I completely agree that kids should not be beaten like I was when I was a kid.
But the other extreme is equally wrong.
A kid should always know that the parent is CHOOSING not to hit the kid, but should never feel that the parent CAN'T hit the kid. There is a world of difference
I think that because of the over reaction of some child "protection" services that some kids are being brought up thinking that the parent can never even spank them.