I don't see any problem at all, ever, with a glass or two of wine or whatever.  If it turns into a bottle or two, then you might want to think again.  But wine with dinner?  Sure.  A couple of beers here and there?  Absolutely.  These people who get all aghast at someone who would DARE drink ALCOHOL in front of THE CHILDREN are really really missing the point.

I think the bigger deal that is made out of it makes it more attractive to a rebellious kid.  My parents were very liberal in their attitudes toward drinking and drugs and as a result, I never really had any urge to go overboard with either.  Of course, they were extremely unforgiving of my underage-drinking-hangovers and on many occasions I was rousted out of bed by my mom banging on pots and pans.  That was a good way of teaching me that there were consequences!

I think if we parents are responsible role models for our kid, she'll be okay.  As long as we are open and honest with her about the things we do and the things we expect from her (no riding with someone who's been drinking, etc) and let her know that if she gets caught doing something she KNOWS she shouldn't she will have to live with what happens, she will hopefully be all right.

I don't understand why the rules are any different for parents than they are for childless people.  If you're alcohol dependent or your personal life suffers because you don't know when to say when, does it really matter if you have kids?  I mean, I sure wouldn't want anyone's alcoholism to have more victims than it already does, but how does being a parent change the nature of the disease?  I think that as a society we're just more likely to  punish mothers for acting like adult women.  The fact that I have kids and I drink doesn't make me any more likely to be an alcoholic than I was before the kids came.

So, to the Q&A:

So what about you?

Me, I'm a drinker.

Is it okay to unwind over the weekend (or, hell, on any evening) over a glass or two of wine?

It's practically a requirement in this household.

In front of your children?

Hell yes.

Does that make a difference?

Well, it is easier to keep their grubby little fingers out of my glass after they've been put to bed, but I have no problem having a drink in front of them.

When does it become "too much?"

When I know I'm going to feel like shit in the morning.

Where do you draw that line?

I guess I don't feel like I have to.  I don't feel that our family life suffers at all from our love of wine.

And is the line the same for yourself as it is for other people?  

I don't know.  I've never asked other people.  I guess if I was out at a birthday party and I saw one of my friends tanked up in front of their kids I might ask them what the hell was going on.  But so far that hasn't happened.

What message do you want to send your kids in terms of responsible use of alcohol?

They're a little young right now.  But in the future I have no problem telling them that there is a reason that this country has a legal drinking age.  And once they're into the double digits, if they ever want to taste wine I think I'll be happy to let them.

Is it even an issue?

Like I said, not yet.  But in the future, who can say?  

Is it okay to unwind over the weekend (or, hell, on any evening) over a glass or two of wine? Absolutely

In front of your children? Does that make a difference? Sure we drink in front of him (not that he cares right now, but we will when he's old enough to know it's alcohol too).

When does it become "too much?" Where do you draw that line? Well, I'm fairly intolerant to alcohol so any more than 2 glasses of wine makes me extremely ill. But I would say when you cross the line to tipsy or drunk and you are responsible for your child. If your partner is "designated parenting" then it's not that big a deal if you get drunk once in awhile. But that I would say not to do in front of the kid, because it might be scary.

And is the line the same for yourself as it is for other people? Well, if they're on the job (like I'm paying them to watch my kid) they shouldn't drink. Otherwise, sure.

What message do you want to send your kids in terms of responsible use of alcohol? Is it even an issue? Um... a glass of wine is tasty with dinner. If you drink, make sure you're somewhere safe, someone is looking out for you, and nobody is driving.

This question has been interesting me a lot lately too, because I'm just recovering my UMPH back from my first, who is 1 month old now! Yes, I'm breastfeeding, so that also factors in. But assuming I have pumped milk available in case she needs to eat while i'm still tipsy, can i have a couple of drinks when we go out to dinner (with the baby)?

Because I still feel as conspicuous and judged as I did when I dared to have a glass of wine at a restaurant while pregnant.

The boyfriend and I are already eagerly anticipating and planning a night with a babysitter, tequila shots on 6th street, and SEX! woohoo!

And who deserves it more than us!?

Parents should drink responsibly in front of children. They will learn from the example you set (they pick up so much more than you even think they will!).

Have a drink or two or three? Sure, no problem. This of course depends on your tolerance. If you have a low tolerance you simply drink less. If you have a higher tolerance, you can drink more.

If the kids have gone to bed and there is another responsible adult in the house, can mom or dad have a few more? Don't think it's a problem.

(FYI: My perspective - my dad was a raging alcoholic and my mom never took a sip of it and hated it, understandably.

I fall in the middle. I rarely drink and don't think much about it either way and have never been drunk, though I have been slightly buzzed a couple of times.)