Kristen Bell isn’t afraid to share the controversial parenting choices she makes. The actress was recently on The Kelly Clarkson Show and revealed that she lets her kids order nonalcoholic beer when they go out … but she swears that there’s a very intentional reason behind her choice.
Kristen pointed out that context is important when it comes to this story.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Kelly Clarkson Show (@kellyclarksonshow)
“My kids have ordered nonalcoholic beers at restaurants before, which sounds insane if you don’t know because context is important, we’ve learned that over the last few years,” Kristen told Kelly .
She then went on to further explain what she meant.
“My husband and I — when we walked the babies at night in our neighborhood, when my daughter was really little — he is a recovering addict but he likes nonalcoholic beers so he’d pop one open, he’d have her on his chest and we’d walk and look at the sunset, so as a baby, she was like, pawing at it, and sometimes, she would suck on the rim of it,” she said.
Drinking the beer is something comforting for her girls.
Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty Images
Kristen explained, “I think it feels, to her, like something special, something daddy’s, something family.”
“So we’ve been at restaurants where she said, ‘Do you have any nonalcoholic beer?’ and I’m like, ‘Maybe we just keep that for home,’” Kristen said jokingly.
Kelly chimed in to make Kristen feel a little more comfortable about the revelation she just made. “When in your own family, you’re like ’this is normal.’ But then you go outside and you’re like ‘so maybe that doesn’t track as healthy.’”
Kristen is well aware she’ll get judged for this.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by The Kelly Clarkson Show (@kellyclarksonshow)
Kristen seemed to shrug off what other people may think, which is probably for the best.
“I’m also sort of like ‘you can judge me if you want, I’m not doing anything wrong,’” she said.
There are truly worse things to worry about.
Of course, people are going to talk.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell)
“Love you ladies but non alcoholic beer has alcohol in it,” one person pointed out. “Up to 3%.”
“Alcohol-free beer is not 100% alcohol-free there is a tolerance limit of 0.03-0.5% residual alcohol!!!!” another person shared.
Thankfully, not everyone was so judgmental.
View this post on Instagram A post shared by kristen bell (@kristenanniebell)
There were also people who came to Kristen’s defense, sharing their own experiences.
“My kids drink ‘kids beer’ apple cider,” an Instagram follower shared. “They will ask for kids beer. We always explain. Or grandma’s beer is wine so they get the stemless wine glass with grape juice. Cause grandma uses a stemless glass.”
Another commented: “I’m with you girls. You do you. You’re not doing anything wrong!! Parenting is hard. As long as your kids are safe and loved!!”
