way whenever a pregnant woman says she wants a drink it's a glass of champagne at a wedding or a nice wine with dinner. Never a White Lightning or a vodka cranberry.

It's not normal to sneak alcohol into a kid's event at 11 AM. Pimms or otherwise.

MerchantofVenice yeah, it's ok for me to have a drink like twice a year, and that's at a function or wedding.

I couldnt care less if i never had an alcoholic drink for the rest of my life or it was banned from the world. But for a lot of people who drink 'socially' this will never do.

My question was yes, why it's a 'need' generally, and especially at a kids sports day.

MrsOver you did seem quite angry at about 8.30 tbf - you said "Stop saying Pimms FFS!" Seems a bit... OTT.

Seems like you've got a problem with Pimms as a drink choice.

I said you sounded angry because at that point you were coming across as...angry.

Lots of people are determined to complicate this issue, it seems. If it's legal to drink somewhere, and you're a functioning adult, and you're fully aware of your choices, I say - go ahead. No need for MN to tell you off.

GerdaLovesLili how do you know how strong the drinks were that they were drinking? Pimms may be low in alcohol but whose checking how many they have? It is a primary school daytime event on school grounds why drink?

Merchant I was simply updating the post. Was only made aware this morning it was in fact illegal to consume alcohol on school premises. Was also just updating some questions other people had asked.

I had no idea this was a thing either but maybe things have changed since I was at school. I don't remember there being much of anything at our sports days tbh; maybe water/squash and tea. I wouldn't judge I don't think as long as the parents in question weren't lairy, the same way I wouldn't judge someone having a drink in the park on a hot day with a picnic or whatever.

Actually Merchant if any one is getting overly heated about this it's you . Your replies to posters have been twisting and exaggerating what posters were saying.

Sorry to do the Pimms thing again... But I really think it's the Pimms that's muddying the waters, so to speak.
There's a real undertone of "But it's hardly a pint of snakebite, my dear. It's nice genteel middle class Pimms!!" on this thread.
Is it a class thing? Champagne/Pimms good - gin and it/pint of lager bad?
At least in public?

What is the obsession about lager? A nice cold lager is the best drink on a hot day, and I'm middle class. It is also one of the least alcoholic things (unless you are drinking Stella or Special brew)

Our school pta made loads of cash from the wine/pimms:Beer tents st all events. It's a church school and the vicar was usually the barman.

Bloody great and only on mumsnet can 2 drinks be similar to alcoholism and drink driving.

Hilarious

I think it's because Pimms is full of fruit and seems like a nod to the season, like mulled wine in the winter. It's not something that you chug, you drink it as part of a picnic - it's not serious drinking material.

Oh and pimms is for your old aunty isn't it? Yeuk sweet!

Cold larger on a day like this anytime cheers

The pearl clutchers are out in full force!

Having a can of Pimms in the sun is lovely. It's hardly the same as necking a bottle of straight vodka. Having 1 drink does not mean 'getting sloshed'