Booze at School?

[NotQuiteCockney]

At DS1's sports day on Friday, after all the events, some of the big kids (11-year-olds) brought around glasses of Pims for everyone.

I was pretty startled by this. In Canada, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't assume every parent drank alcohol (other juices etc were available, but the "default" was Pims). I'm very sure they wouldn't have 11-year-olds handing out booze. In fact, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't serve booze at all, at an afternoon event, with kids present.

I'm not really opposed, just surprised. Is this normal in the UK?

our head doesnt allow any drink at events where there are children!!!! does he think we cant control ourselves!!!

mandyc - maybe he does!

And sadly in many cases in Britain, that's probably a reasonable assumption. I agree that drunken adults is far more of an issue than drunken teenagers. There's a whole culture of alcholic incontinence, imo. But I don't think the way to deal with it is to go down the American puritanism road. Now where's that "what do you love about the French" thread?

I've heard of pregnant women being hassled for buying booze in the supermarket back home - not even for their own consumption. I agree that things go too far there, the level of puritanism about booze can be quite startling and weird.

I did wonder whether any of the "big" kids would sneak some Pimms themselves. But this was all outdoors, it would have been pretty hard to sneak off, particularly as many of the adults were eagerly watching the Pimms wend its way to them. It'd be like trying to steal a dog's treat, after showing it to them first - not possible!

Good point about the French - although didn't they have Pernod addicts, IIRC? Or maybe I'm confusing it with absinthe!

It is illegal!

We had an idiot parent who gave her 13 years old chocolated filled with booze to hand out at xmas! WTF?????

Um, I think parents are allowed to give their kids booze, once they're five. Oh, here 's a link - it doesn't seem to talk about what's allowed, only what's not allowed.

That being said, I'd be really really annoyed if another child gave my kid booze-filled chocolates, though. I remember really loving those as a kid, and they certainly give you a buzz at that age.

It is legal to give alcohol to your own kid, but not other peoples I think!

What this parent did was give spirits to a group of 13 year olds in school. Hardly sensible of condusive to good order

I personally think it's a nice idea but there again, I can trust myself to behave these days when alcohol is around but I can't say that's the case with all of my colleagues

We had our Year 11 prom recently (which I didn't attend but had a full report from other colleagues) and several of the young staff got absolutely hammered. I think this is disgraceful 1) as it's so unprofessional 2)it was the kids' evening - not theirs. If a whole bunch of 15 and 16 year olds can be trusted to survive without alcohol for one night and behave so wonderfully in all their finery, then it's the least to expect staff to do as well.

I'd like to think the pimms thing is no big deal but after what happened at my own school, I can't say that all adults act in a responsible way when booze is offered, which is shameful IMHO

The page I found didn't talk about whose kids it was - I'd certainly say it was out of order to give booze to someone else's kid, particularly given the allergies etc around these days, I don't give anything to anyone's kid without knowing their exact situation.

Disgraceful example Moomin. And very bad example to the kids. That's why these boarding school common room things seemed to be quite a good idea, showing kids that drinking alcohol is not inevitably linked with getting drunk. However, for lots of British people, it really is impossible to have one or two drinks - once the bottle is open, the whole lot has to be drunk, once they've had one g&T, another five need to be necked!

We have a Pimms Bar at DSs' school sports day - starting at around 11am - to raise money for the social committee. I don't think they have soft drink alternatives, but it's the kind of event that you bring a picnic lunch to, so they assume that no one is going to be overly thirsty.

On other events - school play, declamations, speech day - there is a glass or two of wine (free) or fizz on offer, but I think also orange juice (for Americans).

LOL at OJ for Americans!

To be fair, the Americans at our school are fairly cool. They embrace the culture fairly well.

Wait a minute - my kids are American too!

At our school we not only handed out the alcoholic drinks, but were encouraged to drink them as well, from age 13 or so. In 6th form (different school) school hosted dinners with lashings of wine for the kids!

I remember having "punch" (from a lined dustbin!) at school discos from around age 14/15, and goodness knows what was in it - it was all prepared by the 6th years.

From age 16, we would often have the odd glass of sherry with the headmistress - very civilised!

In the supermarket staff under 18 have to get authority from an older person before they can sell you alcohol. Having children hand round alcohol may actually be illegal.

Our school is too poor to give away alcohol and if its sold there has to be a separate bar for children because of the licensing laws.

some of you obviously havent got much to worry about and spend the whole time over analysing little things. having a Pimms on sports day doesnt mean it is encouraging alcoholism. IMO/E drinking habits often come from the parents and peers not whether or not your mother had a pimms on the school field.

sorry that last post was a bit harsh. i can see why the kids giving it out is a worry, i just cant see why people having an alcoholic beverage at sports day is bad if it is provided by the school. I would be alarmed if parents took their own cans onto the school field

I thought it was a bit strange to assume that everyone drinks alcohol. Lots of people drive, and some people don't drink for religious reasons.

You're right, lots of one's attitude to alcohol comes from ones parents - but it also comes from the society at large.

(And, thinking about it, I think every school event I've been to has included booze, but not generally handed out by kids. Which is a little freaky to me.)

There's nothing to stop you taking your own soft drinks, and you can't expect a school to cater for every taste.

Pimms is a summer tradition in this country - let's not lose it to the PC movement.

I never heard of it the Uk but I live in Italy and its common practice here. My friend brings in wine for birthdays they have parties for christmas (with wine). It is only limited to wine though

I think this is a bit weird too. I don't think we had alcohol at school fairs etc but then maybe I was too innocent to notice. As an adult typing on a hot day, the idea of someone bringing me a nicely chilled glass of Pimms sounds wonderful but I would be a bit taken a back to see eg my son doing so at a school event. I really agree about not making alcohol forbidden fruit but think I would rather do that aspect of parenting myself. Schools should have plenty of other life lessons to teach!

I've just dashed home from school after preparing for the summer fair tomorrow (Hope the weather is ok) The summer fair is an all day event run by the PTA. It begins with a football tournament (bacon sandwiches, tea and coffee). At 2.00 as the football final is approaching the fair begins and the bar opens. Yes, we do get a licence to sell alchol. This is our biggest money making event of the year and most of the money comes from the bar. Last year we made about £3500 from the whole event. At 4.30 it changes to kids gymnastic display, followed by childrens entertainer, then kids karoke(sp?). Then we have a hog roast, family disco and still the bar is open till we finish at 11.00. It is a great family fun day.

But I really can't imagine children serving drinks, that just seems too weird.