Good Neighbors Give Parents Drinks on Halloween

Two years ago, as my wife and I prepared for Halloween, we decided that children shouldn’t be the only ones to have treats. In addition to bowls of the “fun-sized” chocolate bars and sour candies, we stocked a cooler with an assortment of beers and hard seltzers for parents. 

About an hour into doling out goodies on Halloween night, a pair of costumed children and their plainclothes parents approached our door. My wife offered adult beverages to the grown-ups as I plunked a couple of Snickers nuggets into the kids’ plastic pumpkin bucket. 

The father’s face lit up. 

“YOU’RE the house!” he exclaimed.

Word had traveled fast throughout the neighborhood. We were the “cool” house. A couple of days later, I realized that another parent could have used those exact words as an admonishment. A mom or dad might have wondered why we would disrupt child’s play with booze. 

It made me think: Is it appropriate to hand out alcohol to the parents of trick-or-treaters? 

The context of community

To some people, an offer of alcohol to parents of trick-or-treaters works as long as it’s a trusted environment. 

“It can be perfectly fine in the right setting, but I think context really matters,” says Erin Hayes, co-founder of the Los Angeles-based Black Lagoon Halloween pop-up bar. “In a close-knit neighborhood where you know your neighbors and there’s an existing relationship or friendship, sharing a glass of wine, a beer, or even a festive Halloween cocktail can be a fun way to connect with fellow parents while the kids are out trick-or-treating. In situations where you don’t know everyone who’s coming to your door, or you live in a community that isn’t especially tight-knit, it’s probably better to skip it.”

Some parents feel that offering alcohol could foster a sense of community, whether it’s distributed to adults at the door or as part of a coordinated event, like a Halloween block party. 

“It takes a village to raise a child, so it’s important to get to know your neighbors,” says Anna Mains, trade advocacy manager for Brown-Forman. “Sharing alcohol can encourage adults to participate in Halloween activities, and since [some] adults may need a social lubricant, it could be the gateway to meet the neighbors and grow a community.”

Mains says that the inclusion of alcohol can make it a more inclusive family affair for parents, which can be important for those with older trick-or-treaters.

“My 11-year-old is hitting that stage where she’ll be saying things like, ‘Stay back, Mom. Ugh,” says Mains. “That’s why I can appreciate a house handing out a beer or a canned cocktail. When your kid doesn’t want you to be part of their activity, you can tell them, ‘It’s not all about you, kid. I’m getting my adult on.’”

Not every parent will accept the offer, but those who do could see the gesture as a reward for walking costumed children from door to door. 

“At the end of the night, the kids are going to be hopped up on sugar. That can fray the nerves,” says Gabe Sanchez, owner of Dallas bars Black Swan and St. Valentine. He’s also the creative director of fellow Dallas bar Midnight Rambler. “Something is needed to take the edge off. If you’re offering alcohol to the parents, you can win Halloween without dressing up.”

Striking the right balance

It didn’t take too much post-Halloween pondering to decide that we did a good thing. We know our community’s vibe, and the reactions of parents were appreciative and enthusiastic. So, we decided to repeat the practice the following year. 

It didn’t take long for parents to inform us that people a few houses down were handing out mini travel bottles of liquor. Whether it was an attempt to be the coolest house on the block is irrelevant. Someone else was attempting to step up their Halloween game. But are tiny vessels of straight-up spirits stepping over the line?

“Offering mini-bottles isn’t too smart,” says Mains. “If you’re choosing to hand out drinks, you need to be mindful of the [alcohol-by-volume]. You also need to remember that some adults may have driven a car to get to your neighborhood.”

Moderation and control should be guardrails around any plan that involves alcohol distribution. Even with these essential parameters, there can still be some leeway for some seasonal creativity. 

“We get the occasional cold snap down in Texas during Halloween,” says Sanchez. “While you shouldn’t be handing out 100-proof whiskey, it could be a nice time to serve a hot toddy or mulled wine.”

It can be smart to have a few options on hand for those that choose not to drink. “I would love to see people offering a nonalcoholic option,” says Black Lagoon’s other co-founder, Kelsey Ramage. “There are parents and guardians who don’t drink but would still like the treat. By offering something nonalcoholic, they get to choose something they are comfortable receiving.”

A trend that’s here to stay

This Halloween, we’ll once again load our cooler with an assortment of alcohol. We’ll steer clear of mini-bottles, but we may mix in some cans of low-ABV, ready-to-drink cocktails into the mix. As long as there’s an interest, we’ll be giving. 

It doesn’t feel like interest will wane anytime soon. “Handing out booze on Halloween isn’t going anywhere,” says Sanchez. “I’m Gen X, and people our age will want to keep this practice going.”

But will there be an interest in the future? After all, Gen Z’s conservative drinking stance is a dominant narrative within the alcohol business. Will they cling to that philosophy like a ghost in an abandoned sanatorium when they become parents of trick-or-treaters? 

“When Gen Z starts having kids,” says Sanchez, “they’ll turn into Gen X really quickly.”