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?

Of course brits do shots. Maybe not at a kids party but they definitely do!

The kind that accepts mystery sweets from a stranger?

You’ve not been to any weddings recently I take it? Always trays and trays of shots going out.

It’s cold and often rainy in the UK at Halloween. There would be nothing sadder than trudging around in the rain with your kids trick or treating necking some tequila under an umbrella.

To be fair, the chocolates and sweets are presumably generally in sealed individual packaging.

Trays of shots at weddings?! I’ve never been to a UK wedding like that 😂

Ok, come to Wales for a wedding then 😂

I'm sober too and I can imagine this getting quite messy! But I suppose it depends on the size of the area participating - how many shots in total?

In a way I can see it's a nice community thing and sort of neighbourly?

But yes it is also normalising the excessive consumption of strong liquor......

Not heard of it

I also feel sad about alcohol seeping it's way into every social situation. And alcohol does not equal fun.

When I tackled my attitude to drink I realised if I was drinking to make something more fun I should just not do the activity. Party boring? Go home.

Agree with the poster saying this is a very time-limited thing as a parent. If you need alcohol to make it fun it's pretty sad all round.

I've never seen anyone offering anything to the adults during trick or treat. I'd no way offer alcohol to people I don't know. They could be unwell, allergic, devoutly Muslim, already drunk, having addiction issues etc. not suitable for supervising children really.
But at a Halloween party it's great to offer drinks to the adults. And perfectly normal.

It is very common in my neighborhood. Most of the parents are walking around with their travel cups full of something, and lots of houses are giving out hot apple cider or hot chocolate spiked with liquor. Shots of fireball are popular. most people sit out front with a fire pit on the go. You stop & chat with everyone. It's really fun & social.

I saw some photos on FB earlier of kids doing pumpkin carving while the parents gulped down red wine. I think it is sad that the message that sends is that you can only do kids stuff while tipsy to make it bareable, but that seems to be normalised in today's society.

I saw this on FB as a meme.....nver dreamed it was a thing.

I just wonder why everything has to be turned into a drinking event? you can’t go even a couple of hours without drinking you have an issue of some kind.

It’s not normal where I live, I’ve never heard of any adults being offered anything when taking kids trick n treating

we did this for years when we lived in Canada.Not shots...but we had our garage open and had a hot chocolate station, parents were offered a shot of baileys in the hot chocolate. Lots took us up on it, some even had their thermos mugs already with coffee and asked for a shot in it. It is cold, sometimes wet, and honestly whats the harm? not like they are doing ten shots of tequilla

AiBU to think this would be a lot more pleasant than sober Trick or Treat? Its a mad idea of course, I wouldn't do it but it sounds like fun. I would be off to bed by house 4

I'm wondering how many people have a problem with mulled wine at family Christmas events?

No no no trick or treating is for children.

Never heard about this tradition. Aren’t the best part of T&T to put children to bed and get yourself whatever drink you want thinking that now you can relax at least until Bonfire night?

With Mumsnet, it’s either black or white - definitely no grey. It’s sad that people see absolutely no nuance in life.

No one is really getting shit faced. It's just a really big social event in lots of places. The houses are big & spread out so you can be spending 15 - 30 mins at each house. Your kids run off and explore the yards. There are lots of really great Halloween displays & haunted house type set ups. So you stop & chat a while, have a drink and a hot dog. The police are out handing out glow in the dark stickers & and bracelets.the fire trucks go around handing out candy. You can be out for a good 4/ 5 hours even the teens are out, which is great to see ( no one is offering them booze)You usually round out the evening by heading to a bonfire and fireworks. I've never seen anyone wondering around wasted.just lots of happy people having fun with their neighbors.

YANBU (and I say this as someone who has taken a cheeky takeaway cup of mulled wine round with me one year 😏)

Its just a weird concept and making a kids event all about the adults. Just have an adult only Halloween party if you want to do shots..

Halloween in the USA though is a wayyyyy bigger deal than here. It's a party. In some places they really celebrate it.

Also their streets are different. It's can be wall to wall Halloween with every house going bigger and better with the decor. The UK have definitely started getting bigger with Halloween but we're nowhere near USA proportions with it.

I'm not sure we're in the position to judge. If there was a cul-de-sac, full of families and kids, where the climate meant it was still light and warm out and where predominantly everyone knew each other and parents wound up doing a few shots on their way round - I think that would be seen as a bit of fun and not a big deal.

Like I say, I'm just not sure we're in a position to judge because we don't know the location, nor do we have the same culture.

They are at least usually in a sealed packet!