Hmmmm. Never heard of it, but it seems a little bit ... tacky? Low class? Trick-or-treating, at least in my opinion, is an activity for kids, and the adults who are supervising them should be doing just that: Supervising them. There are plenty of other opportunities (parties, bars) for adults to indulge in the festivities, where alcohol is appropriate.

We haven't participated by handing out candy in years, but did so last night. I was surprised at how many babies were taken door-to-door (yeah, like they're going to be eating the candy), and also had a few adults knock on my door with open bag in hand. (I will give them credit for at least being in costume.) One was an elderly woman who was so frail that she could barely make it up our two porch steps. Bless her ... I was only happy to give her a handful of chocolate!

I have a young friend who says that she became "that mom" at Halloween this year by yelling at a carload of teenagers who were driving too fast through the neighborhood. That's ok ... that's what parents are supposed to do while out with the kids.

I would assume that trick-or-beer is a joke. At least I hope so, but you never know.

Yes, babies, what is it about people taking them out on Halloween? My second group of the night was three adults, two women and a man. The man walked up on the porch carrying an infant - the kid wasn't even six months old and was sound asleep. I gave the man one piece of candy. Then one of the women standing at the street held out a bag and said there was another baby in the carriage. I smiled and said, "Oh, I love babies, let me see," and I walked down the steps and looked in the carriage. As I looked in and saw only a blanket, the woman said, "Baby gone, baby gone." Really, some people.

But then I had some of the most wonderful little princesses and Batmans and zombies who made it all worthwhile.

But then I had some of the most wonderful little princesses and Batmans and zombies who made it all worthwhile.

Absolutely. I had a group of 5 little boys - all close in age age (6-ish) with the same big, brown eyes and burr haircuts. And all with the same "vampire" paint on their faces. They squealed with delight when I asked them if they were "monsters" and their eyes grew big as saucers when they saw how much candy I was loading them up with. Gotta love that unbridled, youthful enthusiasm!

I've never heard it called that, and I've never seen an adult with a bag, but I will say that in my neighborhood at least 90% of the parents out with their children had adult beverages, and there are several houses that have wine and beer for the adults (Milk Bones for the dogs too!). It's a fun and festive atmosphere for everyone, and I promise we're not tacky or low class at all! ;)

Sorry - I didn't mean to personally offend anyone here with my "tacky/low class" comment, but I understand that it could be construed as offensive. I guess I just don't see anything beneficial about adults "boozing it up" when children are the primary focus. And if there are several houses handing out free drinks, chances are the adults are at the very least getting tipsy. My trick-or-treating days were long ago, but "trick or drink" was never a part of Halloween when I was a child, and I can't quite imagine what my memories would have been like, if it had been.

I'm not offended by this as long as the adults are aware of not drinking much, I remember a house offering small plastic cups of wine when I was accompanying my grandson a few years ago, it made the evening festive. I doubt tons of homes would offer liquor or beer, if only for the cost !

graywings, that woman "baby gone, baby gone" with the empty carriage, odd indeed...

It's an established tradition in my neighborhood....about the time the designated hours for trick or treat are over, some neighbors appear at my door, or I at theirs and say "Trick or Drink"....and we shut off the porch light, pour drinks and relax....since it's been a steady stream of kids since about 5 PM.

We had a block party before T or T started where wine and beer was served, but I never heard of giving out beer at the door. Considering the number of kids I get, I'd be broke handing out beer to their parents.

I'm hearing it's a tradition in some neighborhoods. I'm with SunnyCottage that kids should be the primary focus during the event going door-to-door and parents have a responsibility to be attentive during the evening so they maintain proper judgment. Like Lindac, I can see how when the kids portion is over it could be a nice adult wrap-up with wine or a beer.

In our town I would bet the parents are walking and driving with beer in hand. I'm the one who witnessed 3 school board members climb out of a vehicle on main street, toss beer cans in the adjacent pickup bed and then one take a leak on the tire. It's just wrong. I'm gradually distancing myself from community because it is becoming low class and tacky.

So I'm wondering, if we legalize marijuana will some adults then be going door-to-door with joint in hand with a marijuana party afterwards? It's a slippery slope and a poor example for our kids.

I'll agree that tossing empties and public urination is tacky and very low class. However, I don't think that drinking in front of children is setting a poor example. We drink, and I imagine that when they're of age, my boys will too. I see nothing wrong with them being exposed to responsible drinking. No one is getting "knee-walking" drunk. My boys are 8 and almost 6, so they don't really require that much supervision while trick or treating. Even when they were toddlers, I was perfectly capable of enjoying a cocktail or glass of wine while I watched them walk up to a neighbor's house for some candy. I think that children can still be the focus when alcohol is present. Most people offer beer and wine at children's parties here too. It's just not a big deal to me.

Trick or beer isn't done here, and I didn't see any adults without kids who could walk on their own. A couple of years ago I did see what looked to be a 10-month-old in her dad's arms... but he was coming to the door with his 3- or 4-year-old. And she was such a cutie: I told her that she could have two candies, and she immediately wanted to give one to her little sister.

The bigger kids who came to my door probably hit an upper age of 14, and they were all very polite and had costumes.

(SunnyCottage: do you know the elderly neighbor who came to your door? I would be concerned about her--it sounds like she needs real help.)

My old neighborhood had tons of kids and everyone knew everyone. During trick or treating it was common for the adults to walk around with a discreet drink. No one ever went door to door asking for beer or got obnoxiously drunk. The adults stayed in the street and the kids ran from door to door.

After trick or treating our group of friends would all go back to one house where we would eat supper, the kids would trade candy and the adults might have another cold one. It was lots of fun and I miss it!

Sovra, I have no idea who the elderly woman was. She was with a group though - several men, women, and a host of children. There was a little boy, who couldn't have been more than 3 years old, at her side. When he saw that she was moving very slowly up the two small steps to our porch, he took her elbow and "helped" her up. It was very touching! She obviously wasn't alone, though, as there were others hovering on the sidewalk who waited for her. She had on a long, colorful wig and although she was frail, still had a spirit of "I'm gonna have fun!" about her. Our neighborhood gets a big influx from outlying areas, so I saw a lot of folks last night I'd never laid eyes on before.

Before the troika of tragedy hit our area (9-11/anthrax/DC sniper) our neighborhood had a festive and delightful Halloween. Parades, pumpkin displays, fantastic movie-set quality displays, adults in costume, mechanical witches "flying" from tree to tree overhead... Children enjoyed their candy, and adults did stroll around with glasses of wine. It was charming and lovely. No one got blotto, no children were lost, and it was fun for everyone.

After 9-11 and the anthrax attacks, Halloween was much subdued. No displays or joviality, and smaller crowds. The following year, the sniper finished off the holiday for this area. Now very few people participate in the door-to-door trick-or-treating event. Last night we had 15 kids, probably the most since 2001.

Speaking of elderly women! LOL!
When I was a kid...like 11 or 12, my great grandma lived with us.
and after going door to door in the neighborhood, it was the custom to get in the car and drive to my grandmother's so she could see our costumes. And whoever I had been T or T-ing with went too....they all knew my grandma.
Well one year we got an idea and dressed up Great Grandma....she was perhaps an inch taller than I...or maybe shorter! She had on a mask and sunglasses over the mask, galoshas a hooded jacket and some sort of long robe.
Grandma couldn't guess who was "my friend"...Finally she asked, "do I know you?" and great grandma nodded....and got up and walked into the kitchen....the robe came open and grandma saw her legs and realized who it was! I can still hear her shocked voice say "Ma!?" LOL!
Good disguises are such fun!!

Good disguises are such fun!!

They are! One year on Halloween (many years ago), my ex was speaking with his brother, who lived in another state, by phone. Brother was busy making the final preparations for the party he was hosting at his house that night. Ex hung up the phone, and we started talking ... hatching a plan. We went out and bought alien masks that covered our entire heads and alien hands - these creepy gray hands with loooooong fingers. Well, this was after first calling the airline and buying round-trip weekend tickets to Brother's city, and arranging for a rental car. We dressed in turtlenecks and jeans, packed up our alien duds, and flew a few states over. We joined the party as it was in full swing. Nobody knew who we were. Brother was mystified, trying to figure out who the heck had just crashed his party. Our little ruse lasted a couple of hours, and then a woman who knew both my ex and his brother showed up at the party, took one look at my ex's rear end and exclaimed to Brother, "That's [your brother]! He's got a butt just like yours, and I'd know that butt anywhere!"

That was such fun! (And I'm glad I still retain at least a couple of good memories of my ex. ;-))