Bars: kid friendly or adults only?

Most of the places that I frequent have a "children welcome until (a certain time)." policy. That seems to work well.

The only exception is for the few bars that still permit smoking. Then, no kids are allowed by law (at least here in PA).

Children should not be prohibited from pubs; they should learn that alcohol is normal and not aberrant behavior.

 

My one year old has seen a few happy hours in her day....

 

My son has already been to more breweries at 3 years old that I had been at 35. Use your judgement.

 

By love, do you mean bemused sarcasm and snarkitude? If so, I'm with you.

 

Nothing wrong with that.

 

I think you need to decide in advance and then make it clear that you're primarily a place that is kid friendly or not. If you leave it a gray area then you're going to get people upset because they'll assume one way or another that it is, or is not an appropriate place for kids.

My own little advice - If you are kid friendly, at a minimum you need a kid's section on the menu and perhaps some sort of very cheap entertainment like crayons and paper, or crayons and a printed paper menu that has something to color, etc. That sort of thing is so common now that I think places actually stand out if they don't have it.

If you do promotional days and such, you could have something like a Tuesday is family night, where there's some sort of food promotion for kids with parents who purchase entrees. This not only speaks to the above considerations, but hey it also helps consolidate those families with kids on one particular night that is often otherwise not very busy. Or maybe weekdays 4-6 food special or something so there's incentive for the folks with kids to come early and be done and out of there before the prime dining/drinking hours.

Anyway, you not only want to convey that the kids are welcome, but it needs to be clear to the adult drinkers that this is the sort of place that they may find kids.

 

Fact is, I have been in many situations when adults have acted more inappropriate than kids. Specifically in bars. I grew up in a bar, if I ever have kids, they might not become as comfortable as me in one, but they will not be strangers. My nephew is already going to the bar my sister and I where brought to a lot (fourth generation). It is not a bad thing, and people need to realize there is a time and a place for kids in bars. The world does not revolve around one person, the same goes for kids in bars at odd hours, it should not be a free for all and a replacement for a babysitter. That said, my family would always go to the fish fry at our local bar on Fridays, usually with many other family members of out church. Sometimes we would go for the chicken fry on Sunday after church, you get it...good Catholics and all The bartender was one of my little league baseball coaches, and also later in high school I took a college credit coarse over the summer at the community college, and he was my teacher. I can go on about how my parents first met at that bar, it is a hole community, and I will always cherish that.

Our parents never got drunk, we never stayed late, and always disciplined. What is wrong with that?

 

Leave the damn kids at home. Especially if it's the bar area of the restaurant. I will use profanity if watching a game. I don't want screaming or have to dodge running rugrats on my way to the bathroom. Not that I like a place like Hooters (food sucks, NJ skanks work there) but I was there the other day and I was amazed at the number of kids there, younger than 12. WTF.

 

As I walked up to a local Pub (McNellies OKC) with my 6 y/o son, my girlfriend and her 12 y/o son tonight, I thought about this thread. I almost hesitated, remembering this thread, then I asked myself what harm is there in taking the kids in for a burger and having a beer or two myself? Maybe even a part of me chose to go there with the kids because of this thread, I'm not sure to be honest. I just know I wanted a good burger and a couple of beers, so we went there.

Turns out there was no harm at all in my decision. Despite all three stories of the place being packed there didn't seem to be any issue at all. The lower floor/bar area, is obviously not a common sense place to take the kids (here I go again with common sense, I apologize) so we waited for a table upstairs. Once we were sat we had a grand old time (sans crayons or a kids menu...wow, unbelievable right!) As I looked around I noticed quite a few other families with young children playing darts, talking, drinking beer, laughing and having what I would say is a pretty good, stress-free time. We played some darts too, and the kids loved it. There was even a toddler who had just learned to walk hobbling around, and that brought a smile to everyone's face.

I thought it was a positive that these youngsters were in an environment surrounded by beer, yet there were no stigmas. America needs more of this. By saying kids can't be around the adults who are drinking, we are teaching them there's something wrong with it. It's the irresponsible adults who can't hold their beer, or parents who can't control their children who are causing much of the problem.

Furthermore, most of the people that go to this establishment live within walking distance of the place, and probably don't see much reason in finding a sitter just so they can go get a beer or two and have a bite to eat. And as for the profanity that always seems to be mentioned in these discussions, cuss all you want. I'm sure the vast majority of kids 5 or older have heard FUCK more times than your rude ass can say it anyway, and just think you're making a fool of yourself because you can't control your language and get along with others.

I guess the takeaway here is that I'm so glad a lot of you haters weren't at this pub tonight, because you would've ruined it for everyone.

 

I find that "adults" who can't handle their drink and don't know how to behave in public annoy me more than kids.

 

Mine aren't perfect, but seem to understand if they wish cooperation from the parents on later issues, they needed to play ball. My kids missed out on some cool stuff, because they chose to break the rules. Now three year olds, that time frame I don't remember going out too much with our oldest...

 

Not to state the obvious, but unless you are having a kid's sleepover, your home would be a "sanctuary from other people's children".

 

Much like a dog, leave them at home. Otherwise, I know Chuck E Cheese has Bud Light on draft & they have "live music" by their house band every night, playing the same tired classics in a most stiff & stale manner.

 

Adults only. If I wanted kids around me when I drank I'd have become a teacher or a clown.

 

Love taking my kids everywhere but don't think they belong in a bar. Lot's of people go to pubs to get away from the noise at home (whether it's kids, stress, whatever). I don't want to add to that.

 

This is ridiculous. Kids are obviously welcomed in brewpub, restaurant type places- at least by the owners who make more money that way. Some of these places are so big you have no idea who is there anyway. And not welcome at the corner tavern.

 

Past like 7-8 get the kids out of there. I get that most are also restaurants, and kids should be able to eat a meal there. But the last thing I want is some 10 year old hanging out at a bar when I'm out late.

 

Don't go to bars often but when I do it's usually with my kid. He's very well-behaved.

He's also 32.

 

Not commenting good or bad but... My wife and I just did a beer-cation in the Denver area and went to many brewery tap rooms and bars. After a while we noticed a trend and started to note it... almost every place we went had either babies or dogs (never both). Go figure.

 

Ok I'll be that guy.


A dingo ate my baby.