We were returning from camping today when my little boy needed to go to the toilet. So we pulled up at a local petrol station on the A21 and i asked if they had a toilet as my boy needed to go. They turned round and said, "no you cant use our toilet, there is one 2 miles down the road at a service station". My father-in-law said that they have to let him use their toilet as he is a young child, or any pregnant women. Is what he is saying correct?
If you owned some premises of any sort would you be happy being told that you "have to" let strangers use your facilities even if you don't want them to?
Your father-in-law is incorrect. There is no law compelling proprietors to allow use of their facililties by any group of people. The possible exception to this is motorway service areas. His views must be based on folklore.
The same happened to me, or rather my young step daughter. She was desparate for the toilet and when I explained this to the man in the petrol station and please may she use your toilet "No, we haven't got a toilet" came the reply. "Poor you" I said. Working for a multy billion pound company with a sea shell for a logo and there's no bog ? Sufficiently disgusted we went on our way and she used the cover of a bunch of bushes down the road. They've just lost a customer.
When I worked for the Post Office we were not allowed to let customers use our toilets. We were not insured for them incase they tripped or fell down the stairs. I did feel really mean at times when we had a crying child and we did once or twice let children use the toilets but we would have got sacked if caught.
Also alot of staff toilets are next to staff lockers etc and there is chance that a wallet or purse could go missing (not implying that you would Paul!!) but mostly it is an insurance clause that prohibts non staff members from using the toilets.