British Believe Drinking Makes Them Better Parents

Here in America when a Father or Mother gets drunk all the time, they are usually looked at as bad parents and alcoholics. In Britain, they believe they become better parents when they drink and better people. Are we doing something wrong as parents?

In a recent survey done in Britain, they asked parents about their drinking habits and about their parenting skills. What they found is pretty hilarious and ridiculous. I don't know about you, but when I drink the last think I want is to be around kids. I curse, I slur, I tell dirty jokes, and its all while tipping back a few and when no children are in sight.

In the survey they found that 6 out of 10 parents believe that their drinking habits don't have any effect on family life. The first step is admitting you have a problem. Here is the curve ball, 1 in 5 British parents believe that they have better parenting skills when drinking. That's 25% and only 9% believe that drinking has a negative effect on their parenting skills. Seems to me their might be a large portion of Britain's population that is in denial.

As in America, British fathers are three times as likely to drink everyday than mothers and more than twice as likely to use illegal drugs. There isn't much difference there. Here in America I believe its safe to say that men drink more than women, and that men drink more often than women. As far as illegal drugs go, I doubt Americans use that many drugs on a regular basis, but we do live down the street from Clifton.

Being a parent stresses you out and takes a lot of patients. 17% of the British parents surveyed said they started drinking more after their first child. I don't look down on any parent that has a few drinks to calm the nerves. Its when parents are getting sloshy drunk and neglecting their kids when I have a problem. Too much of any one thing is a bad thing. So drink in moderation and make sure you put your children first.

KEKB's Mackenzie Dodge says she drinks about a bottle of wine a week now that she has a child. She says she drinks more now than she use to. What about you? Are you drinking more now that you have children? Do you think it affects your parenting skills?