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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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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:

LifesNotEnidBlyton · 05/04/2021 00:21

Was it 100% the actual beer or froth in the glass when he'd finished? (Tries to think of something that would make this slightly less fucking worrying)

MaLarkinn · 05/04/2021 00:25

Most of us had a swig when we were little.
Just have a quiet word with your sister, there is no need for any drama.

Sunhoop · 05/04/2021 00:27

Only people who are thick or rough as fuck do this sort of thing and think it's hilarious.

Speak to your sister - and tell her to put a stop to her idiot husband's behaviour.

GuildfordGal · 05/04/2021 00:30

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

Wtaf?

My advice would be to rethink this attitude, fast. Even small amounts of alcohol can impact the longterm health of a very young child.

FireflyRainbow · 05/04/2021 00:34

I've got teens who have never sipped alcohol, interesting to read that people actually encourage their children to drink it

Dirtywax · 05/04/2021 00:46

I'd be surprised that a toddler would accept more than the smallest sip of beer. It doesn't taste nice. Unless the father is offering it, and the child is celebrated for taking it, in which case I think the problem runs deeper than the alcohol consumption.

Original poster

Cadburydelights · 05/04/2021 07:41

@LifesNotEnidBlyton

Was it 100% the actual beer or froth in the glass when he'd finished? (Tries to think of something that would make this slightly less fucking worrying)

No it was a bottled beer and it was a half full bottle.

To the people saying that their child has had a swig. We're they 18 months and didn't understand what they were drinking or older and knew it was an adult drink.
Personally I dont agree with giving young children sips of alcohol. They get used to the taste and it becomes normalised as they grow up.
My nephew didn't cringe he actually wanted more. I think but not sure that my BIL said he likes beer. So that would suggest he's had it before.
I'm going to speak to my Dsis this morning and see what she says

OP posts:

MinnieJackson · 05/04/2021 08:01

Yeah I can't imagine an 18 month old liking the taste of beer. I saw my friend give her three year old a swig of orange wkd and said 'did you just let her have that?' A kids gotta be fascinated by a bright orange drink and I expect its really sweet so I bet she always asks for a sip

SuperCaliFragalistic · 05/04/2021 08:14

18m is waaay too young. I've let my older kids (4+) try beer or wine by dipping a finger in my drink and tasting it that way. They were old enough to know that it's a grown up drink and they aren't allowed it but I don't mind them knowing what it tastes like. I definitely believe in normalising responsible drinking and not making it more desirable by banning it entirely. I wouldn't do the same yet with spirits or alcopops due to the strength. I'd rather my kids were able to understand alcohol, its effects and the law at home with me than in a park when they're 13.

DiptyqueandDiamonds · 05/04/2021 08:16

I can’t believe some have voted yanbu.
It’s illegal and stupid.

WeatherwaxLives · 05/04/2021 08:17

God this makes me so angry. There was that poor little baby that died at their naming ceremony when they were given a sip of the alcoholic 'toast'.

There was a group of thick as fuck idiots locally to me that all had kids around the same time, they'd regularly put beer and cider in shot glasses and give to their 2/3 yr olds in the pub. 'aww, how cute, just like Daddy' yes, Daddy who's regularly legless, falling in the road and going 'home' to the wrong house. Adorable.

2oz (60ml, just over a double shot) of wine is enough to put a toddler's blood alcohol level over the drink drive limit.

www.familyeducation.com/life/baby-toddler-health-issues/toddler-takes-sips-wine-beer

www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/one-month-old-baby-dies-21159984

DiptyqueandDiamonds · 05/04/2021 08:18

@DiptyqueandDiamonds

I can’t believe some have voted yanbu. It’s illegal and stupid.

Yabu even!

OverTheRainbow88 · 05/04/2021 08:19

Could it be something like becks blue where it’s alcohol free?

If not I would raise with the other parent

AmyLou100 · 05/04/2021 08:19

Yanbu. 18m is a baby 😳. I know some people think this is cute and funny but it's not ok!
Saying that ds 5yo had a sip of dh beer this weekend. He said it's horrible and said he hates it lol.

PandaFluff · 05/04/2021 08:19

@DioneTheDiabolist

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

Is this a joke? Brandy would be worse than beer!

DoveCube · 05/04/2021 08:23

@WeatherwaxLives

Some people are not safe to have children!

My dad wasn't the smartest ( sorry dad ) but he never let me near his beer. He would say it's only for grown ups and can make children sick.

FuckingFabulous · 05/04/2021 08:24

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!

A toddler.
A. Toddler.

What the heck is wrong with you??

If they're still young enough to need their hand held when they cross a road, they're not old enough to sip anyone's beer!

My 12 and 13 year old kids had a very orange juice heavy Buck's Fizz at Christmas (because they asked to try it, not because I would just give as standard) but my 5 year old did not and will not until he's a similar age and asks to try. There's a massive difference between not making alcohol a forbidden fruit and actively giving preschoolers swigs of booze!!

Wobblesandchickuns · 05/04/2021 08:27

I used to drink the froth off the top of my dad's beer when I was little and parents use to make shandy for me.

I was a massive teenage pisshead who was regularly out of it on white lightning down the park.

Not saying correlation equals causation but just laying out the facts...

denverRegina · 05/04/2021 08:29

"I've got teens who have never sipped alcohol, interesting to read that people actually encourage their children to drink it"

In my experience those kids were the ones who took it too far once mummy let them have an extra few inches on the apron strings.

OP have a word with your sister, tell her why he shouldn't be having it. Not just that babies shouldn't drink beer (or brandy - that's worse ) but exactly why they shouldn't

Wherediditgo · 05/04/2021 08:36

@MaLarkinn

Most of us had a swig when we were little. Just have a quiet word with your sister, there is no need for any drama.

Yeah, maybe when I was like 6 years old. Bit fucking different to an 18m old!!

Sometimeswinning · 05/04/2021 08:36

*I could see the point of brandy, but not beer.🤮

Is this a joke? Brandy would be worse than beer!*

I most definitely think it was a joke. Brandy is an awful drink

Hallyup5 · 05/04/2021 08:43

@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 is wrong with you?! Completely inappropriate.

Dingleydel · 05/04/2021 08:55

It’s not great, and I would have a word with your sister about encouraging it at such a young age is stupid but calling social services? Really?! Tiny sips of beer can’t kill/harm a child, lots of medications have ethanol in. Unless they are letting them have several large mouthfuls, which I doubt because alcohol tastes disgusting. I know several parents in my circle alone who are happy to pump their tiny babies full of ranitidine, it’s the same alcohol content as wine! A friends baby had it until they were about 3 years old, 5 ml every morning and night. Stands to reason doctors wouldn’t prescribe it if that level of alcohol could kill.

Jessbow · 05/04/2021 09:00

I am of the generation that had alcohol rubbed on our gums when we were teething. It didn't kill me, nor am I an alcoholic. Clearly its not the best idea but its not the end of the world either.

I Doubt SS would even be interested.

Original poster

Cadburydelights · 05/04/2021 09:05

@Wobblesandchickuns

I used to drink the froth off the top of my dad's beer when I was little and parents use to make shandy for me.

I was a massive teenage pisshead who was regularly out of it on white lightning down the park.

Not saying correlation equals causation but just laying out the facts...

Yes I was the same. Parents snuck me drinks in pubs at 14 and I'd get drunk. When I could actually drink I knew no limits and thought drinking loads was normal, I'd often blackout and had no recollection of the night. I don't drink often or alot anymore. Poor drinking habits and behaviours from parents I believe have an impact on their children.

OP posts:

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