Parents drinking beer while taking kids trick-or-treating?

[Anonymous]

It has happened before and if everybody else is drinking I'd rather be sober. I've seen children falling into the pool, I've ran in front of the bus to catch a toddler, etc. I don't care about drinking. It's not a sacrifice for me. And instead of criticism you should have gratitude that someone will be sober if a kid gets hurt and someone needs to jump behind the wheel.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You're being rude and irrational. But for the sake of others who might be reading and didn't call me names I'll answer.

If you have a designated driver you're always good, no matter if it's at home or in a restaurant. In a party at friend's house, same thing, unless you're walking distance or using public transit. (you seriously needed me to explain this to you?)

What I don't get is this desperate need to have a drink everywhere you go. I've been either pregnant or nursing for the past 3 years and I do miss being able to take a sip here and there and te fact that I could not just drink whenever I wanted because of BF just took the thrill of it so I can certainly have fun without being buzzed.

Don't get me wrong, block parties, neighborhood BBQs, pool parties are a lot of fun but I just can't trust others enough to be able to drink and relax myself in such settings. I prefer to have fun being sober. If there's a pool involved I NEVER drink. Call me all the names you want but the day another person saves your child from an accident you'll get what I mean.

My neighborhood used to have a Marguerita stand at the bus stop in our cul-de-sac every Friday. The last day was when I had to run in front of the bus to get the 2yo that wandered there while mom was refilling her red plastic cup.

And if you really think VA doesn't have an open container law for public places please read the link a few pages back. There are huge signs in a lot of parks saying alcohol is not allowed.

Please educate yourselves before parroting some random info you read while buzzed.

The bus driver was shaking. She said she never saw the little girl... she only stopped because she saw me running.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

You're exaggerating. Again, this is not about a "desperate need" to drink "everywhere you go." This is about having a drink while walking around in your neighborhood on one night when there's a block-party like atmosphere. And I think there is something wrong when you are so uptight that you can't have a drink at a neighborhood bbq because others are also drinking. That sounds insane. What do you think will happen?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've asked you to provide evidence of Virginia's open container law and you have not done so. I am not "parroting" anything. I've searched the code and came up empty. The only open container law I see is relating to while driving a car (but not intoxicated).

Of course parks can put up rules - that is completely different.

You are unhinged.

The link is a few pages back. Put your glass down and try to focus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm one of the posters who thinks that this practice is strange. (I think I was on page 8 and started with "NP here.")

Responding to the "right time and place" questions-

Lots of right times, and lots of those include having children around. I agree it's about drinking responsibly. For example, I tend to think a parent/caregiver has to be especially vigilent with little ones (little toddlers ready to get into all sorts of trouble) and espeacially in certain venues (places with pools, huge crowds). In those types of cases, either me or DH won't be indulging in alcohol.

Trust, I am not anti-alcohol. I just find it really strange that parents choose to drink while walking around with their kids trick-or-treating. I guess because the act of trick-or-treating is totally a kid thing. Parents walk around/chaperone, but again, it's all about the kids knocking and saying "trick or treat."

It seems oddly selfish that parents choose not to refrain for this kid event- the actual trick or treating. Drink at the Halloween party before or after.....but come on, now, leave the alcohol at home for the walk around the neighborhood.

Clearly you've never been on Capitol Hill during trick-or-treating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:the mom could have been bending over to pick up a magazine or any other situation where she was distracted - not sure why the margarita machine is relevant unless she was intoxicated.

LOL you're joking, right?

For the girl to walk that far from her she's been distracted way longer than the time needed to fill up a cup or pick up a magazine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've asked you to provide evidence of Virginia's open container law and you have not done so. I am not "parroting" anything. I've searched the code and came up empty. The only open container law I see is relating to while driving a car (but not intoxicated).

Of course parks can put up rules - that is completely different.

You are unhinged.

The link is a few pages back. Put your glass down and try to focus.

hah, no - that link was about open containers in cars. Not walking around a street. Fail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the mom could have been bending over to pick up a magazine or any other situation where she was distracted - not sure why the margarita machine is relevant unless she was intoxicated.

LOL you're joking, right?

For the girl to walk that far from her she's been distracted way longer than the time needed to fill up a cup or pick up a magazine.

yeah, 5 seconds?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has happened before and if everybody else is drinking I'd rather be sober. I've seen children falling into the pool, I've ran in front of the bus to catch a toddler, etc. I don't care about drinking. It's not a sacrifice for me. And instead of criticism you should have gratitude that someone will be sober if a kid gets hurt and someone needs to jump behind the wheel.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but we've got it covered thanks. Heck, we've usually got about a dozen parents standing around in various states of inebriation and engagement with the kids. You don't need to stand around as sober as a judge, hovering over them every second they're awake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:the mom could have been bending over to pick up a magazine or any other situation where she was distracted - not sure why the margarita machine is relevant unless she was intoxicated.

LOL you're joking, right?

For the girl to walk that far from her she's been distracted way longer than the time needed to fill up a cup or pick up a magazine.

While I'm sure you get a charge out of the tableau of a half-dozen parents too shit-faced to notice a two year old wander off, what, a hundred yards away to some bus stop on a busy arterial, this seems to strain credulity. If it actually happened, maragaritas are the least of the poor child's worries. Sounds a lot like some sort of teetotaler's fantasy, though.

[Anonymous]

OP, lighten up. Clearly you need a beer from a cooler (on a wagon). The parents are walking, so be it. If they were driving, I could see a problem!

[Anonymous]

Wow. This 14 page thread truly shows we DCUMers are nuts.

Have a drink, don't have a drink. MYOB.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've asked you to provide evidence of Virginia's open container law and you have not done so. I am not "parroting" anything. I've searched the code and came up empty. The only open container law I see is relating to while driving a car (but not intoxicated).

Of course parks can put up rules - that is completely different.

You are unhinged.

The link is a few pages back. Put your glass down and try to focus.

hah, no - that link was about open containers in cars. Not walking around a street. Fail.

If you put your glass down and read carefully you'll see the specific link about all the cities in the US - with specific addresses - that are exceptions to open containers in public spaces and no city in VA is listed there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had my tumbler of wine with me.[/quote

Ithink I saw you and thought it was hysterical.

[Anonymous]

In the 80s, my mom began the tradition of trick or treating with her wine glass. Our neighbors gave us candy and had a wine bottle handy for my mom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It has happened before and if everybody else is drinking I'd rather be sober. I've seen children falling into the pool, I've ran in front of the bus to catch a toddler, etc. I don't care about drinking. It's not a sacrifice for me. And instead of criticism you should have gratitude that someone will be sober if a kid gets hurt and someone needs to jump behind the wheel.

Anonymous wrote:

You are truly a saint. I think of you spending your evenings roaming around Arlington and Chevy Chase, sober as a judge, looking for children endangered by their drunk parents. It is a very moving and poignant image.

[Anonymous]

No, sweetheart, I don't need to roam around. Looking for idiot, irresponsible parents. Unfortunately they're everywhere so chances are there'll be a few in any function we decide to attend. This thread is a good example of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It has happened before and if everybody else is drinking I'd rather be sober. I've seen children falling into the pool, I've ran in front of the bus to catch a toddler, etc. I don't care about drinking. It's not a sacrifice for me. And instead of criticism you should have gratitude that someone will be sober if a kid gets hurt and someone needs to jump behind the wheel.

Anonymous wrote:

You are truly a saint. I think of you spending your evenings roaming around Arlington and Chevy Chase, sober as a judge, looking for children endangered by their drunk parents. It is a very moving and poignant image.