Wetherspoons 'limit parents drinks'

Yes, the reaction seems to be over the top, but I've seen a pub near me [not a Spoons] serving inebriated adult family members on karaoke night at 10.30 p.m. while their children sit around looking very bored [not annoying other punters really, except when they got up to sing]. If I were in charge of the pub, I'd have sent them all packing in the interests of the children long before then.

I think that most of us would agree that there is an issue here, but a measured response, with managers having the right to decide on a case by case basis and apply common sense, would be more sensible. It would appear that, as in so many situations nowadays, decent responsible people have to be lumped in with those who make a nuisance of themselves in an attempt to make a display of fairness, like the OAP who had to remove his cap in the pub. I can well imagine that pubs like Spoons will attract a fair number irresponsible parents who can't resist the allure of cheap booze when out shopping with the kids.

Children shouldn't be spending hours in pubs even if supervised by otherwise responsible parents. It's bad for the kids and bad for the pub.

Some parents are completely irresponsible and sit around getting completely pissed while their children look on or make a nuisance of themselves.

Paul

Paul Sherwin (Paul Sherwin ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Not even if they're consuming a meal?

How long does it take to eat a JDW meal? The 'two drinks' guidelines seem perfectly sensible to me.

Personally I think children should be restricted to designated areas in pubs but the 'child-friendly' lobby did away with that. Why it's good for children to mix with foul mouthed alcoholic adults beats me.

Paul

Paul Sherwin (Paul Sherwin ) gurgled happily, sounding much like they were saying:

Could easily take two hours for a large table, lingering.

For _all_ at the table?

Perhaps you should try some _civilised_ pubs (like they should all be and like all the best ones are) where the adults are neither foul-mouthed nor alcoholic.

Children can be a nuisance, so can dogs. But the biggest nuisance is foul-mouths.

I think you'll find the guidelines refer to two *rounds* of drinks, e.g. two pints of beer or two large glasses of wine per head. That would seem to be plenty to me if you're out during the day with children in tow.

'Spoons are pubs not restaurants and they don't serve large multi course meals designed to be eaten over hours.

Paul

I think it's great!! Two drinks is fine, a meal is fine, they they must go.

I hate going to the ladies in pubs and seeing children in there on their own.

I hate seeing them at the bar. I hate the row some families make. I hate seeing kids sat at an empty table (no food or drink) just taking up a table I could have used, away from their parents who are sitting boozing, ignoring their kids.

In fact, I hate there being any kids in any pubs I go in.

And I hate tripping over kids in shops, too! Especially supermarkets, where they run around whilst their parents ignore them instead of making them sit in the trolley (even big ones, tehe!)

I'm a primary school teacher, who loves her job and loves her pupils, but I don't want to see any kids at all when I'm not at work!

Especially now my own are grown up and I don't have to seek out pubs that will let me take them in so I can get a beer!!

(What a hypocrite, eh?)

Itsh not &^%$%^# good, sho *&^% off. Hic.

Paul Sherwin a écrit :

On the continent, on those countries blessed with a rather relaxed culture about alcohol consumption, there is a rather wide consensus as to contacts with adults drinking appropriately in an appropriate setting (which also means ducring the day, not late at night) being crucial to give children a few milestones that'll help them later on in life to find their own limits and ways of drinking responsibly.

The problem alas seems to be that almost a century of demonizing alcohol has turned most Brits into werevolves who can't be trusted from the second they are put in the presence of alcoholic drinks... ;o)

Yes, but what were the kids doing? :-)

Nah, "responsible adult (and parent) that expects other to do what they did to avoid annoying others. Long discourses on what the irresponsible parents (typical doctors) of a young child in Portugal did last year may now commence.

When the kids were younger, we often went with them to pubs. But only when we were going to have a meal, and I would never have had more than a couple of pints at the most as I was usually driving. This guideline seems eminently sensible to me.

As to discretion, who was it that said "Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the observance of fools"?

One thing I've noticed is that on the continent, children are accepted in bars, pubs and restaurants as "part of the family", and misbehaviour up to a point is not considered to be antisocial, merely how people of that age are expected to behave. Children are treated as "adults under construction". In the UK they are as often as not treated as undesirable aliens. You reap what you sow I guess. I increasingly get sick and tired of the "teacher knows best" control freaks in our increasingly nanny state. :-( Vive la France - et la Suisse :-) )!

Unbelievable. She's a teacher?! And we wonder why the English are so useless with alcohol.

phil

And also bad for old people like me who don't bother going into pubs anymore because of screaming kids. If only pubs were like they used to be ... long time ago I know - no chance :-(

I give up.

Back to my lovely home brew stuff :-)

Ah! You've met me and seen how severely reduced alcohol tolerance becomes with increasing age!!! 3pts of 4% max - can't waste it in spots where kids spoil the pleasure!!

;o))

I totally agree with all those comments deploring out of control children mewling and puking all over the place, and for that reason, I think it's a good thing. I doubt whether anyone has any problems with well controlled kids sitting quetly, and as a spokesman for JDW said yesterday, they sell millions of children's meals a year and it's a useful income stream. But a JDW outlet is not the same as a 'Wacky Warehouse' (do they still exist btw?)

My only minor concern is the gradual erosion of freedom of choice and the fact that the authorities think that we have to be told what to do rather than use our own common sense. Taken a stage further, how long before we get a "Sorry sir, you've had your two units of alcohol today, I can't serve you any more"

BrianW a écrit :

Italy's very similar, children being fully integrated in the proceedings even in bars, and, mind you, they usually behave remarkably, because they don't have to draw attention to feel they're part of it... What kills me is that idea that you're out of normal life from the second you've got children. Or even before in the case of women, with so many do-gooders doing their utmost to have any pregnant women who dares to drink a half pint here and there feel she's a criminal.

On a side note : My nephew's fifteen, and he got interested in proper beer lately. Drinking age here is sixteen for beer and wine, and he's not very keen on the "energy drink and vodka" rubbish his schoolmates get zonked on. So a few weeks back he's asked for my help for a school life sciences project on beer and brewing. So we went and visited one of the local micros, where he sampled the malt, the hops (yup, find me another 15 year old guy who doesn't spit a hop pellet out...) and indeed the beers, discussing taste and smell with the brewer. At Christmas, my nephew got his own beer glass, and got to drink samples of every beer I'd brought along, all under continuous control from me, notably as to how much of each, and we discussed every beer we tasted. And a pretty articulate taster he alread is, pointing out elements on the nose and palate quite accurately. My take on it is that since he's showing interest now, I have to put my foor where my mouth is and ensure he gets a proper beer education right now, knows what good beer should taste like, and therefore is in a situation to resist peer pressure using the old "sorry, I don't drink that tasteless sh*te, mate" line. This all the more since it transpired he loves very hoppy, earthy 6% IPAs (we're talking 50-60 IBUs or so), which you'll agree are more than enough nail his mates' collective beak, and put their wannabe macho stance in a rout. :o) I tell you: there's hope still, although I owe my sister to have educated her son in appreciating the real taste of proper food and drink.

Indeed you reap what you've sown.

Cheers !

Laurent