Beer to Schoolkids? (Yes, Really)
Back in the early 2000s, some Belgian schools took an interesting approach to tackling childhood obesity: Belgium served beer to schoolkids. Yep, you read that right. Instead of sugary sodas, students as young as three were offered a low-alcohol brew called tafelbier (or “table beer”), which contained 1.5–2.5% alcohol—much lower than your average pint but still, well… beer.
The Logic Behind the Lager
The idea wasn’t just some wild social experiment. It actually came from a Belgian beer society called the Limburg Beer Friends. Their president, Rony Langenaeken, had read a study linking sugary drinks to obesity and even breast cancer. So, in his mind, swapping Coke for a weak brew wasn’t just harmless—it was healthy. So Belgian thought they would try and server beer to schoolkids and see what the reaction was.
“Beer is for the whole family,” Langenaeken argued, explaining that he himself had been drinking tafelbier since the age of six. (Different times, right?)
How It Worked
The program was aimed at children between ages 3 and 15, and kids were given a choice between lager and bitter. The beer was served in small 25 or 33-centiliter bottles (less than a standard 12-oz can).
The first test run took place at the Lagere Gemengde School in Hasselt, and believe it or not, it was a hit. Around 75% of students reportedly preferred beer over soda.
Not Everyone Was Raising a Glass
Of course, while the kids were all about their lunchtime lagers, their parents weren’t so sure. The idea of elementary schoolers sipping on beer at recess didn’t exactly sit well with them. Critics worried that even small amounts of alcohol could make children rowdy, sleepy, or less focused in class.
And so, despite the positive response from students, no other schools decided to jump on board. The program quietly fizzled out, leaving Belgian kids to suffer through boring old juice boxes like the rest of the world.
What Does This Say About Drinking Culture?
While the idea of serving beer to schoolkids might sound shocking, it does highlight an interesting cultural difference. In some European countries, kids grow up learning to drink alcohol in moderation, rather than seeing it as a forbidden fruit to binge on later.
Still, you probably shouldn’t expect to see beer on American lunch trays anytime soon.