UK Licencing Laws & Children

[stevebertie]

My son who is 6 months old was refused entry to a Pub on the grounds that he and myself were not purchasing food! At 6 months any person would understand that he would not eat anything but baby food. I was also refused entry to another pub on the grounds of the licencing act. My Son was very well behaved and was not making noise but still I was refused entry but offered drinks in the pub garden - it was raining heavily so I declined. What rights do I have under the current licencing act and can I take my son into a pub?

[Quizmonster]

As I understand it, a publican has the right to refuse service to anyone he/she chooses. Nor does he even have to explain why.

[MrsCheeks]

Yeps they can do that, and I have been refused 3 times because I had a baby with me. I have sat in the public bar with my baby in the pram outside the window before now lol ... friends were outside with her btw, so she wasn't on her own. If there is a lounge then you are allowed to take children in there, but again if the Landlord wants to be a pain in the rear he can. I got thrown out of the foyer of a military club because I had my 10mth old daughter with me. I was NOT in the bar area, not drinking alcohol cos I was 6mths pregnant at the time, but still the manager refused to let me wait there for my husband who needed to be driven home. The manager's reason for "removing" me? We are not in the habit of tolerating underage drinking - regardless of whether you have ID for yourself, your child IS under 18 yrs of age. it was the funiest thing ever.

[BenDToy]

I have every sympathy with those who find themselves in this position, however...! I get severely p'ed off with selfish parents who inflict their unruly offspring on me while they totally ignore them. I am not suggesting that the people here are like this, but I defend the right of publicans, and customers, to banish children of they so choose. Having children is a lifestyle choice, and there are certain things which you may have to sacrifice!

[shalforette]

the law is that children can be in a pub at the managers discression as long as there is a seperate room with no bar in it. these days these rooms are usually used as restraunts so if you are not eating you would not expect to sit there if you didn't have a child. if you go to family pub they will have the facilities you need.

[number8]

Ditto the last two posts - "normal" pubs are not the place for kids: family pubs, fine - but a pub is one of the last bastions of adultum (clealy not a word, but you get my drift). The last thing I want to see in a pub are kids. By the way, I have an eleventh month old so this is by no means the opinion of somebody without kids. Friday nights is my football night, and after we've played footie we retire to the club bar for a few pints - being a club, kids are welcomed, which is fair enough, but the place is always full of smoke, and I am constantly amazed that people allow their kids into that sort of atmosphere.

[archbishop]

The Licensee will also not be insured under Public Liability for anyone not lagally allowed to be there.

[dawnI]

Yep the law states something along the lines of 'all children under the age of eighteen can only enter the area of the pub where the actual 'bar' is if they are having a meal' to try and get around this at a friends pub I worked out a few years ago we used to ask people to buy their kids a small portion of chips for 50p even if they wern't going to eat them as it kept us legal. As my friend was a new landlord the local police were required to inspect him randomly and if the police found children there not dining he would have lost his licence. The law is so strict that even his seventeen year old daughter was only allowed into the bar area because she lived there and you had to go through the pub to get to the fron door (but she was banned from setting foot behind the bar until she was eighteen). Also even if you are having a meal there children under sixteen cannot step upto a bar to order even so much as a bag of crisps anymore, over the age of sixteen children can order a limited range of alcaholic drinks (beer, wine, ale, porter and perry) if purchased along with food. So yes it is stupid but don't blame the landlord its just the law, and boy is it strict.

[hally]

can a 16 year old serve alcoholic drinks in a public house

[shoot]

yes but only if on amodern apprentaship