I dont think its the right thing to do...we were out at the beach the other day when DD bent down and dug something out of the sand...i was horrified when she handed me a ciggarette butt. I washed her hands right away and thought ' thank goodness she didnt put it in her mouth''
With out getting too personal about the mother herself, it seems clear that she thinks this is an acceptable thing to do, which i think speaks volumes about her own up bringing, her lifestyle choices and the things she will project as normal for her child as he grows up.

I have seen mothers like this myself. I worked in a pub about 7 years ago before i came to OZ (from the UK) and i witnessed a mother give her child, who was about 2 years old a 1/3 full bottle of 'reef' drink (an orange vodka alcopop) I thought she must not know its alcoholic and rushed over as the toddler was drinking the alcohol from a staw...i told her it was alcoholic and she told me to F off!! she knew that and it was his treat for being good while she was at the pub...only a few mouthfulls...never does him any harm. I couldnt belive any mother would find this an acceptable thing to do. She was asked to leave. I often think of that little boy and wonder what has become of him i alway thought, what chance does he stand when thats the world he thinks is normal!!