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LINDEN, Mich., (AP) - A superintendent says a Michigan teacher gave non-alcoholic beer to a classroom of fifth graders as part of a history lesson.

Superintendent Ed Koledo says the teacher allowed Hyatt Elementary students in Linden to sample O’Doul’s that was brought to school by a student to represent ale common in the 1700s and consumed at the time because of the scarcity of clean water.

Koledo says the teacher made an “inappropriate choice.”

The Flint Journal reports officials sent a letter home Friday to inform parents about what happened March 6.

O’Doul’s is advertised as non-alcoholic beer, but contains a small amount of alcohol. Liquor Control Commission spokeswoman Andrea Miller says giving O’Doul’s or similar drinks to minors can be prosecuted as a misdemeanor in Michigan.
http://www.wxyz.com/news/local-news/wat ... holic-beer

What was the Teacher Thinking ?

I would sue the beer manufacture for false advertising. Who cares if kids drink "beer" that does not have alcohol in it? I honestly don't see what the problem would be if it did have zero alcohol.

Am I wrong on this or is there some law I am missing?

Working IT in K-12 I see the politics. At the end of the day, you see an article here that grabs peoples attention but you'll notice at the end, there have been no charges. This is all just shit to get people riled up. As I see it, you have a progressive teacher that may or may have not informed administration of this 'stunt' but at the end of it all, the teacher will be thrown under the bus every time. Public education has no room for anything out of the 'norm.'

That's why it's failing, in my opinion. It can't adapt and is reduced to the lowest common denominator--not the students here--the parents.

i don't know specifics, but i imagine the teacher needs to have approval to provide any food/drink out of the ordinary. they are probably freaking out thinking the kids will project this beyond the classroom and go straight for dad's case of beer when they get home.

this reminds me of the candy cigarettes that have disappeared from store shelves. harmless, but put the idea in kids' minds about how cool cigs were. not saying i agree with punishing the teacher though. HT is right above...just politics and people playing with their spheres of influence that they have in their tiny lives.

The term "non-alcoholic beer" is one of those goofy regulatory terms in most states that does not mean no alcohol, but rather the level or % of alcohol contained in the beverage for tax and regulatory purposes. My guess is that the teacher didn't investigate the term and figured it was like giving the kids apple cider.

O'Douls is regular beer with most of the alcohol removed.

http://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/29/5727/