Lets just say, for argument's sake, that he really had no idea that something called "Mike's Hard Lemonade" was a "soft" drink. Then why would you give your child something without reading the label, much less the ingredients? It says exactly what it is, right on the label. He's too stupid to be a parent and too stupid to be a professor of anything.

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All parents do dumb things now and then. If the police thought it was a mistake, then it should be treated as such. If it was intentional, then I can understand him being placed in foster care.

I don't know what watching tv has to do with it though, I've never seen a commercial for it. And archaeologists drink too (they ARE people).

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and the "nanny state" strikes again!

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As a resident of SE Michigan, most likely where these folks are from, CPS has better things to do than chase this absurdity.

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Given that 85% of the mothers I meet have no idea that the Hornsby hard apple cider I drink is actually an alcoholic beverage, I have no problem believing this guy didn't know Mike's was either. If you just have a Bud every now and again, or a glass of wine here & there, you are not going to be up on all the varieties of alcohol out there.

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There are so many kinds of soda pop on the market I couldn't possibly know them all...and I do watch TV. The guy seeing a 'lemonade' product and giving it to his kid just doesn't match my definition of a delinquent parent. If the cops had to do anything about it they should have just told the guy what it was, and the guy would not have made that mistake again. Problem solved.

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"Hornsby hard apple cider"

With a name like that I figured it to have some Viagra in it.

Seriously though, I have to agree. I've seen people make that mistake numerous times. They don't exactly print big letters saying it's made with vodka or whatever the ingredient is.

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Ridiculous. I read the story, and the key point to me was that the "security" guy took the bottle instead of letting the parent take care of it. These petty authority figures are always so intent on being the king of their tiny little part of the world. I feel so much more secure knowing that Captain Lemonade is on the job!

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Civilized society has no place for harrassing innocent people with "I was just following the protocol" when common sense clearly dictates otherwise.

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Well, to me, common sense dictates the child's welfare comes first. Anything else is making excuses. That "petty" action may well have saved that child's life. Other children have not so fortunate. You gamble with your kid's lives, I'll err on the side of child safety. Seat belts were generally considered a foolish and wasteful interference once, too.

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Has anyone actually read the article and taken a look at the accompanying pictures? The sign at the concession stand simply read "Mike's Lemonade". If you're not much of a drinker yourself, and don't pay much attention to advertising, it's be perfectly reasonable to assume that "Mike's Lemonade" is regular lemonade.

I wonder if the Rent-A-Cop at the game realizes what a nightmare he's created for that family. I hope his power-tripping, arrogant attitude comes back to bite him in the ass one day soon.

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I could see a parent thinking it was lemonade.

After all is ginger ale an alcoholic drink? How about ginger beer? I was at a Jamaican store once and was about to buy ginger beer for my 9 year old but passed when I couldn't really tell if it was OK or not...

Does anyone really believe a parent would give their kid this in the wide open and invite such trouble? Meanwhile kids are getting their heads bashed in and DCF keeps them in unsafe homes.

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I've drank many of Mike's fine products before.
There's alcohol in them?

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And in some states it is legal to give your children alcohol.

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Thousands upon thousands upon thousands of children have the "nanny state" to thank for their lives. The safety of the child should be paramount in these situations. The idea is to act prior to the death or injury of the child, not after. We do owe all children no less than this.

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The point is not whether or not to do something, but WHAT to do. The security guard asked the guy if he knew it contained alcohol. That was plenty. The parent was surprised to hear it and tried to take action. It could have ended there with a lesson learned. But Captain Lemonade had already decided that he should be the one in charge.

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Seems to be an honest mistake. I drink regularly and I didn't know that Rock Star crap had alcohol in it til a few weeks ago. And the fact that he did it at a ball game should be enough to prove his ignorance, who the hell gives their kids alcohol in public?

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nick, everyone in the world except Americans.

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I tend to agree w/Leslie, as well as Nick. I feel especially angry and sad for this man's son. Can you imagine how frightened and confused he must have felt? Just more proof what one BIG MAN with a badge and (to much) authority can do to harm and tear apart a civalized member of any community. Maybe not now, or next week, or even next year, but hopefully what goes around comes around. The Dad, son and their whole family are forever trumatized by this horrific turn of events. What ever happened to "innocent until proven guilty"? I was born and raised in the 50's, when you could, compared to todays time's, depend and rely on people of authority to look out for the best interest of any human being. No, it wasn't a perfect society, however, this type of situation is so much more prevalent nowadays...and it is VERY SCARY! I remember when most people looked up to our police. Take a random poll and I think you will see the bigger percentage of young America does not trust them...or the many others who say they have our best interest at heart. I thank God I still believe there is enough fair minded, sympathic, and courageous people, with goodness in their hearts to stand up for the truly innocent men, women and children of our world. I just don't think I could bare it otherwise.

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The lesson to everyone is always read the LABEL!

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