The refusal by a pub to serve a child a soft drink in a champagne flute on New Year's Eve has been branded as 'ludicrous'.
A manager of a pub in England reportedly refused to serve the five-year-old, who was there with their family, as it could "encourage her to drink alcohol".
Wine consultant Rosamund Hall told Moncrieff she believes the pub went too far.
"It just struck me as utterly ludicrous," she said.
"I've actually been a publican for many years as well prior to my current roll.
"I've been in a very similar situation, I've had families come in.
"I think that environment where children and families are together and they might be having a little toast together is actually a really positive thing.
"I think it can show good role modelling as opposed to this scathing judgement by the manager there."
'A point of moderation'
Ms Hall said children learn from the behaviour of parents at home.
"We model our behaviour and hope our children pick up on the best aspects of that," she said.
"Obviously when it comes to alcohol consumption in the home that's all part of that.
"I think we're looking at an extreme there, as opposed to... looking at a point of moderation.
"If a child is growing up in an environment where there is alcohol being consumed, but that perhaps is part of a meal... you're likely to have some very positive outcomes from that modelling."
A barman gives a non-alcoholic cocktail across a hotel bar in November 2018. Image: Евгений Вершинин / Alamy Stock PhotoMs Hall said this may not be the case in homes where alcohol is abused or used as a stress reliever.
"It's not normalising it and suggesting all children should go drinking at the age of 14 - but it's saying if you enjoy it responsibly, in moderation and with food, that's something that's probably going to have a much longer-lasting impact and a healthy relationship".
Ms Hall said we do not have the same relationship as Mediterranean countries.
"I'm talking about France, Italy, Spain, Portugal: it is very much based around food," she said.
"I think here in north-western Europe, we don't necessarily have that same reaction.
"We very much see it as something that you drink on your own quite often not with food.
"I think when you have a shared environment, where generations are coming together, cooking delicious food and having local wines, it's very much viewed in the culture.
"It's not that same way in our culture, I don't think," she added.
Ms Hall said the approach in north-western Europe is likely to lead to children drinking to excess and not understanding the impacts on their long-term health.
