Mum drinking at pick up

[Cybertron]

After school pick up at 3.15pm a lot of us take our kids to the local park. The kids play on the playground and we sit under benches by the trees. I chat to the mums that are there and have done for a couple of years but I am not close to any of them. Today one mum was chatting to me and she reeked of booze. She told me that she had filled her water bottle with white wine and laughed saying it was the only way to get through the day. She then continued to drink the wine. Her kids are under 10. Should I say or do something or is this ok?
AIBU: leave it she deserves to unwind
YABU: drinking like that with kids is not ok

I would befriend her, she's clearly not coping, maybe reach out and tell her that you were worried about her and the statement that she isn't able to manage without drinking. I agree it is concerning, but I have no faith in safeguarding processes, the SS seem to close and file everything but the worst cases, depending where you are in the country. But I would be inclined to be kind anyway

Would you really do this though? Can’t imagine seeking out a problematic random to befriend. Who has the time or headspace for that?

My friend has an old friend who is basically drinking herself to death it’s heartbreaking they have tried to help but have had to step back for their own sakes. And this is a genuine old friend of theirs can’t imagine volunteering to help an alcoholic stranger.

I'm sorry but this seems to be real problem with our generation

"Who has the time or headspace for that?"
But we have 13 pages of posts about it?

Seriously first suggestion should be mind your own fkingbusiness...if you are really bothered about her child how about you spend 3 more evenings with the same mum...unless you really have found a pattern it's really unfair that a "random mum" reports her drinking in a park to his child's school...

My 2 pence but everyone has their own opinion to make judgement without any headspace to think about it

sad. Poor kids. Speak to school re concerns, they might have clocked it too and building a case or can offer advice. Sounds a raging alcoholic dressed up as “mommy needs wine/somewhere in the world its 5pm!/its fun to drink and be tipsy” 🥱 🙄

I’m a fairly relaxed parent I think? This and the actual replies have actually shocked me. I have no judgement towards to lady at all, it’s reeeeally easy to develop a bad relationship with alcohol. However, this isn’t normal. Report it OP.

Reporting a Mother can have consequences. Assuming she didn’t drive, she hasn’t done anything wrong.

OK so I had three children through primary school, and I had nursery/ Childminders to pick them up. I never heard anything about parents having consumed alcohol before the pick up? That beggars belief!

You've never met a friend for lunch and had a glass of wine while your kids are at school

But what's not normal having a drink in the afternoon.

A woman has some wine on a Friday afternoon and you're now stating she's a raging alcoholic

Is this normal behaviour or someone who has alcohol issues?

“She told me that she had filled her water bottle with white wine and laughed saying it was the only way to get through the day. She then continued to drink the wine.”

sneakily replacing water in her drinks bottle with white wine?? Thats normal in your world yeah?

So much ridiculous projection on this thread.

Death, drunk driving, crashing into schools at 9am, alcoholics saying it is shocking, people choking on their vomit and dying, more examples of drunk driving, people "just drinking beer and regretting it now". "Sneakliy hiding". "Poor Kids"

NONE OF THIS APPLIES.

Are you serious 🤣 what do you think social services are going to say to someone reporting a mother for having some wine?

I agree with those saying report to the school. It is not OK like some comments here. A mum has responsibility of looking after the children so if she needs to drink then drink wisely and at times when it wouldn't affect the children.

She's not doing it sneakily. Transferring something from a glass bottle to a plastic bottle when out and about is not only more convenient but safer.

That’s the way it should work. But over on the jury service thread a poster who did jury service stated, “- it is very clear that this girl has been horribly let down in the past by her parents , the police , the school , the NHS , children's services - all had opportunities to see and document what would be evidence or report concerns at that time
How many 13 year olds get chlamydia ?
How does a child go from being a good student to attending a PRU in 6 months without questions.”

So the system is definitely broken in lots of places. I’m not saying this poster shouldn’t report - but reporting doesn’t always mean action is taken.

oh that ok then 😂🤦🏻‍♀️

Yes adults are allowed to have a drink on a Friday afternoon

Yes. She is drinking outside rather than inside.

Are you suggesting you would call SS if you saw a mum at a picnic in the park drinking wine from a plastic glass? Why does it matter if she was drinking alone? Maybe she likes being on her own?

Putting wine into a water bottle and pretending its water. Swigging it back on the school run. This might be “normal” where youre from but not for me! Odd behaviour imo

Who's pretending it's water? She wasn't on the school run she was in a park

In which case why would she be doing it? Breaking the law whilst having children in her care?

There is something not right with this... transferring alcohol into another container could be seen as a practical choice but could also be seen as an attempt to conceal it. Her reasons are known only to herself but for the majority of parents who collect kids from school, the alcohol can wait till later.

It's not regular behaviour. There is a possibility that this is a concern. Who wants to take that risk when it comes to kids' safety (and potentially Mum's wellbeing)?

Report it confidentially to the school and let them decide. Then get on with your day.

I find it very telling that one of the loudest voices that keeps returning to this thread to 'joke' and make light of this is someone who has previously admitted to having an issue with their drinking levels.

I would 100% inform the school. They'll know whether it's something that needs further attention.

All those saying if it was a one off etc it is OK. The OP said she said 'it is the only way to get through the day' that's not a one off in the park on a Friday afternoon. Together with concealment and isolated drinking which are all classic indicators of a significant issue.
There might already be safe guarding concerns. I think you have to report to the school as a factual event. Nothing else.