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

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

Citation?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

Fairfax County has one, and includes anything in public view. So you could be arrested and fined for being drunk on your own property if someone sees you.

However, Alexandria City does not have any law against consuming alcohol in public. That's where we live

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

Can you provide a link? I just searched all of Fairfax Co. code for "alcohol" and "container" and nothing came up related to drinking alcohol in public places, so I'm curious.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

Fairfax County has one, and includes anything in public view. So you could be arrested and fined for being drunk on your own property if someone sees you.

However, Alexandria City does not have any law against consuming alcohol in public. That's where we live

Being intoxicated in public is clearly illegal. But that isn't what we are talking about. We are talking about sober people drinking a beer in public. It is illegal to do this - drunk or not - on National Parks, but I haven't found anything in Ffx Co or in VA generally that prohibits open containers...

[Anonymous]

If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I actually found a Fairfax County Code citation prohibiting drinking alcohol in public places (streets and parks).

Citation?

This is for Fairfax County, code of ordinances, can be found at
http://library.municode.com/index.aspx?clientid=10051

Section 5-1-25. - Possession of open alcoholic beverage containers prohibited.

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess an open alcoholic beverage container while in a public park, playground, or on a public street. Violations of this Section shall be punished as a Class 4 misdemeanor.

(30-91-5.)

Section 5-1-26. - Drinking or possession of alcoholic beverages in or on public school grounds.

If any person, in or upon the grounds of any free public elementary or secondary school, during school hours or school student activities, shall take a drink of any alcoholic beverage or have in his possession any alcoholic beverage, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by confinement in jail for not more than six (6) months and a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), either or both.

(30-91-5.)

Section 5-1-27. - Drinking alcoholic beverages or tendering to another in public place; penalty.

(a)
If any person takes a drink of alcoholic beverages or tenders a drink thereof to another, whether accepted or not, at or in any public place (as defined in Code of Virginia Section 4-2), he shall be guilty of a Class 4 misdemeanor.

(b)
This Section shall not prevent any person from drinking alcoholic beverages or offering a drink thereof to another in the dining room or other designated room as defined in Code of Virginia Section 4-25, of a hotel, restaurant, club or boat, or in a dining car, club car, or buffet car of any train, or wine, wine coolers, or similar products that qualify as beverages as defined in Code of Virginia Section 4-99, and beer only within all seating areas, concourses, walkways, concession areas, as well as other additional locations designated by the Board, in coliseums, stadia, or similar facilities, during the performance of a professional sporting exhibition or event, provided such alcoholic beverages and beverages are served in a paper, plastic, or similar disposable container, or in any other establishment, provided such hotel, restaurant, club, boat, dining car, club car, buffet car, coliseum, stadium or similar facility or other establishment, or the person who operates the same, including a concessionaire, is licensed to sell at retail for consumption in such dining room, room, car, seating areas, concourses, walkways, concession areas, as well as other additional locations designated by the Board, in such coliseum, stadium or similar facility or establishment, such alcoholic beverages, and the alcoholic beverages drunk or offered were purchased therein.

[Anonymous]

Just put a couzie over the bottle or can. These people were out walking with their kids. In their very safe neighborhoods. There was no danger here. People really need to get a grip.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote: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.

Do you actually have any friends?

Your little MommyMartyr behavior is really tiresome.

Let me break this down for you very easily...drinking ONE glass of wine during trick or treating does not result in me - or anybody else - being an idiot, irresponsible parent. All b/c you have seen an example or two of parents drinking too much and not properly watching their children does not mean that this is common. Hell, pretty much every kid in Europe would be dead if - using your logic - having a drink resulted in injured, dead children.

You seriously need to get a grip.

I do have plenty of friends and if you were not drunk already you'd have noticed that there's nothing martyrizing about my behavior. I don't care about alcohol and it is no sacrifice for me to stay sober while everybody else is getting their fix.

I love how Americans refer to "people in Europe" as if they were the greatest example of responsible parenting in the history of humanity. Your statement is clearly ignorant about the issue and shows how defensive and ashamed you are of your poor choices.

Time to grow up and take charge of your choices. That's what a responsible parent should do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

Just because people have been convicted because a cop said the walked funny doesn't make it right or legal. It is no excuse for passing judgement on anyone who consumes a drop of alcohol.

There are plenty of "drugs" I bet you consume. Coffee? Chocolate? Soda? Guess what - caffeine is a drug.
Do you take aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen for a headache? You druggie you. Better not take that aspirin while taking care of your child. You know, accidents do happen, and it would be the fault of you taking aspirin.

I can and do have fun without consuming alcohol. I have alcohol maybe once every other month, never more than 2 drinks, usually only 1. But I'm not going to pass judgement on those that do drink more, as long as they do so responsibly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

Just because people have been convicted because a cop said the walked funny doesn't make it right or legal. It is no excuse for passing judgement on anyone who consumes a drop of alcohol.

There are plenty of "drugs" I bet you consume. Coffee? Chocolate? Soda? Guess what - caffeine is a drug.
Do you take aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen for a headache? You druggie you. Better not take that aspirin while taking care of your child. You know, accidents do happen, and it would be the fault of you taking aspirin.

I can and do have fun without consuming alcohol. I have alcohol maybe once every other month, never more than 2 drinks, usually only 1. But I'm not going to pass judgement on those that do drink more, as long as they do so responsibly.

Maybe that PP is Mormon. NO fun with caffeine, either.

[Anonymous]

so maybe if they put the beers/wine away and only drank while walking up the private driveways on the way to trick-or-treat it would be ok in Fairfax County. Dunno ...

[Anonymous]

Let me say that once again...

I don't need any excuses. It's my right to have an opinion as is yours. I don't care about what the drunks think of me but seems like the drunks do care about what I think and they've been calling me names and making up excuses for their poor choices for well over 10 pages.

A cup of coffe or a bar of chocolate does not impair one's judgment. Alcohol, Benadryl or whatever drug you want to talk about does impair the judgment and they should be used responsibly. I just think that drinking as you walk down the street in the dark with a bunch of kids is dangerous (and illegal in several places) so it's a poor choice in my opinion.

My age to be "cool" and do stupid things to try to fit in is long gone. My good friends accept me for who I am and I accept them for who they are. We're happy and it works for us.

Say whatever you want. In the end we'll all have to live with the consequences of our acts. And I enjoy being sober.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

Just because people have been convicted because a cop said the walked funny doesn't make it right or legal. It is no excuse for passing judgement on anyone who consumes a drop of alcohol.

There are plenty of "drugs" I bet you consume. Coffee? Chocolate? Soda? Guess what - caffeine is a drug.
Do you take aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen for a headache? You druggie you. Better not take that aspirin while taking care of your child. You know, accidents do happen, and it would be the fault of you taking aspirin.

I can and do have fun without consuming alcohol. I have alcohol maybe once every other month, never more than 2 drinks, usually only 1. But I'm not going to pass judgement on those that do drink more, as long as they do so responsibly.

[Anonymous]

haha, as you call the others "drunks". right.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me say that once again...

I don't need any excuses. It's my right to have an opinion as is yours. I don't care about what the drunks think of me but seems like the drunks do care about what I think and they've been calling me names and making up excuses for their poor choices for well over 10 pages.

A cup of coffe or a bar of chocolate does not impair one's judgment. Alcohol, Benadryl or whatever drug you want to talk about does impair the judgment and they should be used responsibly. I just think that drinking as you walk down the street in the dark with a bunch of kids is dangerous (and illegal in several places) so it's a poor choice in my opinion.

My age to be "cool" and do stupid things to try to fit in is long gone. My good friends accept me for who I am and I accept them for who they are. We're happy and it works for us.

Say whatever you want. In the end we'll all have to live with the consequences of our acts. And I enjoy being sober.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

Just because people have been convicted because a cop said the walked funny doesn't make it right or legal. It is no excuse for passing judgement on anyone who consumes a drop of alcohol.

There are plenty of "drugs" I bet you consume. Coffee? Chocolate? Soda? Guess what - caffeine is a drug.
Do you take aspirin or tylenol or ibuprofen for a headache? You druggie you. Better not take that aspirin while taking care of your child. You know, accidents do happen, and it would be the fault of you taking aspirin.

I can and do have fun without consuming alcohol. I have alcohol maybe once every other month, never more than 2 drinks, usually only 1. But I'm not going to pass judgement on those that do drink more, as long as they do so responsibly.

People are calling you names because you're utterly unreasonable and calling people who choose to have one glass of wine drunks. You get that, right? You've come up with dooms-day scenarios to support your claims that drinking is evil. It's ridiculous. I went out trick or treating with my kid without drinking, but I think it sounds fun for a bunch of parents to stay together throughout the night and have a drink. What is your problem exactly? Why do you feel the need to spew your judgments all over this board? You have a seriously unhealthy relationship with alcohol if this is your response. It's fine. We can't all keep it in check. Some are all or nothing people, and you're one of those nothing people. That's fine. But understand that calling anyone who drinks a beer or a glass of wine a drunk isn't going to sit well with anyone.
Now, go have your cup of tea and just be quiet.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me say that once again...

I don't need any excuses. It's my right to have an opinion as is yours. I don't care about what the drunks think of me but seems like the drunks do care about what I think and they've been calling me names and making up excuses for their poor choices for well over 10 pages.

A cup of coffe or a bar of chocolate does not impair one's judgment. Alcohol, Benadryl or whatever drug you want to talk about does impair the judgment and they should be used responsibly. I just think that drinking as you walk down the street in the dark with a bunch of kids is dangerous (and illegal in several places) so it's a poor choice in my opinion.

My age to be "cool" and do stupid things to try to fit in is long gone. My good friends accept me for who I am and I accept them for who they are. We're happy and it works for us.

Say whatever you want. In the end we'll all have to live with the consequences of our acts. And I enjoy being sober.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you guys had taken the time to read thoroughly you'd learn that a lot of people were arrested just because the cop testified saying the person was walking "funny" even though their blow test was below the legal limit.

I've been reading several forums and a lot of people got convicted based on eye witnesses.

I don't care about all the excuses you all make and the names you call. I can sure have fun without drugs and I'll just keep this way.

Now, good luck to you guys explaining yourselves in court trying to prove you were sober when the accident happened. Remember the old "it will never happen to me" one day will hit close to home and then it will be too late.

This is why some are calling you names. Calling anyone who consumes one beverage a "drunk" is first wrong (one drink does not intoxicate most people), and 2. judgemental for our choices and lastly, mean. You wouldn't be called mommymartyr if you refrained from making blanket assumptions and judgements on people that have one drink.

I drank on halloween night while out with my children. The amount of alcohol in the drink was probably less than one beer (3 oz of a margarita, to be exact). I live in a neighborhood with street lights, we were never more than 1 block from our home, and we were home, safe and snug before 7:30. So for you to be condescending towards me and people like me, who consumed very little in a very responsible manner is reprehensible. You need to look in the mirror and figure out why you consider anyone who takes one drink to be "drunk". Maybe a history in the family of alcoholism?