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Walmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A “Family-Friendly” Book Promoting Alcoholism In The Kids’ Section
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Walmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A “Family-Friendly” Book Promoting Alcoholism In The Kids’ Section

“Daddy Likes Beer” Book Found In Walmart’s Kids’ Section, Upset Mom Takes It OnlineMom Mortified After Her 12 Y.O. Daughter Finds Book Promoting Alcoholism In The Kids’ SectionWalmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A 12 Y.O. Finds A Walmart Taking Heat When Mom Finds A “Family-Friendly” Book Promoting Alcoholism In The Kids’ SectionMom Horrified At 12 Y.O. Finding Book Promoting Alcoholism In The Kids’ SectionWalmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A Walmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A Walmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A Walmart Taking Heat After Mom Finds A
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Have you ever seen a random product in a totally different part of the store than where it belongs? Like, seeing candy in the frozen veggie aisle?

That, my dear Panda friends, is how you know that person made a choice. Sometimes I even rate these choices. For example, when someone trades in candy for literally anything else – that’s a win from me.

We don’t know if that’s what happened in today’s story, but according to this mom online, a “kids’” book entitled “Daddy Likes Beer” ended up where it should never be.

More info: TikTok

Things in stores can end up in random aisles and the consequences may be more serious than you think

Image credits: Mike Mozart (not the actual photo)

A TikToker by the name of Ashli vented about a dubious find: a book titled Daddy Likes Beer in the children’s aisle of Walmart

TikToker Ashli Ann found a peculiar book while shopping with her daughter and decided to share it with her audience. The book is titled Daddy Likes Beer, written by Milwaukee author Mike Lukaszewicz, who is a self-professed beer enthusiast, among other things.

From what we can gather, Ashli’s problem isn’t with the book itself, rather with how it’s placed in the store and marketed.

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Image credits: Mike Mozart (not the actual photo)

The book she found talked about how “Daddy” likes a lot of things, including beer and, seemingly, a copious amount of it

Image credits: ashliann0214

“What the hell, Walmart? Are you serious? Look”

“Donkey likes a dangled carrot, bunny likes to disappear, monkey likes banana smoothies, and Daddy likes beer. Froggy loves Princess, ducky likes her diving gear, dragon likes his meat well done, and Daddy sure likes beer.”

Image credits: ashliann0214

“Froggy loves Princess, ducky likes her diving gear, dragon likes his meat well done, and Daddy sure likes beer”

“Daddy likes a lot of things, tacos, power tools, all these things, ‘He likes to sit and cheer. He loves to dance with mommy. But, also, he likes beer.’ Lists off some beer, pour them in his cup.”

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Image credits: ashliann0214

“More beer: ‘Daddy drinks them up. Someone’s getting sleepy now, Daddy takes a snooze,'”

“Of course with his beer in his hand, because why not? Mommy picks up Daddy’s beer. Wow, Mommy likes beer too. The end. Are you freaking kidding me right now? I don’t even know what else to say.”

Image credits: ashliann0214

Ashli was aghast that this sort of thing was being marketed to kids, both in physical stores and especially online, listed as being “family friendly”

Image credits: ashliann0214

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Watch the original video here:

@ashliann0214 My daughter who watched the only father she knows battle with substance abuse pointed this out to me #wtfwalmart #substanceabuse #triggered #blowthisup #unacceptable #fathersdaysection #notajoke ♬ original sound – Ashli Ann

She doesn’t have a problem with the book itself, but says that it should stay far away from where kids could accidentally encounter it

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She found the book in the children’s section, which is her main beef with the whole situation. In another video, she countered a comment saying “it’s for the dads, not the kids” by showing Walmart’s website, where it’s described as a “family friendly” book, which parents can read with their kids, for example, before bedtime.

Image credits: ashliann0214

The contents of the book are simplistic drawings and rhymes, surrounding the titular Daddy and, well, his beer

Image credits: walmart

Ashli says that content like this can be triggering for both parents and children who have experienced substance abuse in their own families and many of her comments back her up.

People mention how sad the whole thing is, with the book being like a snapshot of what a child sees in a family where a parent is a substance abuser. Another thing they mention is that if it was any other substance, rather than alcohol, people would suddenly be up in arms.

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Image credits: walmart

On the other side of the barricade there are people who understand the book as a gag gift for adults and tear into Ashli for being easily triggered. She is quick to remind them that her problem is not with the book, but rather how it’s presented, which is critical here.

The drawing of dad “getting sleepy” and sleeping with a beer in his hand really is quite sad and less than goofy.

Image credits: walmart

The book has gotten a lot of attention, with many getting as upset as Ashli did, while another camp is saying “relax, it’s all good fun”

Since then, the book has gotten a lot of attention wherever it has been published, with 2.2 stars on Walmart’s site and 2.9 on Amazon. Again, there seem to be two distinct camps: one saying “relax, it’s just a joke!” and another pointing out that it is disgusting and inappropriate to market such literature for children. Children’s books marketed for adults are nothing new. You may even be aware of the wonderful “Go the F**k to Sleep” narrated by the famous Samuel L. Jackson. It’s got glowing reviews on Amazon – 4.8 stars from more than 22k peeps – but it’s also explicitly targeted at parents, jesting at the fact that kids sometimes just won’t fall asleep when you need them to do it the most.

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Image credits: walmart

It is true that a certain normalization of alcohol can have a significant impact on kids and their relationship with alcohol down the line

But it is true that normalization of alcohol and other substances is a glaring issue in society. Positive Choices emphasizes this fact that frequent alcohol consumption at home can lead to children normalizing this, potentially leading to problems with consumption later on in their own lives.

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Children looking up to their parents may imitate their behaviors, such as drinking alcohol to cope with stress, have fun or boost their confidence. Adults should take care to model responsible drinking if consuming alcohol, by avoiding getting drunk around young ones, taking a reprehensible attitude towards drunk driving, and showing them that you can have fun without a drink in your system.

Image credits: cottonbro studio (not the actual photo)

Let’s cap it off (wow, that’s a bad expression for an article like this). While the book is not that deep and perhaps not worth the rage it’s gotten, it shouldn’t be marketed for kids in any way, as substance abuse should neither be normalized, nor poked fun at around little ones, in order to avoid them developing a problematic attitude towards it.

What are your thoughts about the book? Share them below!

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Larsas Jaseliūnas

Larsas Jaseliūnas

Author, BoredPanda staff

Read more »

I started as a writer, but time came when I wanted more, so I learned how to do the visuals for my articles too, with the help of my wonderful colleagues. When I had the chance to become an editor, I jumped at the opportunity, because I know that it will be the best way for me to learn more and help out my wonderful colleagues in return.

Read less »
Larsas Jaseliūnas

Larsas Jaseliūnas

Author, BoredPanda staff

I started as a writer, but time came when I wanted more, so I learned how to do the visuals for my articles too, with the help of my wonderful colleagues. When I had the chance to become an editor, I jumped at the opportunity, because I know that it will be the best way for me to learn more and help out my wonderful colleagues in return.

Saulė Tolstych

Saulė Tolstych

Author, Community member

Read more »

Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

Read less »

Saulė Tolstych

Saulė Tolstych

Author, Community member

Saulė is a photo editor at Bored Panda with bachelor's degree in Multimedia and Computer Design. The thing that relaxes her the best is going into YouTube rabbit hole. In her free time she loves painting, embroidering and taking walks in nature.

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VastGirth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It literally says "Not for kids" on the front of the book.

Zedrapazia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only thing about this that confuses me is why it was in the kids section. The book itself seems to be a pretty funny gag

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Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Ashli says that content like this can be triggering for both parents and children who have experienced substance abuse in their own families..." JFC. If you're demanding to be protected from being reminded of the event that traumatized you, then you haven't yet dealt with your original trauma. Life is fücking traumatic. And unfair. Good people get hurt and bad people thrive. Deal with your trauma; don't expect all of society to walk on eggshells because you haven't dealt with your own shît. (And, yes, I have been a victim of someone else's addiction...my mother was an opioid addict. Avoiding the subject is not helpful to healing.)

Majungasaurus
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean for me it’s more about trying to avoid triggers to drink alcohol while I’m still in the more vulnerable early stages of recovery. This book would trigger me that way. I love beer too haha. I would certainly never get mad at anyone for this book though, it’s absolutely my responsibility to take care of. If someone else enjoyed this book, I’d never judge them. Just a second thought, not all of us who dislike this book are as extreme as that :) Avoiding the subject/your addiction doesn’t help forever, but distance can build perspective and strength.

Load More Replies...
LAS
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I reminds me of the Go the f*ck to sleep books, I read them to my son when he was a newborn, but as soon as he got to 6 months I stopped. It is definitely meant for the adults, not the kids, people are crazy to think otherwise.

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VastGirth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It literally says "Not for kids" on the front of the book.

Zedrapazia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The only thing about this that confuses me is why it was in the kids section. The book itself seems to be a pretty funny gag

Load More Replies...
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"Ashli says that content like this can be triggering for both parents and children who have experienced substance abuse in their own families..." JFC. If you're demanding to be protected from being reminded of the event that traumatized you, then you haven't yet dealt with your original trauma. Life is fücking traumatic. And unfair. Good people get hurt and bad people thrive. Deal with your trauma; don't expect all of society to walk on eggshells because you haven't dealt with your own shît. (And, yes, I have been a victim of someone else's addiction...my mother was an opioid addict. Avoiding the subject is not helpful to healing.)

Majungasaurus
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean for me it’s more about trying to avoid triggers to drink alcohol while I’m still in the more vulnerable early stages of recovery. This book would trigger me that way. I love beer too haha. I would certainly never get mad at anyone for this book though, it’s absolutely my responsibility to take care of. If someone else enjoyed this book, I’d never judge them. Just a second thought, not all of us who dislike this book are as extreme as that :) Avoiding the subject/your addiction doesn’t help forever, but distance can build perspective and strength.

Load More Replies...
LAS
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I reminds me of the Go the f*ck to sleep books, I read them to my son when he was a newborn, but as soon as he got to 6 months I stopped. It is definitely meant for the adults, not the kids, people are crazy to think otherwise.

Load More Comments
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