Alcohol, candy don't mix - drinking was out of line
Bee Editorial
Halloween should have been a fun, family experience, but several families have reported their trick-or-treating adventure was disrupted by adults drinking openly in the streets.

One resident reported that a father was pulling children, and his beer, in a wagon. Other reports were of adults, with no children, walking around with coolers, drinking excessively and becoming rowdy.

Trick-or-treating is designed for children and their parents to go out for a couple of hours, shout out the famous saying, get some goodies and call it a night. Nowhere in that plan is alcohol necessary. Those who thought it was need to reevaluate your drinking habits.

To those who chose to take their drinking to the streets while families were out with their young children - you should be ashamed of yourselves.

What's next, kegs at little league games? Wine and cheese in the lobby of dance recitals? These are special moments for children - they only have a few years before they are susceptible to drinking. Seeing adults casually drinking in the streets only promotes "the coolness factor."

A mother who called The Amherst Bee said she has been actively teaching her children about drinking responsibly and that night some irresponsible adults took it upon themselves to set a bad example.

When did the hours of trick-or-treating become happy hour? There were plenty of opportunities to host a party for adults the weekend before, or after, Halloween - take your pick. But never should the celebration of the spooky holiday have been to party in the streets.

And even if there weren't children out and about, drinking in the middle of the street when it's starting to get dark out is plain stupid. All it takes it one stumble in front of a car to cause an unfortunate accident.

Children aren't allowed in bars for a reason, so don't take the bar to their night. We would say, "Imagine if you were out with your children," but unfortunately some of the drinkers were. It may be a cliche, but in the streets on Halloween night is not the time nor the place for drinking alcohol.

We wish that those guilty of ruining these families' nights could apologize but it's doubtful anyone will publicly come forward, admitting wrong doing. So next year, don't do it - plain and simple.

Parents have a hard enough time keeping their children out of trouble, teaching them to appreciate their age and not to grow up so fast. Don't intrude by introducing alcohol into their family events.