A British mum has taken to the internet to vent her frustrations after her daughter was given alcohol at a sleepover without her permission.
Susan wrote on the Netmums forum about a birthday sleepover her nine-year-old daughter attended for a friend’s 10th birthday. She wrote, “My daughter attended a 10th birthday sleepover with five girls (mix of nine and 10 year old’s) from school. I’m very friendly with all the mums. They had a great time and my daughter came back exhausted but in good spirits.
“During the day she told me bits and bobs of what they got up to and it all sounded lovely until she mentioned that she tried a snowball (Advocaat and lemonade) and I’m furious.
“At home she’s had the odd sip of bucks fizz (champagne and orange juice) with me and my husband, but the mum has given my child (and other children) some alcohol without my permission. Worst of all my daughter thought it was her fault and got [very] upset.”
The post attracted a lot of attention, with most commenters agreeing that Susan was right to be angry, with some even calling it child abuse and urging her to call the police or child protective services. One commenter wrote, “I agree that this was not on at all! At the very least, if she was planning on letting them try the snowball she should have checked with the parents first that it was OK.”
Another mum shared her own experience in a similar situation, saying, “I’d also be absolutely livid. I’ve been there with my 14-year-old daughter. If there’s alcohol involved the parents’ permission should be obtained. I’d not be letting my child near that house again as trust would be completely shattered.”
Others said they couldn’t see the issue as she had given her daughter alcohol in her own home, with one commenter saying, “I think if she is allowed a bucks fizz at home then a little snowball is not really that bad? You need to talk to your daughter about drinking alcohol and what is allowed and what isn’t.”
In the UK, it is against the law to give children alcohol at home if they are under the age of five. That means that on private premises like homes, children aged five to 16 are allowed to consume alcohol, although Drinkaware and the Chief Medical Officers advise against it.
Image: hobo_018
This article first appeared on OverSixty.