When I was a little kid, my parents took me to the Backyardigans live show. It was hosted at a concert hall that would typically serve alcohol when it had an event, however because this was a kids event, they served juice boxes and pop only. Because it was a kids event. The kids, the primary audience of the show cannot legally be under the influence, and their parents/caretakers need to be alert enough to manage them and drive them home. The parents should be happy to spend time together with their children and go to an event that makes their little ones happy. The children's happiness should be enough, the adults shouldn't need incentive to attend a 45 minute puppet show.
I went to Sesame Street Live this past week. This was at a similar venue in a different city 15 years later. I'm an adult now and I went even though I don't have kids because I love the work of Jim Henson and I think the legacy of Sesame Street is very interesting. I assumed that the bar at the venue would not be serving alcohol, just pop and juice, along with their regular snack items. I was wrong. The menu didn't change from any other event.
The amount of adults who were double fisting booze was uncountable. The amount of people who couldn't sit through an hour show (plus a 20 minute intermission) without being buzzed made me upset. The amount of couples who were both drinking and then driving their children home afterwards was dangerous.
1. If you are venue hosting a children's show, change your menu to cater to your children. No alcohol, and add choices that make sense. If you're concerned about money I promise you, parents will still spend $4 on a juice box.
2. If you are a parent and you can't handle doing something that you don't want to do without lightly intoxicating yourself, you have a social drinking problem and you need help. Either get help and get better, or don't go to kids events.
Drinking is too normalized in parenthood. Consider the influence you are having on your children. What example are you setting for them? That you're allowed to just poison yourself anytime you don't want to do something? That going to an event as a family is so embarrassing that adults need to loosen up? I know this isn't your intention but it's what your children might see.
Alcohol is a carcinogenic substance. Do your part to be there for your kids: quit and get help or support if you need it.
