Should parents be allowed to get drunk?

[Mojotronica]

Few would begrudge a parent the right to have a drink or two every now and then, but when a parent gets drunk it puts them at a disadvantage in making good decisions about their children's well-being.

Yet most of us have seen our parent's drunk at some point in our lives. It's legally acceptable -- is it socially acceptable? If so, should it be socially acceptable?

Do you think that a parent who gets drunk in front of their kids is a bad parent? Or is it situational -- maybe if they arrange for a sitter, or a trustworthy "designated parent?" Or only over-indulge occasionally when they are away from the kids...?

If it's situationally okay for a parent to get drunk, is it also okay for a parent to do drugs? In particular prescription drugs with a consciousness altering effect, like Vicodin, or the most widely-used illegal drug, wacky tobacky?

How about tobacco smoking? Second hand smoke may be harmful to bystanders... Is it wrong to smoke a cigarette or cigar around your kids?

What do you think?

 

[wtiberon]

My parents didn't start drinking in front of me until I was a teenager...It was a bit shocking because you tend to think of your parents as infallable. They were never alcoholics and never drank more than one or two drinks at a time...but still its was wierd. Sometimes they would get drunk and that was just funny. But I think that parents do have the right to drink but don't do it openly until kids are past their most impressionable age.

 

[Smaasnekje]

I'll say that smoking is more directly harmful towards children, but it isnt healthy to see your parents drunk every week either....
Drugs should by any means be avoided...
Thats my opinion..

 

[thestonesfan]

You can't make laws against things like that, but I think it's very damaging for kids to see their parents messed up from anything. Parents should be a source of solidarity and comfort. It's a terrible thing for a child to worry about a parent.

It depresses me that there needs to be laws for so many things. Not saying this in particular needs laws, but in general. What kind of society have we become where we need the state to punish us for bad behavior? Is this a result of an omnipresent government that has taken far too much responsibility in people's lives?

 

[Ancient Grudge]

yes because then us children can manipulative them

 

[gael]

I don't think getting out right drunk and out of control is a good idea for parents to do infront of thier kids, it confuses them.

Its all about knowing your limit and ability to control alcohol. If you are a prick on drink, then you should not let it affect your childrens lifes during development. They will grow to fear or hate you.

Its all about responsibility.

 

[CurtSibling]

Alcoholism is awful in a family setting. Drink is just another kind of self-applied mind-control.

I think all booze should be banned. That is my view on the matter.

 

[Aphex_Twin]

Allowed to drink yes, drunk, yes, but not in the presence of small children. (The moralist in me had to say something...)

 

[meldor]

I must be one of the few because I never saw my parents get drunk and my children have never seen either my wife or myself get drunk.

My parents drink in an open and responsible manner. I do the the same. They know that I intentionally limit myself to only one or two and I only drink in a social situation.

As for drugs prescribed by a doctor and taken in the prescribed manner, nothing wrong with that. Same applies, show responsibility.

For the rest, it would be totally irrespinsible to do so period, and worse to do so in front of your children.

 

[Mojotronica]

meldor --

How about use of medically prescribed marijuana? Legal in several states...

 

[Immortal]

my step-grandfather is an alcoholic, so my dad HATES drinking. My mom doesnt drink either, so I dont have any experience with alcohol and how it relates to the family dynamic.

 

[Kafka2]

Fah- I've got happily bladdered in front of my kid with nary a pang of conscience. It's like driving- as long as one of the grown-ups is straight, where's the problem?

 

[gael]

Originally posted by Kafka2
Fah- I've got happily bladdered in front of my kid with nary a pang of conscience. It's like driving- as long as one of the grown-ups is straight, where's the problem?

I think this sums it up.

I said it before, Responsibility, Its all about knowing your place in the your childrens world.

 

[Ancient Grudge]

my mum gets drunk in front of me i mean i dont drink that much

 

[philippe]

hmm my mom only got once drunk in 5 years.She had to puke like hell....
Bah its not so bad seeing them once drunk.You know what the consequentes are of being drunk

 

[Kafka2]

Originally posted by gael


I think this sums it up.

I said it before, Responsibility, Its all about knowing your place in the your childrens world.

Exactly. My place in my children's world is not as some sort of Victorian "Pater", all pretence and hypocrisy. The fact that her Daddy very occasionally gets a bit giggly and falls asleep on the sofa is not something I anticipate causing my daughter anything more than amusement.

 

[Pongui]

It depends largely on what the parents are prone to do when drunk,

and what children conclude from the practice.

 

[Mikoyan]

Originally posted by CurtSibling
Alcoholism is awful in a family setting. Drink is just another kind of self-applied mind-control.

I think all booze should be banned. That is my view on the matter.

I'm with you on this. Alcoholism is in my family. I've seen my uncle drunk a whole bunch of times when he's been here.

I've seen my mother drunk too, and that's never funny. I will stay away from this poison myself.

 

[Ohwell]

Not when the children are watching, no. I never saw my parents drinking, but they did it, and I didn't really get affected by it.

 

[nixon]

Allowed..? Well, it's a free country, so people can drink whatever they want. To me, it's morally foul. I loathe people who drink heavily in front of their kids, I'm thinking everytime I hear about this, "Gee, why the hell did they get kids in the first place?".

I mean, if people are so outta touch with reality, if people have such a wrong relationship to alcohol, they goddamn shouldn't get kids in the first place! What the heck are they thinking?

I'd never drink heavily or smoke (never in my life), if I ever get kids - would never do that in front of them. I would feel embarrassed and guilty if they should ever see that, not that I think that would ever happen.