Can minor children sit at bars in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issues with kids sitting at a bar. If you're angry at that, you are an angry person.

My wife and I do it with our toddler when we eat at the bar and just recently, did it with all 3 kids at Centrolina at City Center. All 3 kids sat at the bar and so did my wife and I. We ordered food and my wife and I ordered drinks. Zero issue.

LOL it's great that YOU have zero issue with it but I assure you your bartender and the other patrons do. but that's ok, the world revolves around you.

So the world should revolve around the other patrons instead? And if the bartender doesn’t like working at a bar that allows children, he can quit.

The world of bars should revolve around patrons and bartenders, yes. Just go away.

“Should” according to you. If a place was just a bar, I wouldn’t be there. But if it serves food, then we have every right to be there, if permitted by the establishment. If you don’t like the establishment making that choice, it is you who will have to “just go away.”

Just because management permits it doesn't mean they want it. Believe me, they roll their eyes when you come in.

I don’t believe you because my money is as green as yours. And plenty of places don’t permit it, and I have no issue with that. But places that do recognize that families are often a good source of revenue at times that often aren’t crowded.

I keep forgetting that the whole world revolves around you and that everybody wants to be around your family for Happy Hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issues with kids sitting at a bar. If you're angry at that, you are an angry person.

My wife and I do it with our toddler when we eat at the bar and just recently, did it with all 3 kids at Centrolina at City Center. All 3 kids sat at the bar and so did my wife and I. We ordered food and my wife and I ordered drinks. Zero issue.

LOL it's great that YOU have zero issue with it but I assure you your bartender and the other patrons do. but that's ok, the world revolves around you.

So the world should revolve around the other patrons instead? And if the bartender doesn’t like working at a bar that allows children, he can quit.

The world of bars should revolve around patrons and bartenders, yes. Just go away.

“Should” according to you. If a place was just a bar, I wouldn’t be there. But if it serves food, then we have every right to be there, if permitted by the establishment. If you don’t like the establishment making that choice, it is you who will have to “just go away.”

It is quite understandable that you forgot because I haven’t remotely said that.

Just because management permits it doesn't mean they want it. Believe me, they roll their eyes when you come in.

I don’t believe you because my money is as green as yours. And plenty of places don’t permit it, and I have no issue with that. But places that do recognize that families are often a good source of revenue at times that often aren’t crowded.

I keep forgetting that the whole world revolves around you and that everybody wants to be around your family for Happy Hour.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have no issues with kids sitting at a bar. If you're angry at that, you are an angry person.

My wife and I do it with our toddler when we eat at the bar and just recently, did it with all 3 kids at Centrolina at City Center. All 3 kids sat at the bar and so did my wife and I. We ordered food and my wife and I ordered drinks. Zero issue.

LOL it's great that YOU have zero issue with it but I assure you your bartender and the other patrons do. but that's ok, the world revolves around you.

So the world should revolve around the other patrons instead? And if the bartender doesn’t like working at a bar that allows children, he can quit.

The world of bars should revolve around patrons and bartenders, yes. Just go away.

“Should” according to you. If a place was just a bar, I wouldn’t be there. But if it serves food, then we have every right to be there, if permitted by the establishment. If you don’t like the establishment making that choice, it is you who will have to “just go away.”

Just because management permits it doesn't mean they want it. Believe me, they roll their eyes when you come in.

I don’t believe you because my money is as green as yours. And plenty of places don’t permit it, and I have no issue with that. But places that do recognize that families are often a good source of revenue at times that often aren’t crowded.

I keep forgetting that the whole world revolves around you and that everybody wants to be around your family for Happy Hour.

It is understandable that you forgot because I haven’t remotely said that. There are plenty of places that don’t allow kids and that’s fine. But, for the one’s that do, your preferences don’t get to override management’s or my desire to frequent a place that allows me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were at a bar/restaurant in Chinatown this weekend. My H and I were sitting at the bar. A group was next to us, with kids, waiting for a table, and they ordered drinks from the bartender. There was one seat open and one of the kids was sitting at the seat. The manager came over and told them that unfortunately minors could not actually sit at the bar. The kids were fine standing next to the bar. I imagine the manager wouldn't have said something if there wasn't a specific rule against it, something they could've been penalized for if witnessed by an inspector.

https://abra.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/abra/publication/attachments/ABRACodeBook-Revised2019-UPDATES-02%202019Final3.pdf

Can't seem to find it in here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We were at a bar/restaurant in Chinatown this weekend. My H and I were sitting at the bar. A group was next to us, with kids, waiting for a table, and they ordered drinks from the bartender. There was one seat open and one of the kids was sitting at the seat. The manager came over and told them that unfortunately minors could not actually sit at the bar. The kids were fine standing next to the bar. I imagine the manager wouldn't have said something if there wasn't a specific rule against it, something they could've been penalized for if witnessed by an inspector.

https://abra.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/abra/publication/attachments/ABRACodeBook-Revised2019-UPDATES-02%202019Final3.pdf

Can't seem to find it in here.

I’ve been in enough places that allow it that I am pretty confident that it is simply a bar’s policy to not allow it. It may be a mistake to say it was the law, or it can be easier to say that because people are less likely to push back.

[Anonymous]

Bars in DC aren’t what they used to be. So I’d say it’s not a big deal they’d be happy with the extra people there.

[Anonymous]

FWIW the answer is illegal in California

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We were at a bar/restaurant in Chinatown this weekend. My H and I were sitting at the bar. A group was next to us, with kids, waiting for a table, and they ordered drinks from the bartender. There was one seat open and one of the kids was sitting at the seat. The manager came over and told them that unfortunately minors could not actually sit at the bar. The kids were fine standing next to the bar. I imagine the manager wouldn't have said something if there wasn't a specific rule against it, something they could've been penalized for if witnessed by an inspector.

I've take the test a few times and I also remember that kids can't sit at the bar. This wasn't always so though. Started ca 10-12 years ago.

[Anonymous]

I find it amusing that so many parents here are fervently defending their children's right to sit at the bar, but would be horrified to ever find their child drinking. You are literally taking them to the source, where alcoholic beverages are prepared and served. Why is it so important to you for your kids to sit at the bar? Can there be no adult spaces? What’s next? Why not take them to a strip club, as long as they don’t get a lap dance? They serve food there, too.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find it amusing that so many parents here are fervently defending their children's right to sit at the bar, but would be horrified to ever find their child drinking. You are literally taking them to the source, where alcoholic beverages are prepared and served. Why is it so important to you for your kids to sit at the bar? Can there be no adult spaces? What’s next? Why not take them to a strip club, as long as they don’t get a lap dance? They serve food there, too.

The only reason I would sit at the bar is if (a) happy hour isn't offered at a table or (b) there are no tables. Otherwise, I would much prefer to be at a table, or at a high top in the bar area than actually at the bar.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No bar patron or bartender wants a family with kids at a Happy Hour. That's the last thing any of us wants to see. A couple with a newborn? Tolerable. Beyond that, stay away and give us our adult space please.

As you can see from about half the responses in this thread, few people are able to understand and respect the concept of adult spaces anymore. It's all take, take, take. A bar? Perfect place for little Junior!

[Anonymous]

Why would you want your kids to sit at the bar? Genuinely curious. Although I love to sit at the bar with a friend or DH it would literally never occur to me to have my kids sit there.

Normally you can get happy hour prices at the high top tables or I’m sure if you ask nicely at your table.

[Anonymous]

Bars and are happy hour are primarily intended for people who wish to drink and in many cases reach a certain point of intoxication. intoxicated adults are not the people I really want to surround my kids so I can't really imagine taking them to hang out in bars. Bar atmospheres can be pretty rough - people drink and go to bars to let loose and what gets said and done in a bar is often not appropriate outside a drinking environment.

At lunch or something might be fine but having your kids sit at bar in late evening - just why? What is the benefit of exposing them to bar culture and inebriated adults at an early age?

[Anonymous]

Not a good look.

[Anonymous]

Memo to parents: yours is not the Christ Child. Get over yourselves.