AIBU to not want fizzy drinks at my kids party

[Anorthernlass]

So to be clear I'd bought the diet, caffeine free varieties, plus other homemade fizzy stuff just so they're not missing out (yes I know about the sweetners but it's a one-off). So when a parent turns up with 40 cans of sugar loaded drinks and they all run to grab them before I've even noticed or had a chance to offer anything else... its very annoying! Cue spirited, cheeky kids turning into little vandals - tantrums and tummyaches galore... not an exaggeration.

It’s very odd to turn up with drinks. @Marblessolveeverything it must be age dependent because I’ve never seen fizzy drinks at the parties my kids go to but my oldest is only 6. OP how old where the kids, I’m assuming young as it’s a whole class party.

@Anorthernlass

Why did they have tummy aches?

You don’t get tummy aches from drinking a can of pop

Well it depends on their ages. Before about 9/10 I wouldn’t expect fizzy drinks at a party. After that it’s okay as a one off for a party.

YABU OP. Tad neurotic. Dd didn't grow up with fizzy drinks in the fridge but there were always fizzy drinks at her birthday gatherings. I don't remember children tearing around out of control ever tbh. Chill out

Unless your kids go to parties weekly YABU. The occasional party is exactly when kids should be having sugar and eating a bit of crap. It’s why it is ‘sometimes’ food. I’d much rather a normal soft drink that something with sugar replacement, they are really unhealthy.

We never, and I mean never, had soft drink or crap to eat in the house. At a party though - go for it! If we held a party at home then we would buy soft drink and proper party food. We also allowed this at Xmas, and our national holiday. We also allowed chocolate on Easter Sunday. Kids never went wild stuffing it in at parties or the other special occasions.

Kids are adults now, and have kept this up in the main out of habit.

Children tear around out of control at parties due to the buzz and atmosphere, not the food and drink.

Bloody hell! She's lucky her kids continue to get invited anywhere. That would really piss me off, even though it may seem like a nice gesture on the face of it.
Downright glory seeking.

Unless your kids are drinking fizzy drinks every day - which would be bad, why on a special occasion, a childrens kid party, do you buy something much worse with all those awful sweetners and goodness what other toxic substitutes? What is the point? If it’s an occasional treat why waste your money on a terrible alternative that is absolutely not any healthier than sugar.

My dc's friends' parents were tight-fisted bastards and would spend as little as possible on presents. They wouldn't have spent any more money and brought anything like that here.

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth😂

It´s a party. Relax.

Honestly to each their own, but I don't allow my DC sugar free/diet foods or drinks. And yes I tend to have a bottle of fizzy flavoured water or full sugar drinks or cordial in my car that they can have if the only offer is sugar free.They are in my car to prevent DH from drinking it in a couple of days The fake sugars really upset my DC stomachs for a day or two after having them.
I would never just bring them in but I would say to the host my DC don't have xxx which is in your food for dietary reasons do you mind if I give them water/milk or my own alternative

I'd be FAR more annoyed if you gave my kids chemical laden shite than sugar. I low carb & I'm very mindful of the sugar in stuff kids have, but they do not have chemicals instead!!

weird woman though, maybe your chemical laden behaviour has earned you a reputation!

I'm on your side and the whole "It's a party - give them shit to eat" ethos pisses me off.

I've spoken to two dieticians and a paediatrician about sugary drinks and they've encouraged the diet drinks rather than fill sugar (they're both bad, but the sugar is worse is what they said).

It’s weird they bought their own drinks but I don’t see the problem with a can of Coke at a birthday party, unless we’re talking about toddlers. I seriously doubt it caused tummy aches or bad behaviour either.

This is the Ur-Mumsnet thread 😁

Bloody hell I thought parties were meant to be fun 🤣🤣

Odd for them to turn up with it. When my kids were small it was always fruit shoots or water.

I would rather my kids had the full sugar versions than any of the others though.

This. I'm not sure you can blame all the behaviour on a sugary can of drink.
Children just go a bit excited and silly at parties.

I don't really understand why another parent would bring drinks to a party.

DD1 was always that child asking for water 😆

But equally she ate so many sweets that she was sick after the party, on more than one occasion. I don't really mind for parties.

It has been studied and scientifically shown that sugar doesn't make dc hyper-active. It is the exciting situations, such as parties, where they are given the sugar that makes them hyperactive.

No fizzy drink either artificial sweetener or sugar based is great for dc, although a one off of either won't hurt.

No one should be giving out stuff at your party without checking though, that is just rude.

I really depends how old the children were.
For me it is not much the sugar that is the issue but more the caffeine, especially for under 8yo.

@calmlakes is right, studies show that sugar doesn't affect kids' behaviour, it's the exciting situations where they generally have sugary drinks, like an exciting party with their friends around.

I'm with you, I wouldnt want my kids drinking that rubbish. I haven't been to a party that's had them yet though luckily, it's all miwadi/ squash.

@TheAverageUser

dont know how you will cope when they become teenagers who will imbibe far worse than “that rubbish” (pop)

I mean I don’t like the diet drinks but those same sweeteners are in all the fruit shoots etc that seem standard fare at parties. I wouldn’t really want my kids served fizzy drinks of either variety at parties but if you’re buying fizzy drinks anyway then I don’t really feel you have a leg to stand on here, sorry.