Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Giving a toddler alcohol!

101 replies

Cadburydelights · 04/04/2021 22:11

Well this isn't a Aibu really but today I witnessed my BIL giving my nephew who's 18 months a big swig of beer. He was about to give him another swig when I said did you just give him beer!! I can't remember what he said because I was just sat bemused!
I don't think this is the first time either. I thought it was odd my nephew walking around calling every drink he saw beer. I just think he was mistaken but now I think has BIL given him many swigs!
What would others do? I don't know if there's anything I can do really

OP posts:
Original poster
Cadburydelights · 04/04/2021 22:12

I just thought*

OP posts:
Potpourriandpennysweets · 04/04/2021 22:19

Giving a child under the age of 5 alcohol is illegal. You could refer to social services or call NSPCC. Or you could just have a quiet word. I could not watch that and do nothing at all though

Potpourriandpennysweets · 04/04/2021 22:20

If it was once by accident or as a joke, I might let it go, but this sounds more like a regular thing

therestissilence · 04/04/2021 22:25

I'd say it's your duty to speak to the child's mother, and if she is equally shit-for-brains, contact NSPCC / Social Services, like another poster said.

Original poster
Cadburydelights · 04/04/2021 22:27

@therestissilence

I'd say it's your duty to speak to the child's mother, and if she is equally shit-for-brains, contact NSPCC / Social Services, like another poster said.
The child's mother is my Dsis. I will speak to her and see what she says and ask if he's done it before.
OP posts:
FilthyforFirth · 04/04/2021 22:29

Jesus. That is horrendous. Speak to Dsis immediately. I would not let this go

Megan2018 · 04/04/2021 22:29

I’d report to social services. I have an 18 month old, I have a relaxed attitude to alcohol but that is abusive.

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 04/04/2021 22:29

Maybe check with the kid's mum? Is it your sister? Or is this pn your DH side (which i guess could be trickier).

SylviaPlath1984 · 04/04/2021 22:29

Utterly gross, totally bizarre to me that any grown adult would think this is ok

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 04/04/2021 22:30

Just saw you answered my question as I posted. If it's your sister I would defo take it up with her.

Original poster
Cadburydelights · 04/04/2021 22:35

@Hellodarknessmyoldpal

Just saw you answered my question as I posted. If it's your sister I would defo take it up with her.
I'm not sure if my sister saw but she was there in the garden today. I'm actually really angry at myself and I wish I would have said more. I would go as far as saying my BIL is a moron who doesn't care about rules and is extremely rude to people.
OP posts:
inappropriateraspberry · 04/04/2021 22:39

Letting him have a taste of beer is a bit different to giving him his own glass of it! My son loves tasting daddy's beer. A sip once a month isn't going to turn him into an alcoholic toddler!

ForgedInFire · 04/04/2021 22:40

Seriously? I would start by giving him an absolute earful, informing the child's mother and if she didn't care then contacting social services. It's one thing to give a toddler a sip of beer (which is pretty bad) but multiple gulps? That's not on

FixxerUpper · 04/04/2021 22:42

My three year old calls everything wine. She has never had any (to my knowledge).

DioneTheDiabolist · 04/04/2021 22:47

I could see the point of brandy, but not beer.🤮 That's just being unpleasant.Easter Shock

Hellodarknessmyoldpal · 04/04/2021 22:51

If your sister is reasonable then def start with a chat with her. Just tell her you were a bit concerned and if she is sensible she will deal with it herself. Easter Grin

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 04/04/2021 22:56

As pp have said it’s illegal to give alcohol to under 5s, unless it’s an ingredient in a medicine.

For good reason!

Original poster
Cadburydelights · 04/04/2021 22:58

@inappropriateraspberry

Letting him have a taste of beer is a bit different to giving him his own glass of it! My son loves tasting daddy's beer. A sip once a month isn't going to turn him into an alcoholic toddler!
What a stupid comment. There is a reason giving it to under 5s is illegal.
OP posts:
LouiseTrees · 04/04/2021 23:02

I agree with your last quote OP and especially at 18 months. A small amount of alcohol can actually kill babies ( and toddlers although less likely there) because their systems can’t process it.

PenfoldPenny · 04/04/2021 23:04

@inappropriateraspberry

Letting him have a taste of beer is a bit different to giving him his own glass of it! My son loves tasting daddy's beer. A sip once a month isn't going to turn him into an alcoholic toddler!
Do you let him have a smoke on his ciggies too? May as well.......... Cant harm! Its not like a wee drag on a ciggie once a month is going to turn him into a smoker is it? Hmm
Redsquirrel5 · 04/04/2021 23:05

It is a safe guarding concern and Social Services would be very concerned. The affect of alcohol on a toddler is considerably more than an adult. Think about how your nephew would be after say five sips of beer, ten sips of beer. I would be having a serious talk with your sister.

Iremembertheelderlykoreanlady · 04/04/2021 23:10

Letting him have a taste of beer is a bit different to giving him his own glass of it! My son loves tasting daddy's beer. A sip once a month isn't going to turn him into an alcoholic toddler!

...and idiot of the day award goes to!

Its not about the toddler becoming alcohol dependant, a toddler's liver is not designed to deal with alcohol of any amount

MargaretThursday · 04/04/2021 23:40

I'm just remembering my friend who was in Sainsbury's when her 2yo suddenly looked up, saw the shelves and announced loudly "I don't like beer".*
My friend turned round and there was the head of the nursery her dd was due to start the next week. She felt it wasn't the best thing to potentially be on a watch list before she'd started.
Grin

*to her knowledge not only had the child never had beer, but no one in the house drank it, so she didn't even know where she had heard the word.

firedog · 05/04/2021 00:12

It's a silly thing to do but prob happens the world over.. it's all about how much, how often. Generally adults thinking it's funny to let kids sip their drinks or kids doing it when adults not looking... my DD loves beer. She's 10 🤦🏼‍♀️ an no she gets no more than a sip but would if she could

GreyhoundG1rl · 05/04/2021 00:20

God, he sounds like a total numbskull Hmm. I'd report someone who thought giving a toddler alcohol was funny.

Swipe left for the next trending thread