Should Babies Be Allowed in Bars?

Here's an interesting debate. The page below presents two sides of the argument. The one on the left says no, the one on the right says yes.

http://www.parentdish.com/2010/01/2...kdown-should-parents-bring-babies-into-a-bar/

Both have valid points (and I'm not going to lie, but I seriously laughed when the writer on the right compared the twentysomethings complaining about the babies to whiny babies themselves), and it got me wondering what people here would have to say about it.

To me, it doesn't matter. If I go to a bar and there's a 7-month old strapped into a car seat next to a mom sipping gin, I'm not going to care. I'll probably make faces at the little tyke and play with them. I'd only get a little peeved if the mom starts trying to censor everyone in the bar and stop them from using foul language in front of her kid. Lady, it's a bar. There's going to be foul language. Don't like it? Hire a sitter and leave little precious at home.

What's everyone else's thoughts?

 

Babies are information sponges. They remember lots of things and lots of things have huge impacts on them. I don't really care about what the people around the out of place infants have to say because they loud noises, foul smells, fumes and people in general aren't conducive to a good environment in which the baby can grow up sanely. I love how easily Tom Henderson dismisses babies as a factor by saying they won't object. Perhaps this is because many are dumb as the kid from Pinball Wizard and nondescript crying isn't the best way to say, "I want to go home not outside then back in again." Maybe I've got a contrived argument but I don't see the point in allowing a baby into a bar or pub when it clearly has no positive merits for anyone involved. It shows selfishness on the part of the parents and though I don't see a ban showing up, I would probably be foul tempered to any parent willing to bring a minor of any age into such an environment.

 

I'd allow it with some kind of curfew. Like...no more babies after 8 p.m. or sometihng. That ought to keep him safe from drunks and loud music (the volume often increases when a certain target group starts entering the bar). I'd forbid it anywhere where you can smoke though. Them fumes are too dangerous for an infant.

You're a mom, you're on vacation, you've been carrying your kid around all day and you're tired. Lucky you, there's a tavern right over there! Ack too bad, no babies allowed. Keep walking, sister.

 

I'd argue, but you really have got me there. Situational specificity seems to be the better route to a universally beneficial solution here.

 

As Styx said as long as there's some kind of curfew or cut off point then it's fine. The smoking ban in the UK means that there won't be any smoke and if it was say 8pm there will be few drinks and the music won't be loud.

The only problem would be if both parents were there and they both got pissed, but that's just terrible parenting and not the bars fault.

 

Exactly. Besides, that could happen anywhere.

 

As others have said, there should be a curfew or something similar. Things can get wild in bars into the late hours.
As long as the child has a safe way to get home, then I don't see an immediate problem. Having a wasted mother drive home with a child in the car isn't exactly ideal.

 

You miss the point entirely. The times that babies are likely to be in bars are not times that there are likely to be lots of drink people. In Europe there will be no smoke because of the smoking bans. As for foul language, they are around that everyday as they travel about the place. As for in a bar, people tend to have the common sense not to swear around a small child/baby. Even so, a parent should be able to teach their child that swearing is wrong around certain people (as swear words are part and parcel of the English language and therefore should be used). Saying that they will learn to use swear words from adults is stupid unless the parents of the child are stupid.

 

I don't think babies should be able to, honestly. The parent would probably be alone at that point, and what's the safety of drunk driving alone, let alone with a kid? Other then that, if people smoke in bars, they'll get the baby sick. Depending on how old the child is, it could accidently ingest alcohol or other products, or get knocked over if it gets to wandering.

I've seen my parents and family get pretty wasted, and thanked whatever gods there are that I'm responsible enough not to go sticking things in my mouth. It's not fun when a drunken man tries to pick you up, either. So the bottom line would be no,I don't think its appropriate for any child to go to a bar. They'll get to all that soon enough, they don't need to grow up that quickly.

 

Who said they were gonna be drunk? Who said they'd be alone?
Read my example above for one example.
It's irresponsible parenting to get drunk when you're with a kid but people hardly bring their kids along if they wanna have a good time. It'd be stupid to ban babies from bars just for that.

European smoke ban says hi. We don't have that problem to worry about. :p
True enough in other places though. And that is my biggest concern and a condition for keeping it legal.

Because sitting down leisulrely at a bar automatically implies that the parents lose sight of their kid. There's no way around that.
Except there is.

Way to completely miss the point. Like I said, read my example above.
That's the thing about debating; it requires reconstructing and considering situations beyond the clichés the word "bar" summons.

 

But think about it: Why would a bar be the only place to rest? Wouldn't it make more sense to go to a restaurant or almost anywhere else? Would you feel any sense of security bringing a small child into a bar? It's so extremely unlikely that a bar would be the only public place within walking distance.

 

Where you live maybe. I've seen it more than a few times. Ever been to the Ardennes? Ever took a tourist cycling route in Belgium? I have.

And yes, I would feel a sense of security since it's too early for people to be drunk (on a week day anyway) and since smoking isn't allowed in most bars and pubs anymore where I live.
I have thought about it and I've concluded that you really don't have any valid reason to forbid babies in bars. If of course you meet a few conditions before, which I have already mentioned.

I'm not saying I'd do it myself or that I encourage it. I'm saying I don't forbid it, which just in case you forgot is still what this debate is about.

 

A baby is just a like a really small drunk guy.

They're loud and obnoxious
You can't understand a word they say
They're always puking everywhere
etc.

All jokes aside, they should be thrown out if things get too much for the bartender and other people in the bar, but they should be allowed.

 

Styx said it. A curfew is equal in that your still able to socialise with others, whilst later the mature drunks can get on with there lives.

Really it should be up to the owner, purely for it is their business they have to think of first. Mainly since regulars don't really want kids around, since they've already left their own at home by themselves.

 

Personally, I would never bring my baby into a bar.

What the hell is the point? Especially if you're going to drink. What happens when you get drunk and forget you even brought the kid and leave with someone without them and they get kidnapped and eaten by some freak?

Seriously, just get a babysitter or go out another time. :|

I mean, if I were to go into a bar and see a baby, I'm not going to go up to the parent and slap them in the face or anything. But I wouldn't do it myself. It's dangerous and a baby should be in a safe environment as often as it can be, if a baby grows up feeling threatened by the world their going to have serious problems growing up. ​

 

How many of you have even been in a bar?

I used to work at a restaurant that had a bar. Granted, since it was mostly a restaurant, it wasn't that bad. There was no smoking allowed inside.
We've had many parents, both single and together, bring kids from all ages.
If a baby is an infant, chances are it's in a car seat by the parent or in a high chair.
I've never seen things get too out of control that was bad for the baby.
How a baby is going to consume alcohol, I have no idea. Hopefully the parent has some decent sense not to keep alcohol in a glass right in front of the kid and not to be driving after drinking. We usually had a cop check every couple of hours to make sure no one was doing just that at night.

Now yeah, I think Styx has a point. A curfew is a good idea. Sometimes you can't get a babysitter, in which case, bring a designated driver.

 

No one, that's just an example of what could happen. It's better to just leave the child with a babysitter, or their older siblings, to prevent anything, even if the parent is responsible. I agree with you there.

They've banned it in Minnesota too, but many places smoke right outside. Not to mention that other people might get drunk there, depending on the time of day. Just examples.

Not that they would lose sight of the child, but if it's a toddler, they can move fast. I used wait until my mum was busy, then bolt for the nearest clothing rack at the mall. Not saying all toddlers do this, but a leash sounds like a good idea. Or a high chair.

Practice makes perfect?

 

It is indeed not advisable to bring a child along to a bar when you're looking for recreation and all that but I can understand them if they want to keep an eye on the kid themselves rather than the uncertainty of a babysitter.
Plus some parents prefer a cheaper teen over a more experienced person. That itself is not too safe either; at least bringing them along gives you some control of the situation.

Either way they're not valid reasons to ban them from bars. Or if you will: they're not valid reasons to choose banning over the curfew system which I expect to be far more effective for obvious reasons.

 

And if you think about it from the perspective of the bar, they lose money if you ban anyone with babies or young children. A curfew scheme would be easy and cheap to implement and maintain but would also increase customer satisfaction and revenue =D