To think shots for parents while kids trick or treat is bad?

[alco]

I'll start by pointing out I am a recovering alcoholic and I really do no think I am only of those preachy people that now look down on anyone for drinking.

In a group (mainly US based) about sobriety I am in one lady was saying in her area people now hand out alcoholic shots to the parents when the kids trick or treat. Some people are defending it saying just because she has a problem with alcohol doesn't mean that every one does. I completely agree. But I really do not think there is a need to hand out shots while the kids are out trick or treating. '

Some even said on local mum groups people are sharing maps of which houses will be participating.

AIBU or is this normal?

Not normal in my opinion.

Bizarre thing to do.

Bizarre, honestly. And what parent is going to accept a shot of mystery liquid from a stranger?

Oof, I am relaxed about moderate drinking around children and served wine/beer at my kids' birthday parties...but even I think this is a shit idea. Small overexcited kids in the dark, traffic...nope. Wait until you get home.

It's not normal but I couldn't get too fussed about it either.

If they were giving a small glass of wine or champagne, some would say it's a generous thing to do.

Giving out shots is odd but if parents wanted to get pissed, they could do that before leaving the house.

Wtf?

Very odd!!

I agree with this.

And I don't drink, so this isn't something I'd take part in.

I've seen a few threads about people doing this.

It would certainly improve T&T.

where we live I'd accept shots from
neighbours ('mystery liquid from a stranger 🙄🙄)

Is this an American thing cause generally Brits don't do shots? ... certainly not when kids are around ...beer and wine at kids parties is definitely a thing and at our Halloween parties in the past ...but not shots

I feel like if someone is basing their kids trick or treating route on whether they can get trollied then they probably do have an alcohol problem.

I'd also not be accepting random liquid from strangers.

Another way drinking is being weaved into activities; it depresses me. I do drink but it’s how it’s now a part of so many activities and normalised as a drink being part of every social activity that depresses me. Also I don’t want my children to see me doing shots as if that’s the adult way to have fun.

Never heard of that and completely inappropriate in my opinion.

I'd be worried about groups of children in black bin liners (aka witches outfits) in the dark not being supervised around traffic!

True. To be honest though I also don’t like the idea of kids receiving sweets/chocolate from strangers. I would never let my children knock a stranger's door and then eat what they have been given.

I like a drink as much as the next person but I can't imagine worse vibes than shots on your own while ferrying the kids around in the cold on a Thursday night, then going home and dealing with their sugar-high comedown, wrestling them into bed and then getting up and going to work in the morning!

"Giving out shots is odd but if parents wanted to get pissed, they could do that before leaving the house." this is very true, with some admitting to doing just that or having their own drink while trick or treating with their kids.

The problem I find though is that it is making it out like it is something normal. Kids get a twix the parent gets a shot of tequila.

When I was at university Halloween shots were a thing because you can make them ghoulish colours and so on. I assume it's like that?

I could take it or leave it, I'd probably accept the odd one, why not? It's a cold and somewhat tedious evening for me as a parent!

This. Drunk walking is more fatal, statistically, than drink driving for the person drinking. Taking your excited kids around drunk? Not a good idea.

Around my way its not uncommon for older siblings (14 or so) to take the children... and honestly, some of these could pass for young adults. I wouldn't want to be responsible for giving shots to teenagers!

there’s an argument about whether it’s right or wrong to get hammered while the kids t or t, but it’s a bit weird to be worried about shots from a random stranger but fine to let your kid take their sweets and chocolate

Never heard of this but I think it’s a bit strange.

It makes me think it’s a case of “I can’t endure an hour of trick or treating with my kids so I need to drink to get through it.”

I’m not a prude at all, not in any context, but trick or treating is for kids and I think it’s best to just let them do their thing without making it about us adults.

It’s a finite event you get to do with your kids (even before they stop doing it, they’ll stop wanting their Mum to go) so I think it’s best to just lay off the drink until you’re home and they’re in bed, if that’s what you want.

The same type who'd be knocking the door of a stranger so their kids could beg them for sweets I suppose.

I can see how it would be in keeping with the party spirit and I don’t think it’s that bad. Would I take a shot? Yes, probably. Especially if it was on a cold night. I don’t see it as that different to a mulled wine at a Christmas event. One yes, 20 no!

Wow, are there still people who think trick-or-treating is begging? I thought that attitude was an 80s thing