Good Morning Britain got their viewers stirred up today by posing the question, is it ever OK to drink alcohol in front of your children?
They raised the issue after a survey found three in 10 British parents admit to being drunk in front of their kids, and around half have been tipsy around them.
Experts say children can feel anxious when they see their parents drinking – even if it’s just one glass of wine.
Discussing the matter in the studio with Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh were non-drinker Anne Marie Scanlon and blogger Anna Whitehead.
Anne Marie said she believes parents should never drink in front of their children, as alcohol is a “powerful drug” and drinking it increases cases of violence and domestic violence.
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She said it is a “benign presence in our lives” and parents who celebrate “wine o’clock” “give their children the message it’s a good thing.”
Meanwhile, Anna said she thought it was fine for mums to drink in moderation, as long as they were still capable of driving in case of an emergency and still able to read their child a bedroom story.
She agreed drinking should not be glamorised around children but said it was important for them to be introduced to it so it doesn’t become a problem for them later in life.
Father-of-two Richard, whose daughter Chloe is well-known for her interest in fitness, sided with Anna.
He said: “All my life I have come home at six and had a glass of wine and my children aren’t damaged.”
Lots of viewers watching the show at home tweeted to share their views. Some said they saw nothing wrong with a having glass of wine while caring for children, while others said they would never drink around, or in front of, youngsters.
Meanwhile, those who had grown-up with alcoholic parents said seeing them drinking had put them off for life.
The Institute of Alcohol Studies questioned nearly a thousand parents on their drinking habits and asked their children how they felt about it.
Katherine Brown, chief executive at the IAS, said of their findings: “It is worrying that the majority of parents reported being tipsy or drunk in front of their child.
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“All parents strive to do what’s best for their children, but this report has highlighted a troubling gap in their knowledge.
“Parents who have a glass or two of wine in the evening deserve to understand how this might affect their children and the steps they can take to minimise this impact.”