Bringing Kids to Beer Bars

Not a puritan man, I actually have very liberal views. But I believe family time, at least while your children are still young, does not belong in a bar.

 

So it's wrong to take your kids for lunch at a brewpub where you can reasonably expect other families to be there, where families are welcome, where they have a kids menu and crayons to colour with, and a clean and brightly lit atmosphere? I mean, you already told some other poster it's fine to go to Founders - are they the only pub in your country fit for children? Are we just defining "bar" differently?

 

Jesus dude.

What do you know about poverty if your parents gave you everything? Is helicopter mom still hovering and wiping your ass to this day? Did your parents pick your major in college too?

Who says "going to a lesser school and earning less" equals a lesser quality of life? I am so sick of the attitude that money buys happiness. What is wrong with doing what you can afford? I would even go so far as to say paying for their own education might teach a young person the value of money and hard work.

Why not bring your child out to a brewpub for a meal with friends and be happy together, rather than forking over a bunch of money to a babysitter for a few hours and not spending quality time with your offspring.

Somebody get this threatening beast outta here... he's wrecking the lives of civilized adults who want to get drunk without the glaring eyes of a child....

 

Why would you want your child around a bunch of drunks? and what do you know about poverty and people who chose vices over their own opinions? Ever been to a third world country where they would kill to be homeless in america? And you can teach your child lessons about money and the value of hard work by showing them how much you sacrifice to provide the best for them. If you don't have the money for a babysitter you have no business being in a bar pissing your money away. sorry you are selfish, I feel sorry for any of your children as well.

 

I never said anything about founders. I believe children do not belong in a bar period. It sends the wrong message and the kids could get hurt.

 

Take my kids with ya

 

Well sir, you can sleep tonight without worry, I don't have any children.

I imagine most craft beer drinkers have a bit of restraint, and can drink responsibly in social settings. I typically don't see anyone getting completely pissed in the afternoon/early evening at many establishments here in Grand Rapids. Maybe dive bars, but my friends wouldn't bring their little dude to places like that anyway. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what places are kid friendly and what places aren't.

Anyway, I'm tired of your holier than thou attitude. I hope you don't sneer and scare the next little rugrat you see out and about in your beer travels.

 

you are true trusting. why risk it? How much beer is a child's safety worth? take your kids to chuckee cheezes not three floyds,

 

How am I supposed to get all hammered and sexually harass the bar *****s with kids around?

But seriously, if it is 9pm or after I would hope the children were gone. Any happy hour, at least at the bars I have been to over the years, is probably a bad place for kids to be. When I think "bar", I think of a place that is more known for being a watering hole than a place to grab some food and a drink. Just because a place serves some food, doesn't mean it is a family restaurant. Just because the the owners/management allows kids, doesn't mean kids should be there. I've seen some crazy stuff at bars. If I thought it was crazy, I can't imagine what a 5 year old would think.

 

What message does it send? That alcohol can be responsibly enjoyed as part of a good meal? Maybe it's better for the kids to learn that alcohol is something to get bombed on at the frat house.

 

I think that would be kind of creepy, taking a strangers children.

 

Chuck E Cheese would be way more terrifying than any bar. I'm still haunted by memories of going to Showbiz pizza and hiding under the table while the animatronic Gorilla stared at me...

 

lol alright man I didn't mean to insult you before. I'm sorry for that. We just have a difference in opinion. I will try to handle replies with a better attitude. U kinda saw the worst cause I was responding to someone that was very rude to me first. That's why I seemed like such a dick I guess. I'm really not a dick.

 

Cascade its pretty much encouraged to bring em to the bar. Who cares, as long as they aren't super loud, or the bar allows smoking, etc..

Infact most of portland is family friendly. I don't see drunk 12 year olds all over the place.

 

Well around here none of the craft bars serve there own food. See
The ale and the witch
World of Beer
The Independent
Willard's tap house

Now out of all of those I would expect to see kids at The Ale and the Witch outside in the courtyard because the share the courtyard with the other venues and restaurants around it which makes it a great place to pick up some food from one of the restaurants and have a beer from the bar. We get it you think your kids are shining golden statues who can do no wrong and need to be a your hip every moment of the day. In most of your arguments you mention taking the kids for food or dinner and here we are in agreement, if the place has a kids menu or food that kids will like by all means bring them and sit at a table away from the bar. Most of the places I frequent don't have food and offer absolutely squat to kids, and they are doing just fine. There is no hate going on here, we just prefer to not be around children when we are going out for a social evening.

 

I've seen kids in my local craft bar. The only time I've seen them there late instead of early evening was when their sibling was the musician for the night. The place has a surprisingly full menu, is non-smoking and fairly small. The very first time I went there was a family eating together. Caught me off guard a little bit, but I've gotten used to it. I can't say I'd take my child up with me, but that's more because he's 2 and I'm not a fan of taking him out to any restaurant at this point either.

 

I've seen it happen a few times around my area. Living in Northern VA, there seems to be a lot of people here who think they are entitled to do whatever they want with no regard for others.

In VA I believe there is a law that all establishments that serve alcohol must also serve food, so the traditional "bar" that people initially think of doesn't exactly exist here. The craft spot I frequently visit is actually a brick-oven pizza joint that doubles as offering a great selection of beers, so you get a mix of families coming for dinner and adults who are there mainly for the beer. It's a popular place and rather small inside, so it can get crowded very quickly during the evening hours. I've seen parents that will sit their kids at the bar to eat rather than deal with the long wait for a table. The bar does not have a ton of seating either, so seeing seats being taken up by kids that are just sitting there playing their hand-held games is pretty aggravating.

By no means do I mind kids sitting at the tables nearby while I drink at the bar, but parents should respect the fact that the bar seating is there for patrons trying to drink first and eat second. If you're there for dinner with your family, just wait for a table.

 

I assume that you would also expect patrons there to drink beer first to respect the fact that the tables are for the families and groups looking to eat and drink, and to therefore wait for a bar stool to open up?

 

Absolutely. I can't ever recall sitting at a table when my only intention has been to have drinks, and I believe the other beer-geeks I've become friends with there are the same way. In fact, later in the night after many of the tables have already cleared out, even if all the bar stools are taken most of us will still just stand at the bar area anyway. A lot of that has to do with the small community of craft enthusiasts in my town that enjoy commiserating with each other.

 

Cool. Was a serious question, and I appreciate your honest (and courteous) reply. Hope others here would do the same. Cheers!