Little Miss Whiskey’s Owner Thinks Carrying Breast Milk in a Purse is “Absurd”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait. She had breast milk in a bottle in her bag. The bouncer found it and said what's this? She said it's breastmilk and the manager offered to hold it behind the bar. Then later some young guy - probably has no experience with breastfeeding - said that he thought it was weird to bring it to a bar.

Is that the whole story?

No, all the comments about how it was bizarre were made at the time, and the bouncer wasn't going to let her bring it in.

He's a bouncer, not a lactation consultant. He's not supposed to let outside liquids in. When they found out it was a unique circumstance, they offered an exception. And bringing breastmilk to a bar, especially a dive bar, IS weird. I can see why she pumped while out, we've all been there, but the situation IS weird.

Ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

The owner responded on PoPville: http://www.popville.com/2016/04/no-disrespect-for-your-condition-the-bouncer-responded-but-this-is-a-bar-why-would-you-bring-that-here-its-weird/?ic_source=ic-most-commented

I'm a mom and a bartender. I get where the bar is coming from. You aren't allowed to bring in liquids. I think this is at the discretion of the bar (the bouncers at my job probably would have been grossed out and let her in) but a bottle of breastmilk is not worth your liquor license when it comes down to it. You can thank all the cheap idiots who sneak in alcohol in everything and anything for this. It also doesn't help the lady's case that her and her friends have trashed the place on Yelp. That makes me a lot less sympathetic.
I also think they provided a nice work around, saying they'd store it behind the bar for her. I wouldn't have taken them up on that offer, but it was a good compromise.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the bouncer or owner had just said, "Look, I'm technically not allowed to let outside drink inside, and I don't know if that applies to breast milk, but I'll hold it for you at the bar" instead of passing judgment and spouting of remarks about how it was bizarre that she had the milk and then finally offering to hold it, this wouldn't be an issue.

Pretty sure their license wouldn't be taken away because it is legal to pump or nurse anywhere in DC. And I'm sure the owner knew that. Common sense. What an ass.

Yes, this.

Also, I'd like to see the look on his face when I came back from Korea with 200 oz of breastmilk in a cooler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait. She had breast milk in a bottle in her bag. The bouncer found it and said what's this? She said it's breastmilk and the manager offered to hold it behind the bar. Then later some young guy - probably has no experience with breastfeeding - said that he thought it was weird to bring it to a bar.

Is that the whole story?

No, all the comments about how it was bizarre were made at the time, and the bouncer wasn't going to let her bring it in.

He's a bouncer, not a lactation consultant. He's not supposed to let outside liquids in. When they found out it was a unique circumstance, they offered an exception. And bringing breastmilk to a bar, especially a dive bar, IS weird. I can see why she pumped while out, we've all been there, but the situation IS weird.

Ridiculous.

The situation isn't weird. She pumped and wanted to keep it and was probably not going to be out over another four hours or so, so why NOT carry it with her?

Also, this isn't an airport. Liquids are banned at bars now? Did they think she was smuggling in breastmilk mixed with grain alcohol?

[Anonymous]

I'm pro breastfeeding. I extended nursed multiple children. But I'm kind of with the the bar on this. They didn't tell her no - they offered to hold it. Just like you can't just take milk through at the airport, they test it. Anyway, it sounds like poor planning on her part. This isn't the FAA, it's a private bar. She had plenty of options.

1) Don't pump. Unless the babies are newborns or you're going to be gone overnight you'll live.

2) Bring an ice pack and leave it in the car.

3) Leave it in the fridge like the bar suggested.

4) Do some research or call ahead if you're going to an adults-only, no outside liquids place.

5) Pump at the bar instead. Then they know it is milk.


Yes, you can breastfeed anywhere but I don't fault the bar for not wanting to risk their license and/or not knowing the rule. I'm sure it has never come up. Not to mention, "allowed to nurse anywhere" doesn't supersede "no kids allowed." I know her kid wasn't there but that logic says she should be allowed to bring the baby in if she's nursing even though kids aren't allowed.

And going to the press was really over dramatic.

[Anonymous]

If she was so afraid to leave it behind the bar she should have just dumped it. If your supply is so precious you can't miss one feeding in 4 hours, or won't supplement with formula, or whatever, you aren't ready to go out yet.

Also, apparently her five friends flew in from around the country to go to a dive bar. Really? They all sound pretty dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So wait. She had breast milk in a bottle in her bag. The bouncer found it and said what's this? She said it's breastmilk and the manager offered to hold it behind the bar. Then later some young guy - probably has no experience with breastfeeding - said that he thought it was weird to bring it to a bar.

Is that the whole story?

No, all the comments about how it was bizarre were made at the time, and the bouncer wasn't going to let her bring it in.

He's a bouncer, not a lactation consultant. He's not supposed to let outside liquids in. When they found out it was a unique circumstance, they offered an exception. And bringing breastmilk to a bar, especially a dive bar, IS weird. I can see why she pumped while out, we've all been there, but the situation IS weird.

Ridiculous.

Agreed. Honestly, if you go out drinking, you pump to relieve engorgement and maybe keep your cycle on track, not to hoard those 6 oz of breast milk at all costs. I would have probably just dumped it in her situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm pro breastfeeding. I extended nursed multiple children. But I'm kind of with the the bar on this. They didn't tell her no - they offered to hold it. Just like you can't just take milk through at the airport, they test it. Anyway, it sounds like poor planning on her part. This isn't the FAA, it's a private bar. She had plenty of options.

1) Don't pump. Unless the babies are newborns or you're going to be gone overnight you'll live.

2) Bring an ice pack and leave it in the car.

3) Leave it in the fridge like the bar suggested.

4) Do some research or call ahead if you're going to an adults-only, no outside liquids place.

5) Pump at the bar instead. Then they know it is milk.


Yes, you can breastfeed anywhere but I don't fault the bar for not wanting to risk their license and/or not knowing the rule. I'm sure it has never come up. Not to mention, "allowed to nurse anywhere" doesn't supersede "no kids allowed." I know her kid wasn't there but that logic says she should be allowed to bring the baby in if she's nursing even though kids aren't allowed.

And going to the press was really over dramatic.

You would let some delinquent bartenders have access to the breastmilk your child will drink? What kind of irresponsible mother are you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If the bouncer or owner had just said, "Look, I'm technically not allowed to let outside drink inside, and I don't know if that applies to breast milk, but I'll hold it for you at the bar" instead of passing judgment and spouting of remarks about how it was bizarre that she had the milk and then finally offering to hold it, this wouldn't be an issue.

Pretty sure their license wouldn't be taken away because it is legal to pump or nurse anywhere in DC. And I'm sure the owner knew that. Common sense. What an ass.

While I agree that the comments were ridiculous, how are the bouncer and owner supposed to know for sure that what she had was breastmilk? There is a tremendous amount of liability in owning a bar. Had she entered the bar, lied about what she had, consumed it and it contained drugs or alcohol and then left and died or hurt someone, the owner of the bar would be liable. I don't blame them at all for not allowing her to bring it in.

Just because you are breastfeeding a child it does not give you carte blanche to ignore rules and policies. I don't see the necessity of bringing breastmilk into a bar. It's not like she had her baby with her.

Well, the bouncer and owner never claimed that they weren't sure it was actually breast milk. They just thought it was really weird and felt the need to share those thoughts. Seriously, who the hell would carry around a pump and a bottle of milk as a means of sneaking in drugs?

A drug dealer or addict-you've clearly never worked in a bar. The bouncer and the owner said that she could not bring outside beverages into the bar. This policy exists for a reason, as explained above. The bouncer and owner shouldn't have to risk their livelihood or job because this mom can't leave her milk somewhere other than a bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm pro breastfeeding. I extended nursed multiple children. But I'm kind of with the the bar on this. They didn't tell her no - they offered to hold it. Just like you can't just take milk through at the airport, they test it. Anyway, it sounds like poor planning on her part. This isn't the FAA, it's a private bar. She had plenty of options.

1) Don't pump. Unless the babies are newborns or you're going to be gone overnight you'll live.

2) Bring an ice pack and leave it in the car.

3) Leave it in the fridge like the bar suggested.

4) Do some research or call ahead if you're going to an adults-only, no outside liquids place.

5) Pump at the bar instead. Then they know it is milk.


Yes, you can breastfeed anywhere but I don't fault the bar for not wanting to risk their license and/or not knowing the rule. I'm sure it has never come up. Not to mention, "allowed to nurse anywhere" doesn't supersede "no kids allowed." I know her kid wasn't there but that logic says she should be allowed to bring the baby in if she's nursing even though kids aren't allowed.

And going to the press was really over dramatic.

You would let some delinquent bartenders have access to the breastmilk your child will drink? What kind of irresponsible mother are you?

What is a "delinquent" bartender? And that was only ONE option. What kind of mother am I? The kind that thinks things through before I go out! I certainly wouldn't give it to my kids after it was stored, but I would toss it or store it and toss it. Pump and dump is best if she was drinking anyway. How long was this woman out that she a) couldn't wait to pump but b) was not out long enough for the milk to spoil in a warm, sweaty bar?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The bouncer sounds like an idiot, but they offered to store it for her in the fridge which seems to be a good workaround to an impasse. ABC laws are so stringent, and it's so easy to lose your license, that I can almost understand them wanting to make sure they're following the rules to the letter. A bar has no business without their license. That said, their comments afterwards are moronic, but I don't expect non-breastfeeding moms/dads to understand breastfeeding like parents do. I'm a breastfeeding mom and want my ability to breastfeed (or pump, though I've never done that) in public to be protected, but I am also a bit tired of all the hubbub when a mom runs into someone who isn't educated about breastfeeding. I think a lot of them are overblown (like the mom in the museum who was breastfeeding at a wedding event, asked to move, and then eventually allowed to stay where she was after talking to the employee...was that really worth getting bent out of shape about?).

+ a million

[Anonymous]

I just don't understand why she didn't leave it in the car with an ice pack?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just don't understand why she didn't leave it in the car with an ice pack?

I assumed they ubered there.