Social acceptance - Bringing your children to a brewery

[gratus fermentatio]

Kids at a brewpub, pub, or a restaurant that serves booze? As long as the kids behave & it's during generally accepted hours for kids of that age to be there & the place isn't too wild, why not?

I think it's pretty much plain old common sense really. After dark on a weekend, the pub is for adults of legal drinking age & over, NOT for children. But lunch at the pub on a Saturday afternoon is fine; dinner on a week day evening is fine too I think, as long as it's not too wild an environment. I wouldn't want my 10 year old niece to be exposed to the goings on at a place where a wet Tshirt contest was being held, but I'm OK with her going behind the bar & learning how to mix a Shirley Temple with the barmaid on a Saturday afternoon & she has done so with my & her father's permission, same for my nephew.

As for the brewery tour? I'm fine with it as long as the kids are well behaved. They might actually enjoy it & learn something along the way. As far as parents having a pint or 2? Sure, why not? As long as they're not getting smashed or driving drunk, who cares?
Just my 2 cents worth.
Regards, GF.

 

[pickles]

I've taken both of my boys to one brewery (I'm friends with the owner so maybe that doesn't count) and several brewpubs. All of the brewpubs had high chairs and booster seats. Never had an issue. I used to wonder why people had to bring their annoying kids to a place where I'm trying to chill and have a few beers, now my opinion has changed cause it suits my situation

 

[nasty_rabbit]

I see three distinct establishments discussed here. 1) Brewery/brewery tour, 2) Brew pub and 3) Bar.

1) The brewery tours that I have attended have been kid friendly. The brewery's that have outdoor areas encourage bringing blankets and a picnic basket. One even has a play area. Local laws (Georgia) limit samples to eight 4 oz samples or two 16 oz samples. The tours/tastings are generally only two hours so no one really has time or volume to get out of hand.

2) Brew pubs are just another name for restaurant/bar with a better offering at the taps. Just like Applebee's or TGI Fridays, kids are ok at the table but not at the bar.

3) A bar (shot and a beer/beer garden) should be off limits to kids at most operating hours. My dad was a bartender at a local haunt and I too accompanied him at opening. I was permitted at the bar only if there were no patrons, as soon as someone would come in I sat a a table with chips and a soda and my dad would call my mother to come pick me up.

 

[dobe12]

I agree with most comments on here. I have a 2yr old and wouldn't think twice about NOT taking him on a brewery tour. He'd be by my side the entire time, holding hands, or I'd be carrying him. Of course you can't always predict the best behavior from your child (all kids will act up now and again) but if his behavior did turn bad, either my wife or I would step outside with him immediately. I won't sit here and say my son is ALWAYS good, quite, well behaved. He's 2! 2 year olds are going to act up, but it's up to the parents to remove him/her from the situation.

As for brew pubs or any restaurant in general, I have no problem taking him out. It's usually for lunch or an early dinner, never late night, but same rules apply. We try to keep him behaved and quite. If he acts up, one of us takes him outside immediately. If it continues, we leave. I won't be the ahole who completely ignores their annoying PITA kid who's bothering all the other patrons.

I would never take my son to a bar, meaning strictly a bar. A bar with tables that sells food, sure.

The way our whole country treats children and alcohol is a problem, IMO. It's so taboo. Teach your kids about alcohol and responsibility early and hope it sticks. Hiding it from them isn't the answer.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

 

[nasty_rabbit]

The way our whole country treats children and alcohol is a problem, IMO. It's so taboo. Teach your kids about alcohol and responsibility early and hope it sticks. Hiding it from them isn't the answer.


Sent from my iPhone using Home Brew

I agree with this completely. We have always been open about alcohol consumption in our house. Our kids got to taste dad's beer and moms wine. When they came of age my daughter, in college at bars with her friends, would order drinks with half shots while her friends who had absolutely no exposure to alcohol would be in the restroom getting sick. And my son will have a drink with a meal but if he's having more than one it's either in the back yard or he's staying the night where he's drinking. The friends of theirs that have been sheltered have gotten in more than their share of alcohol related trouble, DUI, binge drinking, arrests for under age consumption. There is no perfect way to raise children but in my experience responsible exposure was more successful than sheltering that leads to excessive curiosity.

 

[Hello]

When I last lived in CA in 2009, I know kids could not sit at bars in restaurants or anywhere else. I don't know if that changed. I see kids at bars all of the time now and I generally just look and mind my own business. I'm not out to parent someone else's kid. I'll step in if the kid is being harmed, but that is about it.

 

[Darwin18]

trust me... everyone hates you bringing your kids anywhere

they're just too polite to tell you leave the annoying brats at home

This!!!

I'm sure most people's children are polite, well behaved, and can be respectful enough in a group of people in a crowded space while the adults are having a few beers. It's the small percentage that fail completely as parents and don't have the common courtesy to leave or better yet, not partake in, the tour that ruin for everyone.

 

[dobe12]

This!!!

I'm sure most people's children are polite, well behaved, and can be respectful enough in a group of people in a crowded space while the adults are having a few beers. It's the small percentage that fail completely as parents and don't have the common courtesy to leave or better yet, not partake in, the tour that ruin for everyone.

First off, no one will tell me where I can and can't bring my son. That's my call not yours.

Second, I'll deal with my son if he acts up. Be sure of that.

Third, Don't make blanket statements like "everyone hates you bringing your kids anywhere". It shows your ignorance.

EDIT: Sorry for quoting under your post. Should have quoted under the post you quoted.

 

[kcmobrewer]

I don't have kids, nor have I seen any at a brewery tour. Personally, I don't think I would mind. Not that a child should be allowed to drink, but I am of the mindset that at 18 you are allowed to smoke and join the military. Seems a little strange to me to arbitrarily have the drinking age at 21.

That being said, as long as the parent isn't sitting there getting trashed I don't see an issue. I also am a proponent of minding my own business.

 

[jekeane]

I make my 1.5 yr old try everything I drink first to make sure its not poisoned.

Seriously though kids should be in bars but those other options are fine.

Little kids shouldn't be out past 7-8 either they should be in bed... I get there are times when work schedules etc whatever happen. But few things frustrate me more than parents trying to stay young and hang out at the brew pub till 10-11 with their kid trying to nap in a car seat. Same goes for late movies... Your childs sleep schedule is more important than your entertainment.

 

[GrogNerd]

First off, no one will tell me where I can and can't bring my son. That's my call not yours.

Second, I'll deal with my son if he acts up. Be sure of that.

Third, Don't make blanket statements like "everyone hates you bringing your kids anywhere". It shows your ignorance.

EDIT: Sorry for quoting under your post. Should have quoted under the post you quoted.

so, you're the ONE parent who deals with their kids acting up. well, give yourself a great big pat on the back for doing what parents are supposed to do.

but I hear complaints about others' kids ALL THE TIME, in restaurants and bars. just not when parents are around.

means that I'm not the ignorant one

 

[dobe12]

so, you're the ONE parent who deals with their kids acting up. well, give yourself a great big pat on the back for doing what parents are supposed to do.

but I hear complaints about others' kids ALL THE TIME, in restaurants and bars. just not when parents are around.

means that I'm not the ignorant one

Your comments continue to prove your ignorance.

I'm sure LOTS of parents deal with their kids when they act up, but that doesn't get talked about because you don't know about it. And the kids that do cause a scene, who's parents don't do anything are the ones that do get talked about. See how that works?

There are many good kids out there, but all will act up now and then. There are also LOTS of good parents out there who know how to discipline their children. Don't lump us all in together. And don't act like families shouldn't be out in public places because a child will occasionally throw a fit or act up.

I'm guessing you don't have kids, huh?

 

[PGEduardo]

so, you're the ONE parent who deals with their kids acting up. well, give yourself a great big pat on the back for doing what parents are supposed to do.

but I hear complaints about others' kids ALL THE TIME, in restaurants and bars. just not when parents are around.

means that I'm not the ignorant one

Nope, as others have stated you continue to make generalized and aggressively ignorant comments.

Let's ASSuME that every single time you go to a public venue there is a complete brat acing out and generally annoying everyone (I guarantee this doesn't occur even MOST of the time). How many people are in that establishment? 100? How many other children are there - maybe 10? See where this is heading?

Just because you (in)frequently observe discrete instances of brats out in public does not mean that every parent who allows their child to leave home is a completely aloof failure.

 

[GrogNerd]

yeah, it's heading towards your total lack of reading comprehension

I don't observe brats EVERY time I go out

but when I DO encounter your bratty kids, I hear all kinds of complaints from others at that establishment. just not within your earshot

please keep up the selfish delusion that everyone everywhere loves your kids being around

 

[NervousDad]

But you continue to personally attack people on this thread by saying "Your" kids.

So you keep up your selfish delusion that all kids are brats.

 

[GrogNerd]

YOUR as a singular pronoun. not plural.

 

[dobe12]

yeah, it's heading towards your total lack of reading comprehension

I don't observe brats EVERY time I go out but when I DO encounter your bratty kids (Again, generalizing), I hear all kinds of complaints from others at that establishment. (So sorry you have to listen to others complain... IRONY!!!) just not within your earshot (So they're all within YOUR earshot for YOU to hear the complaints, but not in earshot of the offenders?)

please keep up the selfish delusion that everyone everywhere loves your kids being around (Not sure who said this. I said again and again... kids will act up, but it's the parents that need to diffuse the situation.)

Just remember your thoughts and comments on children if/when you have one of your own. Make sure you stay home, never go out in public until they are at least 16-18yrs old. We'll all be much happier!

 

[dobe12]

YOUR as a singular pronoun. not plural.

The singular pronoun showing ownership. You're still saying the same thing regardless of how you try to backpedal.

 

[AnOldUR]

Social acceptance - Bringing your children to a brewery

My children bought me my first homebrew kit.

It's a good day when they bring me to a brewery.




(They're 31 and 38 years old. )

 

[GrogNerd]

I don't observe brats EVERY time I go out (Every time? Doubtful. But if this is the case,

DON'T

it's a contraction of DO NOT

try and keep up, will ya?

 

[dobe12]

My children bought me my first homebrew kit.

It's a good day when they bring me to a brewery.




(They're 31 and 38 years old.)

You think it's safe to bring them out in public? Never know if they may act up and piss someone off.

 

[dobe12]

DON'T

it's a contraction of DO NOT

try and keep up, will ya?

Sorry, was trying to read through your gibberish of some caps, no caps, some punctuation, but not usually. Man it's a mess and a little difficult to read. Then I have to sort through the ignorant remarks to get to the bottom of what you're saying. Trying to keep up, I swear.

 

[GrogNerd]

Sorry to hear that short words, simple sentences, the occasional lower-case first letter of a sentence and a lack of a period at the end of every sentence might throw you completely off kilter.

Also sorry to hear people getting all bent out of shape with thought that maybe their precious little angels aren't loved and appreciated company everywhere all the time. HEAVEN FORBID

 

[dobe12]

Sorry to hear that short words, simple sentences, the occasional lower-case first letter of a sentence and a lack of a period at the end of every sentence might throw you completely off kilter.

Also sorry to hear people getting all bent out of shape with thought that maybe their precious little angels aren't loved and appreciated company everywhere all the time. HEAVEN FORBID

“Sarcasm is the last refuge of the imaginatively bankrupt.”
― Cassandra Clare, City of Bones

 

[GrogNerd]

"quoting the authors of contemporary sci-fi novels for preteens is the best way to win an argument"
― said no one ever

 

[dobe12]

"quoting the authors of contemporary sci-fi novels for preteens is the best way to win an argument"
― said no one ever

Seams fitting though, no? All you have is sarcasm. No valid argument, nothing of substance to add. Just sarcasm. Run along and now child.

 

[GHBWNY]

"quoting the authors of contemporary sci-fi novels for preteens is the best way to win an argument"
― said no one ever

Did you children ever consider PM?

 

[Hammy71]

When I last lived in CA in 2009, I know kids could not sit at bars in restaurants or anywhere else. I don't know if that changed. I see kids at bars all of the time now and I generally just look and mind my own business. I'm not out to parent someone else's kid. I'll step in if the kid is being harmed, but that is about it.

This. In Maryland a kid can be in the bar, but can't sit at ANY bar stool. Even at a restaurant like Outback or TGIF. Having said that, my kids who are now 13 and 14 have been on several brewery tours and thanks to their "old man" usually know more than most of the people walking with us on said tours. At the end during the 'tastings', every brewery I've ever been to, instructs the kids they can't sit at the bar. So we sit them at a high top, and the brewery always has rootbeer or lemonade or something for them. I don't see the big deal. My kids have always been complimented (even when toddlers) at restaurants because of the way the behave. Now, some people let their kids be monsters....most don't. Of course, when out with the kids, either me or my wife are not drinking.....the sober one is driving home. So the blanket statements (as they usually do), just show someones ignorance. The made up rules about certain times of day, and days of the week are just that. Made up, personal rules. They work for you, but don't mean a thing to me. The prudish looks from others don't concern me either. My kids are well adjusted, polite, straight A students who so far show not even an inkling of wanting any alcohol. As stated above, my generation made alcohol a taboo subject and all my friends from middle school on were trying to get some....I don't see that so much in todays society. At least not with my kids or family friends that have the same attitude towards alcohol.

 

[GrogNerd]

Seams fitting though, no? All you have is sarcasm. No valid argument, nothing of substance to add. Just sarcasm. Run along and now child.

you've called me ignorant and now a child, so it seems name calling is all you have

Did you children ever consider PM?

Did you ever consider using complete sentences?

 

[ajdelange]

The brewpub wants parents to bring their kids because they'd rather have you there with your wallet and your kids than not there with your wallet. As such they try to be kid friendly with kids menus, booster seats etc. This aside, we get complaints from the singles crowd that they want to be able to go out and have a few with their friends without having to worry about what they say for fear of wilting the tender ears of adjacent children and at the same time we get complaints from parents about shocking language from the louts at the bar. We try to solve this by putting families in the 'dining area' while the bar area is left to the singles. Seems to work OK for the most part (though the occasional complaint does trickle through). It is also true that a misbehaving kid in a Pub is orders of magnitude less annoying than one on a trans Pacific flight.