To not want my kids to drink mocktails or AF beer?

[Thesenderofthiscard]

On holiday with grp of friends - oldest kids are 13, youngest 8.
the 5 teens have been asking for ‘mocktails’ when we’re out at cafes/ restaurants- Virgin bloody Mary’s, Virgin mojitos - and now the little one want them too.

I’m REALLY uncomfortable with this- Have said no to my teen so now I’m the worst parent in the world. I’m not happy with the normalising of drinking = fun or being ‘grown up’ at this age.
ine of the dad’s told me in need to get real, and for an AF beer for his 13 old son.
I ask him if he’d let his son have a ‘fake’ vale or cigarette and all he’ll broke lose.

oh, and not to mention these drinks are €8/10 a pop as they’re meant for no- drinking adults

YABU - lighten up! Let them feel like grown ups

YANBU - They’re too young to be pretending to drink.

Mocktails are fruit juice.

Mocktails are fab. DS used to love them and feel he was getting a (sophisticated) treat when he absolutely wasn't.

I think this is a bit precious. DS has been having mocktails since he was about 8!

I wouldn't be buying my 13 yo drinks at £8 a go for a start.

Bet you are being laughed at by the entire group....what does your kids Dad think/say?

I agree with you OP, no way would I give a child a non alcoholic drink masquerading as an alcoholic one, it’s normalising drinking and that’s not ok.
I agree with the babychino poster too.

I think it normalises not needing alcohol

i do get what you mean however on our recent all inclusive holiday when my and my dh were having a mojito of an evening after dinner in the bar id get my 8 year old a virgin mojito which he loved! it’s only a lime and soda with a few mint leaves bunged in there! however we were AI so it didn’t cost us any extra than him having a fanta or something.

id draw the line at NA beer or wine for kids though - i don’t like that idea.

Which is absolutely ridiculous lol.

Tbh I’ve been drinking pina colada mocktails my entire life. I remember getting into them at about 6 on a cruise ship, and still drink them now when I can’t have the real thing, for whatever reason. They’ve not driven me to a life of drink, in fact the virgin one is sometimes just as nice, even if I do enjoy a rum 😂

😂😂😂😂😂

‘"All hell broke loose"?’

the dad seriously lost the plot, took the piss- as many of you are doing, accused me of judging his parenting etc etc
he did apologise later for ‘over-reacting’ and said he was stressed with work.
His sister is an alcoholic- which I’d forget town as he rarely talks about her, and his DW told me later that day that his dad had died of alcoholism so it may be touchy subject.
inalso have alcoholism in my family, so perhaps that’s why I hate seeing my kids pretending to drink

I used to have mocktaila at 9 years old when this new glamourous restaurant which shock horror welcomed children (amazing in 1970s/80s) with my DB who was 2 years younger. We used to feel very grownup drinking them.

I do love a cocktail now.

This is a non issue. You’re on holiday, it’s a tread. But let them have a boring plain orange juice and be a killjoy.

I kind of agree with you OP although for most well brought up kids, in a household with good boundaries around alcohol I wouldn't expect a mocktail to be a slippery slope into future addiction. Mostly though I wouldn't spend £8 on an overblown soft drink for an 8 year old!

Your teen will find every excuse to label you as The Worst Parent in the World so don't worry about that!

Your point of view is completely valid OP!

‘Bet you are being laughed at by the entire group....what does your kids Dad think/say?’

I doubt it, we’re good friends. The fact that I won’t spend €10 a pop on soda Mint and lime juice doesn’t seem to bother anyone else.
one family is making their kids go to bed by 10- despite all the other children being up. No-one cares. They feel their kids are better if they go to bed early. I think they should probably let them stay up as they’re awake anyway knowing the other children are up. But I’m not laughing at them. That’s their kids, their call.

I wouldn't be dying on this hill.

From people I know the most sensible and measured young people with alcohol are the ones were it hasn't been made out to be the devil.

DS aged 5 had a spiderman mocktail on holiday. Basically fruit juice with a few sparkle streamers in, coloured straw and plastic parrot.

Ah this reminds me, when we were little my dad used to make us "cocktails" in proper glasses with little umbrellas and maraschino cherries - mostly just grenadine and orange juice, like a no-tequila sunrise. He still makes one for my son if he's making my mum a daquiri.

My brothers and I haven't turned to the drink 🍸

Is this a serious comment? I can't tell!

DD loved baby chinos as a young child. Bonus, they were free in some cafes.

Now she's older she sees them as a bit babyish and prefers fruit juice.

She's not developed a serious coffee addiction, FFS.

‘DS aged 5 had a spiderman mocktail on holiday. Basically fruit juice with a few sparkle streamers in, coloured straw and plastic parrot.’

ah, but that’s different - it’s a kids drink, made for kids, marketed as such - it’s not from the adult drinks menu. At least I’ve never been offered a Spider-Man mocktails with a parrot in it wherever I’ve been…

but talking aboard the feedback, the kids can have one next time we’re at the beach bar if they use their own money.

They could like the idea of pretending to be drinking, mocktails in grow-up glasses etc. They are too young for that. When they are late teens then I would actually encourage drinking mocktails when they go to parties etc, but at this age it's best to give them simple soft drinks

🤣
My parents used to give us Shloer as 'children's wine', normally at Christmas. Now as a 30 year old I am a raging alcoholic that drinks a whole small glass of wine once a year! Of course drinking cocktails and babychinos doesn't automatically cause issues. I can imagine op won't be invited on the next holiday

We used to be allowed a can of Shandy Bass or TopDeck from the chippy when we were kids, we did not turn out to be alcoholics.

The dad giving the son beer is all - I was on 10 fags a day and drinking a litre of cider every Sat night in the park at his age…

And his sister is an alcoholic and his father died of alcoholism and he can't see the link??

I think you're reasonable to tell them they can have them, they have to pay out of their holiday money. But I'd also be willing to help them to understand how far their money (won't) go if they buy several.

Or buy the ingredients and run it as an activity in the apartment for an hour or so? A packet of fresh mint, 2L bottle of lemonade (because their taste will be sweeter than an adult), some fresh limes and a bag of ice and you'll have enough for one or two each with change to spare from the price of one.