[Closed] Booze at primary school events.

King skin or standard?

Well seeing as I'm attempting to make a statement gotta be king! Full taper.

Bar at the school summer fete and fireworks here, nothing wrong with that IMHO - why shouldn't people have a drink at a normal social occasion on which plenty of people would usually choose to have a drink? Though to be fair nobody I've seen getting really pissed. Tea and soft drinks at the Christmas play and sports day (which was today) which are held during school hours.

Our kids school won't even serve softdrinks just healthy options of water and fruit juice.

I'm talking school hours here, apart from summer fair which was at 5 pm. Surely too much normalisation of boozing culture to very small kids is not a good thing. I might have to raise issue with the school. My other daughters school was no booze at school events, whatever the time of day. Then they put on parents only events where most got sozzled. Seemed a better approach.

I might have to raise issue with the school.

Middle class alcoholism.

Actually I'd say that being introduced to drinking as a normal everyday activity is probably better. If it's all out in the open I think there's less chance of the kids going up the bus shelter / street corner / park and getting ****ted on white lightening or md tbh.

why shouldn't people have a drink at a normal social occasion on which plenty of people would usually choose to have a drink?

Well it is daytime at a school and there are rumours that sometimes folk get issues with alcohol.
I am pretty sure plenty of the parents would take some drugs at plenty of schools.
I also dont understand why every single social event has to involve alcohol
It amuses me that folk dont realise my ideal night out is NOT 4 -5 hours of watching folk get drunk then driving them home.

uselesshippy - Member
Middle class alcoholism.

"why shouldn't people have a drink at a normal social occasion on which plenty of people would usually choose to have a drink?"
Well it is daytime at a school

Since you're quoting me, the ones I mention are Saturday afternoon and in the evening.

Middle class alcoholism.

No obvious sign of that at any of the events I've been to where alcohol has been available.

Middle class alcoholism.

aracer - Member
No obvious sign of that at any of the events I've been to where alcohol has been available.

But what tang describes is what I would call middle class alcoholism where it is a social norm to drink half a bottle of wine or a few pints every day.

I must have missed his report of their daily alcohol consumption.

But what tang describes is what I would call middle class alcoholism where it is a social norm to drink half a bottle of wine or a few pints every day.

Sounds like people & family I know, fingers in ears...la la la I'm not listening.

I just don't like it. 'Time, place and circumstance' common sense rule should apply with intoxicants and children. Sure, show them it in the correct setting in a positive way. At school events in school time? Surely not the best idea. It's the creeping normalisation of alcohol consumption that offends me. What better advert for kids than most of their 'elders' knocking it back at school events. I must ad this is not in classrooms but in the shared village hall/field/church(has a bar at the back ffs) and organised by the parents.

I hope none of these parents drove to school, sends a chill down the spine thinking about it.

I suppose it depends on what the kids are seeing doesn't it? If it's a bunch of parents kicking back, relaxing and having fun, then is that such a problem? If it's a bunch of parents getting hammered and then the dads either kicking the shit out of each other or out of their wives, then, yes, this would be a worry.

A quick google image search for "alcohol sponsorship in sport" shows a more alarming normalisation of alcohol consumption in society (IMO).

The bar is a big earner at our school events and supports the local brewery.

Bar makes money for the school and makes potentially boring events bearable - so drink is on offer as it will attract more people.
When I last looked nobody was being forced to drink.
If you have another family or two round for a BBQ is drinking not allowed because the kids are present?

Let me know where it is as I would like to relocate!

These events are for the children's enjoyment/happiness. Good enough reason alone for me to go.

What? hic.

Always had a bar at my sons Primary School events, that's where we raised the most money. And very middle class, as mid-level Home Counties private school 😉

The bar is a big earner at our school events and supports the local brewery.

One of the parents works at the local brewery, and usually delivers the beer for events - I presume they get a good deal.

Just had parents evening at mini-doubleu's nursery. He's only 14 months so I had some baby curry, mrs-doulbleu had some baby pizza, then we had some red wine whilst sitting on the floor in the "sensory corner" (his favourite), whilst his key worker gave us the low down on his walking attempts.

My lads school is in a bit of a Channel4 shockumentary type area. Not unusual to see parents dropping off at 9am with a can of Special Brew on the go. (In PJ's / all-in-one suits obviously). Anyhow, they had a Pimms tent at last years summer fayre. The duffers serving had the Lemonade to Pimms ratio the wrong way round, so they ran out of Pimms somewhat early & ended up trying to sell just lemonade. The aforementioned clientele were not too impressed with this. I feigned indifference & pressed ahead with the Tombola regardless.

I say good on the OP's school.

It's this year's fayre on Thursday, & they are actually selling Beer this year. I'm in attendance, on the Tombola again. I'd offered to give laps of the feild on the back of the cargo-bike but the Headmaster said no.

define "middle class alcoholism" I have read about this in the papers,
and how do I join this lovely cult of cake making
ladies?

Nobodies forcing you to drink alcohol, Are they? Will you be forced to have a fight outside the organic locally sourced kebab stall later? With Baz, who's missus runs the tanning shop, and drives that hideously vulgar Range Rover? Were you forced to fend off baz's other halves unwelcome, cocktail fuelled advances?

Dear lord. Get over yourself Susan!

deffo want a pissed cake fight susan....

Now I'm concerned that we don't have an organic locally sourced kebab stall at our school fete. Not to mention the lack of advances from Baz's other half.

I think its wrong too, just shows how normalised booze has become in society.

[quote=FunkyDunc ]I think its wrong too, just shows how normalised booze has become in society.

Yep nobody ever drank years ago, we just used to do it in pubs.

You'd like my son's school, Tang. I've never seen an alcoholic drink in the place. Parents are never invited to anything other than "réunions d'information" after the kids have left. The facade has more steel bars and security equal to the local prison but that doesn't stop many kids taking Mary Jane in with them.

I suppose it depends on what the kids are seeing doesn't it? If it's a bunch of parents kicking back, relaxing and having fun, then is that such a problem?

I don't have a problem with alcohol being available at out of hours school events.
I do have an issue with the 'lets get slaughtered' 'eatings cheatin' 'you are a girl if you can't drink 10 pints' attitude this country excels at.

It's just weird that the kind of having fun you're modelling to the kids involves the consumption of drugs. Is it such a problem for people to take an interest in their kids' education and socialize without drinking?

If I'd said that, you might just have a point.

I do have an issue with the 'lets get slaughtered' 'eatings cheatin' 'you are a girl if you can't drink 10 pints' attitude this country excels at.

This country or a few individuals that the media loves to hype up about binge drinking culture.

I was disappointed that our kids prospective school was serving bottled larger at the school fete, particularly damning when you consider how many fine craft brewerys are within a 15 mile radius.

I may have to write a letter to the head!

It's just weird that the kind of having fun you're modelling to the kids involves the consumption of drugs. Is it such a problem for people to take an interest in their kids' education and socialize without drinking?

Not a problem, but unnecessary - having a beer is a perfectly normal adult activity, and I can't see any reason it should be hidden from kids.

My other half is the Deputy Head of a primary school in Manchester.

Strict no booze rule 100% of the time anywhere on the property. Otherwise parents turn up to sports day walking down the street with a can of lager!

Rest of the time the kids are only allowed to bring water in. No fizzy drinks or even squash is allowed and they have water fountains dotted around.

The water only thing is relaxed for events like the school fete, but still no energy drinks, eg Monster, Red Bull, etc.

Seems to work well and sets the right example. If the parents could drink and also set a good example then the rules might be different. But even so probably not. It's a primary school - plenty of time for drinking in the rest of your life!

She does feel bad when she has to take a bottle of orange squash from a kid with well meaning parents. They have to draw the line somewhere though as parents were filling bottles with what looked like squash but was in fact a sugar laden soft drink that had been decanted so their kid could get the sugar hit they "need"!

It's just weird that the kind of having fun you're modelling to the kids involves the consumption of drugs. Is it such a problem for people to take an interest in their kids' education and socialize without drinking?

Does that also apply to other social occasions away from school? Should I avoid taking them out to the pub for a meal, or should I just drink coke if we do go? Do I need to keep them well away from the beer tent and anybody drinking at the village fete, or should we just not go? Or maybe I should also complain to the organisors of the village fete that they have a beer tent?

I think that to be on the safe side, anyone who has children, or may possibly come into contact with any children, should practice complete abstinence. It seems perfectly reasonable to me

Anything short of this and we'll be corrupting an entire generation, surely leading them down a path to alcoholism and destitution.

Rest of the time the kids are only allowed to bring water in. No fizzy drinks or even squash is allowed and they have water fountains dotted around.

She does feel bad when she has to take a bottle of orange squash from a kid with well meaning parents. They have to draw the line somewhere though as parents were filling bottles with what looked like squash but was in fact a sugar laden soft drink that had been decanted so their kid could get the sugar hit they "need"!

Im sorry this pisses me of so much, teachers are there to teach, im there to ensure my child has a balanced diet..

im there to ensure my child has a balanced diet..

How are schools denying your child a balanced diet ?

[url= http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/pupilsupport/pastoralcare/a0075278/healthy-schools ]Schools play an important role in supporting the health and wellbeing of children and young people.[/url]

This country or a few individuals that the media loves to hype up about binge drinking culture

Just finishing off my post grad course and I can honestly say that 99% of students have that attitue. You can't go for a quiet pint. International drinking rules always apply. I have a borad range of friends but drinking excessively is the one thing they all share. Need a more EU approach for young people and drink but thats for a different thread.

I think the drinks fine at a school providing the parents are responisble with their consumption. It's a good role modeling if they don't all get sloshed but rather have just one pint and chat with all the other parents.

That's kind of my point. A parent taking kids to a pub lunch or attending events with alcohol is all good and well. These are normal places to come into contact with booze. It's our responsibility to educate our kids on the ways of the world. I take exception to the fact that my young children are around alcohol during school related events(twice within school time) with potentiality of either of us not being there.
Just because it raises cash or its from our local brewery, or everyone is well off and owns horses and drives nice cars and paints their window frames the same shade of dirty green Farrow & Ball does not make it acceptable to me. It's the same at kids parties these days; adults drinking wine from oversized glasses. What's wrong with tea?

|Im sorry this pisses me of so much, teachers are there to teach, im there to ensure my child has a balanced diet..

The reason they do this is because 30 x 10 years olds are impossible to teach if they've had a 500ml can of Rockstar for breakfast.

That's the whole point - they are there to teach - not to deal with kids who are medicated on caffeine, taurine and 3 types of sugar.

Well done to you because you wouldn't let this happen. Doesn't stop others and so they have to have rules. They also have a uniform. Does this impinge on your right to dress your child how you want? They also don't let the kids abuse teachers. Does this stop the creativity and freedom of expression?

Life has rules, normally for good reasons, we can't just do what we want 100% of the time. That's how society works. This is one of them and it works extremely well. They are an outstanding school in an area that falls into the bottom 1% of deprived areas in the UK. They know what they're doing.

Perhaps, for future reference, you could issue the school with a list of things that you do find acceptable. In fact, Mr Gove, why stop there? Why not provide the rest of society with 2 lists

1. Things I like, or find acceptable, that you are permitted to indulge in. Within reason.
2. Things I disapprove of, and are therefore verboten

Maybe you could carve them in tablets of stone and have them erected outside the school gates?

There's always some moaning pious tee-total git who wants to spoil the fun. Hic. 🙂

Kids should learn early that their parents are pillocks when pissed.

Mt yes at weddings, family parities etc. I guess there is an argument for a safe environment that has been risk assessed by the school to see such things!
I don't drink, but that's personal and not a judgement. Neither am I a prude or killjoy, my past is far from err... perfect.

I take exception to the fact that my young children are around alcohol during school related events(twice within school time) with potentiality of either of us not being there.

If they're serving your kids alcohol then that's valid grounds for complaint. If it's just other kids parents drinking then I'm struggling to see how it's different from lots of other stuff they'll experience in that big wide world out there. Or indeed how exactly they're going to come to any harm from such an experience - I'm assuming any parent who got unpleasantly drunk would be removed and not allowed back.

To some extent I do see your point, as I pointed out the difference with our school events up there (that alcohol doesn't appear to be served during school hours and I've not seen parents sloshed - maybe we just have a better class of middle class people sending their kids to our village school). However you appear to be lumping in the other occasions where alcohol is available at our school functions. What is the fundamental difference between alcohol being served at our school fete and at the village fete?

What is the fundamental difference between alcohol being served at our school fete and at the village fete?

As a governor at our local school I have been part of the should we/shouldn't we decision making process. Having a Parish Councillor on the governing body meant we have always been made aware of the legalities of selling booze at school events - if you don't have a licence you can't. Obviously there are ways around this - you bring in a mobile licenced bar or get a local pub to do the supply & sell bit & take a share of profits. About 5 years ago this approach led to some rowdy behaviour from parents who simply turned up & sat in the sun drinking heavily for 3 or 4 hours.

The following year it was decided that there should be no bar as such but you could have a 'free' glass of wine with your cheese platter or a 'free' Pimms with your strawberries & cream. This worked fine for the first year then over the next couple it transcended into some parents simply paying for piles of food they didn't want (which was either left behind or binned) then wandering off with trays full of the 'free' booze. End result, pid up idiots arguing with each other & staff/volunteers because they'd drunk the stalls dry.

Last Saturday saw our first ever summer fete (in my memory) without any booze at all & it was by far the most enjoyable. No grief, the seating areas weren't commandeered by a couple of groups for the entire duration and bigger numbers than ever stayed until the end. Early indications are that it raised a record amount too.

I'm not sure what conclusion you can draw from our experience as I think it would differ greatly from school to school but what was clear to us is that, as with many things in life, there are always a few aholes that will spoil any situation for the majority.

I wouldn't be comfortable with what you describe either, tang.

I'm not a teetotaller, and have no problem with my children being around if I'm having a couple of drinks, I just don't think a school event is an appropriate environment for social drinking if pupils are around.

Its school, its our childrens' formal education and while it isn't responsible for shaping every aspect of their lives, it should be taken seriously by pupils and parents alike. To me, this means parents shouldn't be getting pissed there, nobody should be smoking anywhere near it, dog owners shouldn't be letting their dogs crap on the surrounding pavements, parents shouldn't be idly parking cars round the gates and so on. Schools should be somewhere adults actively try to create an atmosphere of respect for other people (of all ages), and I can't quite see where alcohol can help with that.

Lot of straw men on this thread from what I can see.
I attended the majority of such functions when my children were younger and always remembered them as good fun and an opportunity to socialise with other parents who we normally only saw briefly at the gate or in passing during parents evenings.
Most people enjoyed a beer or a glass of wine and we all helped out clearing up, organising and taking turns on the BBQ.
The focus was on the children having a good time and I dont think this and a couple of beers or glasses of wine spread over the event are mutually exclusive.
I dont recall anybody getting overtly drunk or any other rowdiness which IMO shows that on the whole adults behave sensibly around drink.

I think you are making a mountain out of a molehill.

So what would you make of the following ads?

Buggered if I can make the video tags work.

I'd say the first one possibly has a fair point.

I'd say the second one is a straw man.

Buggered if I can make the video tags work.

Is that because you've been drinking?

Regarding the first, if they inherit my attitude to alcohol I'll be happy - regarding the second, if it makes you any happier I don't get my kids a drink at the school functions.

More worryingly Bravissimo, the first one suggests a link between beer drinking and the sprouting of facial hair! Possibly combined with gingerness!

Right!! Thats it! I'm on the wagon! 😯

The videos dont seem to match the seriousness of the message IMO.

Dad asks his teenage son to get him a beer out of the fridge during a BBQ? I'm struggling to see much of a downside to that given the kids age. What am I missing?

My mother would have said alcohol was necassary to get through many of my Primary School events. But she sat in the naughty row at the back s****ing with the other naughty mums.

Exactly surfer! What would be the point of having kids at all, if they can't go and get you a beer from the fridge, while you talk rubbish to your mates. And another bloody thing.......

Just out of interest, would all the pro-boozers also be in favour of allowing smoking at school events?

Is that because you've been drinking?

Only behind the bike sheds

Just out of interest, would all the pro-boozers also be in favour of allowing smoking at school events?

No. Why do you ask?

Just out of interest, would all the pro-boozers also be in favour of allowing smoking at school events?

Don't be silly - somebody might set fire to the strawman.

Chapeau Sir

*applauds aracer*
😀

Only behind the bike sheds

then were can we go for ISYMIYSMY?

No. Why do you ask?

Interestingly, would any of the pro-boozers welcome a mobile needle exchange unit at their school fêtes?

Make go to a school fete, then yes, as long as its good shit.

How about a gateway to another dimension? That sounds like a cool thing to have at a school fete

Actually I'd say that being introduced to drinking as a normal everyday activity is probably better.

Actually, I would say NOT teaching kids that alcohol consumption is a normal everyday activity is probably better. Just becuase it's legal does not mean to say it's right to normalise consumption of serriously harmful and addictive drugs, no matter how they are positioned our culture.

http://www.economist.com/blogs/dailychart/2010/11/drugs_cause_most_harm

Just off down the pub for tea to show the kids that alcohol consumption is a normal everyday activity. Apologies for choosing there rather than McDonalds.

Just get the kids a lager top aracer. Little bit of sweetness helps it go down. It'll be more refreshing on a warm evening than a Fruit Shoot.

Why not have a mcDonalds concession at the village fete?

Just brings us back to the middle class alcoholism thing: Big Macs, smoking and special brew are lower class pursuits but Pimms and cheese+biscuits are for People Like Us as totally okay.

Why not have bales of straw and have a making-a-straw-man competition?