A bar owner in Minnesota was convinced by one of his friends to install a pregnancy test dispenser in the women's bathroom at the bar because he thinks it will stop fetal alcohol syndrome by making women who think they might be pregnant from having a drink. I'm not sure if that is going to really work. Do you think it would stop you? Your significant other?
I think its a nice sentiment and maybe be a reminder to a. not drink pregnant, b.hey guess what can happen when you have unprotected drunk sex...make the guy wear a condom.
ReplyDeleteBut I dont see it having any big impact in peoples choices.
Yeah - I think condom machines in both bathrooms would be better.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
DeleteA condom dispense right next to the pregnancy test machine would be perfect.
ReplyDeleteAre they cheaper than they are at the drug store? I would go to the vending machine to get them if they were. I remember getting condoms out of vending machines in bars because they were easier and cheaper, than buying them at the drug store.
ReplyDeleteInsulting.
ReplyDeleteThey aren't*
ReplyDeleteThis strikes me as rather sexist and condescending, even if the guy means well. I agree with you guys - condom machines and a funny, catchy sign advocating safe sex in both restrooms would be so much better. Let's not stop with bar restrooms, though. Thailand has always come up with catchy ways to get out the safe sex message through their media instead of shaming women via old, white patriarchs.
ReplyDeleteImagining the scenarios of a woman deciding, after several shots, to take a pregnancy test in a dive bar restroom. Would they come out and announce to the entire bar if it came back positive?
ReplyDelete"Next round is on me AND my baby!"
My grocery store has pregnancy tests in the dollar aisle. For 98 cents. Apparently, not an expensive item to manufacture!
ReplyDelete@Cornbread - LOL!
ReplyDeleteWal-mart has 88 cent pregnancy tests in a big bin with the 88 cent aspirin and cough syrup... Every time someone buys one of the pregnancy tests (or in the case of one woman, 20) I have to bite my tongue while checking them out. Seems like one of the things you should spend a little extra on to make sure it works.
ReplyDeleteWhat Nellie said! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I understand what they're trying to do, but I'm not sure just how well it's going to work; putting in condom & other OTC birth control vending machines is much better. Surely someone out there can come up w/a catchy ad campaign?...
Megan, actually I've read theyre all basically the same quality, its just not all fancy schmancy. Probably just the basic strips, and you provide your own cup
ReplyDeleteLet me get this straight. He expects every woman of child-bearing age who drinks to do a pregnancy test every night before she orders a drink?
ReplyDeleteThat's ridiculous. Americans are way too hung up on drinking during pregnancy. My mother drank through all her pregnancies and smoked too. We all turned out healthy. A significant percentage of the women in her generation did.
FAS is unlikely to be caused by non-binge drinking in the two weeks before a woman realizes she's pregnant.
I don't have or want children, and I have no stake in this game. I think it is crazy that women are now expected to not touch alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, etc. for nine months.
The medical establishment recently relented and said that a drink or two per day would not harm the fetus. The immediate reaction from the American Taliban? Well, it can't help, so a responsible mother should just not drink. If a woman chooses not to drink, good for her. But let's stop the shaming of woman who order a glass of wine while pregnant.
The embargo on drinking started in the late 80s, so if it were going to produce significantly healthier babies or young adults, the evidence would be there by now. It isn't.
/rant.
Would you rather have the test in there or have someone with less common sense take the risk and possibly ruin a child's life? If you have enough common sense to not drink in the off chance that you might be pregnant, this service does not apply to you. It's kinda like putting in the condom machine. Do you think guys get insulted because the bar owners is insinuated all guys are dumb enough to not wear one? He's just providing the service for the percentage of dumb-dumbs that aren't prepared.
ReplyDeleteAnd they aren't forcing woman to do it, they're just saying "Hey, in case you're in doubt, better safe than sorry"
ReplyDeleteI don't drink.....but maybe.
ReplyDelete@Meghan....actually the dollar ones from dollar gen are just as legit as the $20 ones.
And besides, maybe the people are wise enough to begin saving already. Don't judge. Especially on such stupid sh*t. No matter that you're in Wal-Mart to begin with.
I really don't understand this obsession with pregnant women and fetal alcohol syndrom. Alcohol is at it's most dangerous when plenty of women don't even know they're pregnant. What do they want?? Do they want all women to take a pregnancy test before serving them a drink???
ReplyDelete@Megan
ReplyDeleteThat's why I like to get my birth control out of vending machines! I remember buying condoms at Costco and the clerk winked at me!
I bought an expensive ($10) home pregnancy test last week at Target and the girl said: "I hope it's congratulations." WTF? Do I really need commentary about my reproductive life from clerks?
Give me the anonymous vending machine any day.
I HATE when cashiers comment to me on something I'm buying.
ReplyDeleteI don't see the people who probably need this kind of test being the kind of people who would actually take advantage of it, unfortunately.
It really amazes me how dumb men think pregnant women are. It's like the genius who invented the "expectant mother parking" spot at Target. If a woman is too fragile to walk an extra 20 yards to a parking spot, maybe she shouldn't be carrying a baby.
ReplyDeleteFYI: I always park there anyway, and I will until I'm 90. I dare someone to ask me if I'm pregnant.
I like the courtesy of the expectant mom/mom with toddlers parking spot. When I was pregnant and my skin stretching to accommodate, yes it really was uncomfortable walking those extra 20 yards without having to sit and rest a bit. I guess that makes me someone who should not be a mother, right? Wow.
ReplyDeleteI like the tests in vending machines. Who cares where they're placed. Saying it should be condom machines is good too but it basically misses his point.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm mad that I spent $15 on one at the store the other day! 88¢? Damn!
ReplyDeleteIf you think you're pregnant...isn't it common sense that you shouldn't drink until you're sure you're not?
ReplyDeleteBut then again, common sense is no longer exercised in this country.
I was on bed rest from 31 weeks on with my second kid. When I had to go out, I could barely walk into the store and sit in one of those embarrassing electric go cart deals. So, yeah, those parking spaces are incredibly valid. And I looked "normal" too, not excessively heavy or anything else to give a visual clue to my condition (like lots of people with handicapped placards, btw).
ReplyDeleteAnywhoo, I'm ok with this pregnancy test vending machine, as long as you don't have to pee on a stick and show the evidence to buy a drink!! Hell, I don't care if they want to sell candy bars or pencils or bumper stickers in there, too.
Oh, and clerks need to shuttie when they check you out, or somebody's going to shut their mouths for them someday! Common sense and courtesy, people!
ReplyDeleteI used those dollar store tests with both of my pregnancies, and they worked just as well as the expensive ones. Much easier on the wallet when you are testing every month.
ReplyDeleteThank god there are men out there to watch out for us silly women. Who knows what kind of stupid decisions we might make if they didn't keep us in line?
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I don't think binge drinking when you might be pregnant is a good idea, the fetus does not rely on the mother for nutrients until about two to three weeks after conception. So if you haven't missed your period yet, you're probably fine to have a couple beers.
What Jamie said.
ReplyDeleteI drank alot before I found out with my kids and they are both above average in the smarts and looks department.
My OB told me not to worry about that first month at all.
A man totally thought that vending shit up.
And it's got a plant on top. It can't hurt, and there should definitely be condom machines in there as well.
ReplyDeleteI read an article online just the other day which said the dollar (or less) pregnancy tests have been proven to be as accurate as the more expensive ones.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I was recently in one of those stores where everything costs a dollar, and they had drug tests to test for marijuana for a buck. I bought a few to give out as gag gifts at Christmas.
The dollar pregnancy tests are basically the same as the one they use in a clinic lab to test with urine.
ReplyDeleteNo fancy box, digital indicator, no advertising keeps costs down.
I got a positive result 7 days before I missed my period so they are pretty accurate.
I had absolutely NO idea you could get pregnancy tests at the dollar store...to think of how much money I've been wasting! Man, you guys have really enlightened me, thanks. :)
ReplyDeleteMen probably thought up all the fancy packaging and digital read outs for home pregnancy tests, too.
total buzzkill.
ReplyDelete^ I think that's the point.
ReplyDeleteNow if someone could just invent reverse beer goggles and install them in bar restrooms...
ReplyDeleteIf you think you could be pregnant you shouldn't be stepping into a bar in the first place. My mom drank and smoke during her pregnancy and I was a month premature. Some babies don't even make it that far.
ReplyDeleteI don't think alcohol in pregnancy is a bad thing. Just extreme moderation.
ReplyDeleteFunny thread. I like you weekender CDANers. :)
ReplyDeleteMy friend swears by the dollar store tests. I will definitely check it out when and if that time comes...
ReplyDeletewondering how much the test is in the bar...thinking this guy should go to walmart stock up on the 88cent ones and really watch the profits. i bet people will buy them just to say they did.
ReplyDeleteIt would be best if there was a condom machine too. Before and after.
ReplyDeleteI think its just meant as reminder.
Ahh, the knowledge I acquire reading CDAN. It's so much more than just a celebrity blog. ;)
ReplyDelete