Why don’t you ask one of the 18 family members who will attend? They know what your family expects better than the good citizens of DCUM.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but you do need soft drinks or iced tea or lemonade or punch.

Last time I hosted a party DCUM told me I needed these drinks and no one drank them. Everyone drank the bottled water I provided. If it's not alcohol, people around here just don't drink their calories. It took me forever to get rid of those sodas, teas, and lemonades.

Yup, that's right. I would easily enjoy a glass of wine for a 3 year-old birthday party, but I wouldn't touch sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade. I think having a bottle of wine and beer in the fridge would be thoughtful but not expected. Not everyone enjoys these things and a sip of some wine certainly helps!

I don't drink lemonade, or sweet tea either, but don't consider it a hardship to drink water.

I also don't go to parties I don't enjoy.

Most of my friends would have a drink if offered at 2pm. I might make a pitcher of sangria and provide beer.

I would make a pot of coffee too.

You definitely can, though I think it's nice to have available if possible. I don't have kids, but I go to a lot of kids birthday parties for the children of my friends and my god daughter. I am usually the one who helps set up before and picks up afterwards since I'm not ferrying a toddler home for a nap after the party. I would definitely appreciate a glass of wine and I have always been offered one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but you do need soft drinks or iced tea or lemonade or punch.

Last time I hosted a party DCUM told me I needed these drinks and no one drank them. Everyone drank the bottled water I provided. If it's not alcohol, people around here just don't drink their calories. It took me forever to get rid of those sodas, teas, and lemonades.

Yup, that's right. I would easily enjoy a glass of wine for a 3 year-old birthday party, but I wouldn't touch sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade. I think having a bottle of wine and beer in the fridge would be thoughtful but not expected. Not everyone enjoys these things and a sip of some wine certainly helps!

I love how people won’t drink “sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade” (btw, i ed tea is often unsweetened in these parts), but have no problem with the sugar and calories in wine.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people this cheap? Really?

OP here. Is it really considered “cheap” to not offer beer and wine at a 3 years birthday party at 2pm?? Really?? That’s what you would think? This is why I posted. Seriously asking.

No I wouldn’t think it was cheap - I would think it’s a birthday party for a toddler!

I never have alcohol at my kids bday parties - it’s not because I’m cheap, it’s because it’s a middle of the day kids birthday party! The last thing I want to do is serve up alcohol and then watch people drive off with their kids. I feel like maybe half the kids parties I go to have some type of alcohol and the others don’t.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are people this cheap? Really?

OP here. Is it really considered “cheap” to not offer beer and wine at a 3 years birthday party at 2pm?? Really?? That’s what you would think? This is why I posted. Seriously asking.

No, it's not cheap. It's just that there are some posters here who can't enjoy a kids' party unless alcohol is available. Many families celebrate without alcoholic beverages.

Anonymous wrote:Are people this cheap? Really?

OP here. Is it really considered “cheap” to not offer beer and wine at a 3 years birthday party at 2pm?? Really?? That’s what you would think? This is why I posted. Seriously asking.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but you do need soft drinks or iced tea or lemonade or punch.

Last time I hosted a party DCUM told me I needed these drinks and no one drank them. Everyone drank the bottled water I provided. If it's not alcohol, people around here just don't drink their calories. It took me forever to get rid of those sodas, teas, and lemonades.

Yup, that's right. I would easily enjoy a glass of wine for a 3 year-old birthday party, but I wouldn't touch sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade. I think having a bottle of wine and beer in the fridge would be thoughtful but not expected. Not everyone enjoys these things and a sip of some wine certainly helps!

I love how people won’t drink “sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade” (btw, i ed tea is often unsweetened in these parts), but have no problem with the sugar and calories in wine.

Anonymous wrote:For me the difference is a birthday party at home vs. a birthday party at a kid's event space. I don't serve alcohol when my kids have a party at an event space (probably it wouldn't be allowed anyway), but I do at home, because it's my home and I'm serving lunch or brunch and often that would include the option for beer or a mimosa. So it's all about your style of entertaining.

This. A party at a home often has alcohol. Even a kiddie party.

Are people this cheap? Really?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:No, but you do need soft drinks or iced tea or lemonade or punch.

Last time I hosted a party DCUM told me I needed these drinks and no one drank them. Everyone drank the bottled water I provided. If it's not alcohol, people around here just don't drink their calories. It took me forever to get rid of those sodas, teas, and lemonades.

Yup, that's right. I would easily enjoy a glass of wine for a 3 year-old birthday party, but I wouldn't touch sugar-filled iced tea or lemonade. I think having a bottle of wine and beer in the fridge would be thoughtful but not expected. Not everyone enjoys these things and a sip of some wine certainly helps!

Anonymous wrote:The alcohol culture on dcum is out of control. My family and friends would think I was nuts if I offered alcohol at a children's birthday party. And we are all ok with drinking.

I find that this is a very cultural thing. I’m from the Midwest and every single birthday party hosted at someone’s home has alcohol. It’s just the way it is. Since moving here, I’ve discovered that it’s not a thing in this area.

Anonymous wrote:I've never offered nor have I ever been offered alcohol at a child's birthday party.

It's good to have bottled water, a selection of sodas for the grown ups and juice boxes for the kids.

And I haven’t been to a kid bday (all toddlers) without alcohol. Granted only beer and wine or sangria and not everyone drank but it was there.