Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Christmas

From present ideas to party food, find all your Christmas inspiration here.

Original poster

Can (should) children eat Christmas pudding?

103 replies

Dampfnudel · 12/12/2016 10:26

We are going to relatives for Christmas, and there will be Christmas pudding. They always drench it in brandy and set fire to it, plus it is home-made and I think there is a fair bit of alcohol in it too.

My 9 year old loves foods like that - dark and full of dried fruit. I know she'll want to eat a big portion of Christmas pudding, and I am worried about the alcohol content.

Am I being ridiculously over-protective? I am considering buying a mini size non-alcoholic pudding just for her.

This has never come up with any of the other children in the family (who are older), they always have ice cream or chocolate sundae or something instead because they don't like Christmas pudding. Last year I only let DD have a very small portion because I was concerned about the alcohol, and the rest of the family told me I was daft, and DD was upset.

Am I worrying about nothing, or is it too much alcohol?

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 12/12/2016 17:33

Also, diazepam aren't opioids Mrs.Matt.

user1480946351 · 12/12/2016 17:44

I could feel the affects quite a lot on the boozy m&s pudding we had last year

You must be exceptionally lightweight. That would be a few drops of alcohol.

FabulouslyGlamourousFerret · 12/12/2016 17:46

Can we stop referring to a few mils of alcohol as 'a dribble' it makes me think of drool or piss!

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 18:00

The Medical Council on Alcohol
Is Britain the binge drinking capital of Europe? What factors in our national culture contribute to our drinking habits and how might be change them? www.m-c-a.org.uk/education/medical_students/2nd_place_essay_winner_2014

(TL;DR: Denmark is one of the best countries for not having problems with alcohol and they have no lower age limit for consumption. It's also common for children to have an occasional drink.)

Lorralorralaughs · 12/12/2016 18:24

There's an article on the Telegraph that says a study was done that showed a lot of shop bought Christmas puddings could have up a single measure of spirits in a 100g serving, and now that we microwave rather than steam our puds, more of the alcohol remains. if it's being steamed then more of the alcohol will evaporate.

Idiotxit · 12/12/2016 18:33

Obsidian Can you point me to the relevant bit of the student essay? Is there something to do with three year olds processing alcohol?

Is this what you're basing your approach on? I don't think anyone's denying there's a dreadful booze culture in Britain but I'm genuinely not sure which bit you want to refer to.

There is a vast gulf between not wanting our kids to binge drink, and giving a three year old alcohol. There's no causative link between the two, as far as I can see.

We all want the best for our kids, but starting your D on alcohol at three 'if he wants it 's not just against the law, it's just very hard to understand.

SassyPants19 · 12/12/2016 18:55

I wouldn't give it a second thought. My 5yr old will be given the opportunity to indulge and I'll probably even offer a morsel to my 11month old.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 18:59

I'm basing my approach on the "drinking to get drunk" culture referenced on pages 2 and 3. If he has "spritzer" starting young then he won't think of alcohol as something to binge on, and that it's more of an occasional thing that isn't a big deal.

I just love the attempts at straw-man arguments with referring to it as "starting him on alcohol" like I'm giving him a shot of absenth at bed time each night when it's a fraction of a unit (less than you would get from ringing your mouth with mouth wash) once a year. No one has an issue with a baby having a mouthful of alcohol-soaked Christmas pudding, which has approximately the same volume as the "spritzer", if not more, yet the perfect-parents are losing their minds over this. The only difference is that it's still in liquid form and that he knows what it is.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 18:59

*rinsing (not ringing)

LittleReindeerwithcloggson · 12/12/2016 19:16

Mine have had Christmas pudding and sherry trifle since the age of 5, no problems at all. I would not even consider giving them alcohol to drink in any form until they are 10 and then it will be with a meal and mixed with a lot of lemonade. It is illegal to give it to an under 5 to drink in any quantity and would be reported to social services if it came to light

Chewbecca · 12/12/2016 19:18

Nothing wrong with Christmas pudding for children.

I really wouldn't ask for 'a piece from the middle' either if I were you, it makes you sound neurotic.

Just a normal slice, same as adults will be just fine.

Idiotxit · 12/12/2016 19:23

yet the perfect-parents are losing their minds over this

Okay, I was actually trying to debate this in a grown-up way, but you've decided to take it another direction and start chucking insults, so I'm probably not to try to engage further.

I do see that you've declined to deal with the fact that quite rightly, it's against the law to give a three year old alcohol. I guess you know better.

Idiotxit · 12/12/2016 19:27

And Obsidian, that's the first time you've said 'once a year…' which is really rather different to 'special occasions' and 'with his dinner if he wants one' as in your previous posts.

TheCompanyOfCats · 12/12/2016 20:04

Can we stop referring to a few mils of alcohol as 'a dribble' it makes me think of drool or piss!

yy Ferret! Could we all refer to it as a 'splash' of wine from hereon-in. Please.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 20:31

Idiotxit - we are talking about Christmas so I assumed it was implied that we are discussing special occasions only, not daily events. I didn't specify once a year because maybe, in a couple of years, this will be extended to other family events like our annual family reunion.

The perfect parents are losing their minds over it. The ones who just give the response "wtf, what are you thinking?!" Or words to that effect without actually thinking about why they have come to the conclusion they cling to.

You are right, I haven't covered the law because I've found that uk law is more about being politically correct when it comes to little things like this. Lots of people bend the law without getting raked across the coals. They break the speed limit ("but it's only by a little bit and the road was clear and it was a dry day and I was in a hurry"), or listen to music on YouTube even though it's copyright infringement, or let their child watch films/play computer games which are not considered appropriate for their age (GTA, COD, manhunt, mortal kombat etc). In the grand scheme of things I don't consider homeopathic levels of alcohol once in a blue moon to be a big deal.

glitterazi · 12/12/2016 20:47

The perfect parents are losing their minds over it. The ones who just give the response "wtf, what are you thinking?!

You'd be referring to me there then - although you've got something wrong, as I'm in no way perfect!
At THREE, it has been pointed out it's actually illegal.
Just because you don't agree with it and choose not to listen and give toddlers wine, does not mean it's politically correctness gorn mad or whatever. Hmm
A toddler's liver is too immature to deal with alcohol and to give them wine (even well watered down) is absolutely ridiculous.
They don't "ask for it if if they want one." Can you hear yourself?! If they actually do, it's you who introduced the idea in the first place - if you're serious and they actually do,, it's you that has made it normal to ask for a wine at the age of three which is really quite worrying.

NiceFalafels · 12/12/2016 20:49

The alcohol content will be less due to cooking/burning. We cook with wine often anyway. Mine will all eat it.

MyWineTime · 12/12/2016 20:50

Put it this way, there's probably more alcohol in mouthwash, liquid soap and air fresheners than they'll get from a portion of Christmas Pudding.
That really is an absurd thing to say!

There will still be alcohol in the pudding but it wouldn't be enough to stop me from serving it up to a 9 year old.

NiceFalafels · 12/12/2016 20:51

I've never given mine alcohol in a glass

Badcat666 · 12/12/2016 20:53

I come from a large family and we all managed to survive eating my mums xmas pud (which was normally fed 2 types of booze) as kids! It's once a year and she isn't going to get shit faced on a slice of home made xmas pud. In fact, as an adult who doesn't like booze in my pud I would rather eat some home made pudding with some booze in than some shop bought pud full of god knows what ingredients.

ObsidianWinter · 12/12/2016 22:31

Glitteratzi, you've got it backwards. Our bodies get worse at processing alcohol the older we get. drinkwise.org.au/drinking-and-you/age-and-alcohol-understand-the-effects-of-drinking-as-you-get-older/#

Believe it or not, at three years old my son can speak. Clearly. And in a language I also speak as well. Yes, he can and does ask for things. If I'm drinking black current squash, he might ask what I'm drinking, then ask to have some. On the very rare occasion that I will drink alcohol (2-3 times a year), he might ask for that too. Usually the answer is no, but if it's a special occasion and we are having a meal, it might be a yes. As I've said, it's a tiny amount which is watered down.

You aren't losing it over the idea of a young child having Christmas pudding, so what's your problem with water/lemonade and a dash of alcohol?

HeCantBeSerious · 12/12/2016 22:34

My DD pilfered half a glass of fizz on her first birthday and drank the vodka out of the valve on a barrel of homebrew (which she had helped make). 7 years later she's perfectly healthy and classified as G+T (lol) at school.

The odd bit of alcohol does no harm IME.

winefixeswhine · 13/12/2016 10:30

You are citing the most crap 'evidence' obsidian. The immaturity of a toddlers liver is not up for debate, it's a biological fact.
No one is saying alcohol for children is a total no no, I expect most children have a drop as they get older.
But to claim that your three year old requests alcohol with any level of understanding is ridiculous. Perhaps he might request some bleach next time you do the toilet, but don't worry it's just a dribble splash, he'd probably not suffer any permanent harm and since he can ask for it.... 🙄😂

ObsidianWinter · 13/12/2016 13:14

winefixeswhine - No one's liver is supposed to process alcohol, not even adults. The maturity of the liver is not relevant in this case. That said, I have presented evidence that younger bodies are better at purging alcohol. It doesn't matter if you believe it or not, facts are facts.

The false equivalency of alcohol and bleach is a laughable attempt at a straw man, because, like cocaine/heroin and smoking, there is no such thing as responsible bleach consumption.

I think what bothers me most about the attitude of you and others is that you are wildly inconstant. So again, seeing as you have ignored it: You aren't losing it over the idea of a young child having Christmas pudding, so what's your problem with water/lemonade and a dash of alcohol?

Idiotxit · 13/12/2016 13:39

Obsidian, stop saying that people are 'losing it,' no-one is. They just disagree with you.

Most people are fine about a nine year old having a bit of Christmas pudding. It's very different to giving ANY alcohol - a dash, a dribble, whatever - to a 3 year old. It won't teach them a thing at that age. If you do it regularly, they'll get used to being given increasing (your words) amounts of alcohol. If you do it infrequently, they'll see alcohol as an occasional 'treat,' like many people. It's hard to know what you hope to achieve by it. Your original post gave a very different impression to your later ones.

Most people get the idea of giving children small amounts of alcohol when they're older. But you can find whatever random bits of 'evidence' you like on the internet; most people will be aghast at giving a three year old alcohol. It's that simple.

It's against the law for a reason. You've already made it clear that you believe you know better. But seriously, how can you say that the 'maturity of the liver isn't relevant in this case'? Come on.

You're unlikely to change anyone's mind on this, and getting narky with other posters isn't really helpful!

Your point of view is one that I've never come across before, despite living in different countries where children are given alcohol. It's bound to cause debate!