Recently on the Girls Pint Out Facebook page we shared an article from The New York Times called Beer for Me, Apple Juice for Her by Jennifer Miller. I thought it was a great article, a great idea, and something I’d like to see more of – but not everyone agreed.
I was surprised by the amount of negative feedback. The article was not telling parents to go to a bar at 8 pm with their baby and get drunk, but about how people are visiting beer gardens in the middle of the day with their kids because it can be a comfortable social setting for both parents and children. Maybe the negative comments came from people who did not read the whole article, if you didn’t read it please go and read it – all of it.
The article started out talking about a first birthday party at a beer garden. I find big elaborate first birthday parties dress to be a bit much, but this is a fantastic idea. A first birthday party is also for the parents. The mom being interviewed says, “My daughter’s birthday was as much a celebration of us finishing our first year as parents as it was about her.” I think all parents can agree with that. That first year of parenting can be rough – breastfeeding, sleepless nights, diapers… so 
many diapers. Once that first year is over, parents deserve a party, too. So why not at a beer garden? I wish I would have thought of this when my boys turned one.
The article is also pro beer gardens hosting playgroups, stating that at one time beer gardens were family-centric spaces. Ever notice how beer gardens usually have “family style” seating? To me a playgroup at a beer garden in the middle of the week or on a weekend afternoon makes sense. The last time I stopped by my local pub (sadly no beer gardens in my area) in the middle of the week they weren’t very busy. Looking around at all the empty tables and the waitstaff waiting for customers, I’d imagine they are not making a whole lot of money at that time of day. It seems opening your business up to parents and kids is a great way to guarantee some money comes in the door. As the article states, “Moms are good business.” We sure are! I do understand the concern about loud or rambunctious children, which is why this is good for the middle of the day or a weekend afternoon when business is generally slow.
Here in Maine there is a pub in Portland that hosts a Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) event, the November event at Little Tap House was held at 2:30 on a Sunday. On a Sunday afternoon you’re not going to have a packed pub, so why not invite parents and their children in for a social hour? It’s a great opportunity for parents to get out of the house before bedtime, no sitter required. It’s also a great opportunity for the host establishment to interact with future customers who may come back for date night when they feel the kids are old enough to stay with a 
sitter. This is something my family would attend if we lived a little closer. It’s a great way to meet new people and have a couple things to talk about (children and beer).
I love the “Babies & Bier” idea so much I’m going to see about hosting a Maine Girls Pint Out one. It would be a great event during our long cold winters.
Jessica Lothian is the chapter head for Maine Girls Pint Out and the mother of two boys, ages 5 years-old and 18-months. You can reach her at Maine@girlspintout.org.