With summer just around the corner, many of us will be looking forward to enjoying a beer or two in the sun.
But parents who get too drunk while in charge of their children could actually be arrested or even face jail.
Under an old law, it is illegal to be drunk in charge of a child in a public place, the Mirror reports.
Under the Licensing Act 1902, the law forbids people being drunk on a highway, public place or any licensed premises while in charge of a child under the age of seven.
And anyone found to have had one too many can be punished by a fine or face up to a month in prison.
Last year, Russian billionaire heiress Nicole Ovchinnicova was cleared after being accused of going on a 17-hour binge while looking after a child.
Solicitor advocate Joy Merriam argued there was no way to determine how drunk a parent is, but the key issue is around safeguarding.
Mrs Merriam said that parents of young children should be fully alert in order to protect youngsters from physical harm.
She added that if a parent was arrested on suspicion of the offence, it would likely be dealt with by social services rather than the Crown Prosecution Service.
This means actual convictions are unlikely.
While the law in question is specifically about being drunk in public, the NSPCC pointed out parents could also find themselves in trouble for having too many at home.
A spokesperson for the NSPCC said: "Nobody is saying 'don't enjoy yourselves', but just use common sense when looking after children.
"Drink in moderation and always make sure you are in control."
