Beer & Kids: Where's Your Line?

This is a peculiarly US attitude that somehow drinking beer is slightly evil and not appropriate for children to be around. Maybe because of prohibitionist attitudes, maybe because beer became illegal and thus part of the criminal element during that period, maybe because of the neo-prohibitionists who view alcohol as a bad health choice maybe because of the nanny types who think they know better than you how you should live your life...

At any rate, that attitude doesn't exist in other countries. Ask Europeans what they think of kids and beer.

 

I don't think it's bad for the children to be around beer, I just don't like being around children. If I'm at a brewery it's because I want to relax and unwind with a leisure time activity. I don't want to be around children.

 

I don't have kids but I see no problem with sharing your beer passion with family...kids included. Exploring what craft beer has to offer is not the same as throwing back a 12 pack of Schlitz every day. As long as your drinking craft beer doesn't negatively affect you or your family then who cares what other people think. Enjoy it. Personally I feel that talking with daughter's about alcohol during a brew session or at a release could be quite educational. It will serve them better than learning from friends or someone else.

 

My kids have accompanied me to the liquor store many a time.
Nothing wrong with it.
In fact I jokingly asked if my 3 month old I was holding could get her 2 bottles of KBS a couple of years ago

 

Dude's cruise my beer aisle everyday with their kids. Nothing wrong with it at all, and it's very odd anyone would think otherwise.

 

I don't think it's bad at all. I remember taking my young son to the New Glarus Brewery. Debra the founder thought he was adorable and was talking to him. Now I live in Utah and its an entirely different story

 

I see nothing wrong with any of this, except you not buying the beer (unless there was nothing you wanted) because of how some busy body was looking at you.

Heck some breweries have started having family events, for example Oakhighlands here in Dallas has a monthly family night. At their first one they had a face painter, a high school band, games, and food trucks. There were kids of all ages all over the place. And for the kids and designated drivers they had an orange soda on tap and water coolers.

As for introducing kids to the process that is awesome. I can not wait till me and my daughter can finally brew a beer together.

 

@5thOhio hit it on the head: it's just the nanny, politically-correct, Puritanical tendencies of the US that plague anything to do with alcohol or sex.

 

don't plan on having kids but I don't mind at all seeing kids or dogs at breweries since my gf and I have 3 fur babies we like to take to breweries

 

You just got into your own head, that's all. No one will actually say anything to you.. Like most humans, we'll talk about how shitty of a person you are on the car ride home(without minding our own flaws), rather than to your face. It's kind of like crossing the street at a red light "do these people think I'm fat?" "Is my fly down?" "Am I walking funny?".. When all is said and done.. You WILL cross that damn street, with opinions unheard. Just buy the damn beer, dude. Only the stain on Satan's panties will think that you're buying booze for your children.

 

When I was at Ithaca Beer Co. a couple of weeks ago there were several large families at the brewpub and there were small children all over, running around and playing outside in the beer garden and having a good time. Granted, I have no kids of my own, but I had no problem with this. I saw families relaxing and enjoying themselves and children having fun. It was a good time for all, and not a negative experience whatsoever.

 

I bring my son into my local bottle shop all the time. Last time my 5 year old son said "daddy why do you like beer so much?" I then proceeded to seat him down on a keg and explain the virtues of good beer.

 

*sigh* What a beautiful father and son moment.

 

In my life, and anywhere I go, I'd like not to have children there. If your kid can be a civil human being I can get over it. That is so few and far between it's laughable. Everyone thinks their kid is an Angel.

Also I'm older and chose not to have kids, before anyone wants to judge.

To the point, if anyone was giving you the stink eye in a grocery store... Fuck them.

 

I dropped about $200 a month at Chucky Cheese when my kids were younger. I would go there every Saturday and they would play and I would go thru the week of trade mags that I had amassed (pre internet). They quit selling beer because of pressure from MADD and I never went back. No Label in Katy (outside of Houston) has a ton of families out there every weekend. Live music, food trucks, it is quite the event

 

First, good on you for mentioning your kids are first over everything else.

That said, not being a parent myself, Washington is a little weird when it comes to kids in beer places. Seattle allows kids in breweries where most other counties/cities don't so I have seen and experienced both, places with kids and without. I see no problem with buying beer at a grocery store when kids are with you. Breweries are a little different, while I haven't had any problems or seen any when it comes to places that allow kids in a brewery, I don't really think they need to come. I understand circumstances don't always conspire to allow a parent or both to come alone so I get it. As long as you set a good example with not driving drunk (which I assume you would not with the safety of your kids involved anyways) and no stupid drunk things (fights, yelling, falling over) you are good. I agree with some others here who say we do have a bit of a puritan look on booze and kids being near it.

I wouldn't judge you if I saw you, and I think your daughter helping you brew is adorable. Be a good parent first, be responsible, and don't worry about anyone giving dirty looks. Cheers.

 

I almost wanted to agree with this then I saw Stephen A. Smith said it and changed my mind.

 

From the sounds of it you did absolutely nothing wrong. When you say brewery for lunch I assume you mean brewpub or a brewery that serves food? Either way, I always find as long as the hours are appropriate, that there should be no problems with bringing children to breweries/brewpubs. One of my local breweries actually encourages children coming to the brewery. The only thing I would be mindful is when you take kids to places like bars/breweries/brewpubs. Any place that serves food should be ok 7 PM and before but I think we can all agree there are age appropriate times when you should be wary about taking children out depending on the establishment. Personally I don't expect anyone to be wary of their language at 9 PM at a bar and they shouldn't feel the need to. As long as you take your kids at appropriate times you will almost more than likely be ok.