Bringing Kids to Beer Bars

I don't take my kids to "straight-up" bars. I'll only bring them to places (pubs, etc.) where food is being served and children are welcome.

 

Couldn't agree with you more. My sister-in-law took my daughter to McDonald's once, and she hated it. She does, however, love the food at Russian River and Aleworks. And is well behaved as well.

My rule for kids in a drinking establishment is this: if there's a kids menu and it doesn't say 21 and over only on the door, you're good to go.

 

As someone who practices primarily criminal defense, let me offer up some realities for you:

Estimates seem to be in the 20% range, for our children being abused (physical/sexual/emotional etc. . . )during their childhood.

I'd say 95% of the time a child is abused, it is by someone that a parent trusts.

Fight child abuse. Take your child to the bar.

 

My nephew from Illinois brags to his friends in kindergarten that he gets to go to the tavern with his cousins, uncles and grandpa when he visits Wisconsin. In other words, I'm cool with it.

 

This attitude is depressingly common in this country, but it's still almost incomprehensible to me. A crowded bar on a Saturday night in a busy part of town? No. Fine. No argument there. A dance club with loud music? Same, but irrelevant because we're talking about beer bars here. A shitty local dive (I mean legit dive, not retro chic kind of thing). Again, same but not applicable.

But "Period? Ever?" What could possibly be the justification for that?

There are potential side benefits too. Like, a kid seeing first-hand what it means to enjoy alcohol responsibly.

 

I don't have kids yet, but some of my friends do. I think people are way too uptight about this. I have fond memories of being taken to the bar as a kid, to see my dad play in various bands. My parents were of the opinion that if they wanted to do something, we were coming too. This included any camping, traveling, etc... My brother and I were really well behaved, I think partly because of the way my parents treated us. The only time we were at the babysitter was if my parents were working.

I think many people are of the opinion that life has to end when you have children. Screw that. My best craft beer drinking buddies happen to have a 1 1/2 year old. Since he was born, he has been coming to local breweries with us. (First strapped to dad's chest, now he sits on his own and draws or eats or toasts with us.) He behaves well the majority of the time because he is used to the environment, and guess what, if he starts throwing a fit mom or dad brings him home.

Obviously it depends on the brewery/bar and the environment. But many breweries are kid friendly. Founders is very kid friendly during the day around lunchtime. At night, not so much. Hell, half the time I'm at Brewery Vivant someone from the staff or married to the staff is there with children. I think as long as you aren't endangering the child in some way, there is nothing wrong with it. Just remember to leave or go outside if your kid becomes a brat.

 

If there's food served, absolutely. In only one case will I take them to a bar that doesn't serve food - the bar one block away where we're friends with the owner and all the bartenders.

 

What if you lived in a jurisdiction that banned indoor smoking? Would that change your mind?

 

Adults getting drunk and fighting at Chuck E Cheese is a big issue, apparently.

EDIT: forget the link: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122878081364889613.html

I wouldn't take my kids to an actual bar, but I've found that brew-pubs and restaurants that focus on good beer are actually among the best places to take kids - they tend to cater to a demographic that's in the age range that have young kids. Mine have been at numerous restuarants/brewpubs/wineries/etc without any issues.

 

Nice to know you don't want some other kid growing up with fond memories like yours. Seems a little petty.

 

Apparently the only reason to go get a beer is to get smashed drunk, curse, and act like a loud obnoxious a-hole for some BA's. Call AA.

Hilarious that same loud, obnoxious a-holes are uptight about kids making noise.

 

I have no problems with kids in bars as long as they behave and parents keep an eye on them.

 

So a parent shouldn't bring their child because it affects your experience, but it's ok for you to dictate to a parent what their experience should be like?

It seems to me that whether children are allowed in the bar or not should be up to the owner of the establishment, and that no one else has the right to make that rule.

 

Yep. Law first. Owner's opinion second. All that matters =) If the horrible sight of a child bothers you, you can leave.

 

My friends have met me at World of Beer with their son. He's about 3 and quite well behaved and we have always gone late afternoon during the week so it won't be that busy. My girl is pregnant and i am hoping that when we have our little one we will be able to go when he is about 2 or 3

 

No. Let adults have their places to hang out without kids. And keep kids out of Vegas too!

 

As a childless and commitment-fearing young man, I say that I agree with you. If a child is well behaved, if the parents are good parents and correct the child accordingly if they act up, if they keep the child occupied and amused and happy throughout their meal - I have no problem with a child in a bar. Particularly if the parents and child are all eating. I see nothing wrong with a child seeing their parents consume alcohol responsibly in the context of a meal. As a matter of fact, I think it's better for the child to be introduced to alcohol in that kind of context rather than learning about it from Bud Light commercials.

I do think dragging your kid along to the bar so you can get bombed without abandoning them is kind of sketchy though. Then again, that would be sketchy if they did it at home. The setting really isn't what makes it wrong.

 

Certainly not what I do. A 12PM lunch @ Toro with a pint of one of their awesome 39+ taps makes for a great lunch with the family.

 

Are you having more than one beer with dinner? If so... leave the kids home and don't subject them to what might happen if you get pulled over.

 

I've worked in several bars/restaurants in the bay area, and we always allow kids to be with their parents at a hightop tables in the bar area having dinner but never at the bar......period!!! Too much going on for little kids to be around!