Can minor children sit at bars in DC?

[Anonymous]

I've gotten different answers on this from DC bartenders. Now that my boys are in their young teens, I'd like to bring them along when I go to a downtown DC bar for happy hour. I prefer to sit at the bar and not at one of the bar tables. Of course, I would not try to order any alcohol for them. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

I don't see anything illegal about it as long as nobody is furnishing the minors alcohol, but of course that won't prohibit some bar to enforce a +21 rule. But for things like happy hour, I haven't seen bringing a kid into the bar an issue.

[Anonymous]

I have no issues with drinking but I can't imagine taking a young teen to enjoy the bar scene.
Is there a reason for this? I could maybe see if they were older teens about to head off to college and you wanted to acclimate them to bar culture but even then I am not sure I see that point so I would love to to hear what I am missing.

[Anonymous]

no

[Anonymous]

If a kid is sitting at the bar, then they are taking space away from a paying customer. It's shitty of you, even if not illegal.

[Anonymous]

In my experience, it depends on the time of day. Lunchtime or quiet mid-afternoon, sure, nobody cares. Happy hour or dinner time? Nah, it's just not a good look.

[Anonymous]

Seats are the bar are coveted.

I would think the bartender would want paying customers (I know cokes aren't free but not the same as alcoholic drinks) sitting there

As a patron I would be bothered if someone who was not drinking was taking up space at the bar.

As a parent I would not want people pushing past my minor child to order alcohol which is always happens when folks sit at the bar.

Sit at a table, enjoy the HH specials and time with your kids. I have seen kids in bars eating meals but I have never seen a child sitting at the bar itself.

[Anonymous]

Great insights. Thank you for taking the time to respond! Happy New Year.

-- OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If a kid is sitting at the bar, then they are taking space away from a paying customer. It's shitty of you, even if not illegal.

I'd get them an overpriced Coke or something.

-- OP

[Anonymous]

I grew up doing this. I tried to with my kids and they said we had to sit at a table.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seats are the bar are coveted.

I would think the bartender would want paying customers (I know cokes aren't free but not the same as alcoholic drinks) sitting there

As a patron I would be bothered if someone who was not drinking was taking up space at the bar.

As a parent I would not want people pushing past my minor child to order alcohol which is always happens when folks sit at the bar.

Sit at a table, enjoy the HH specials and time with your kids. I have seen kids in bars eating meals but I have never seen a child sitting at the bar itself.

Yes. Bartenders will tell you it is illegal, but it isn't - that's just an excuse so they don't have non-drinkers taking up bar seats.

But, why on earth would it bother you as a patron if a "non-drinker" (by which I assume you include adults who aren't drinking, along with OP's teenagers) is sitting at the bar? You would prefer the designated driver to wait in the car?

[Anonymous]

My teens and tweens would be so mortified doing this with me.

[Anonymous]

Not helpful, but this brought up memories of my 8 year old self in a British pub with my parents and our realtor, newly arrived to the country, and taking a break from visiting houses. I later learned that a lot of pubs forbade entry to minors, but apparently this one didn't! The realtor suggested ginger ale for me, and my French mother nearly fell out of her chair, thinking she was proposing alcohol! Ha! Great memories.

[Anonymous]

Our friends recently had a party at a bar and anyone underage had to be out sight of the actual bar area. This was in DC.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Seats are the bar are coveted.

I would think the bartender would want paying customers (I know cokes aren't free but not the same as alcoholic drinks) sitting there

As a patron I would be bothered if someone who was not drinking was taking up space at the bar.

As a parent I would not want people pushing past my minor child to order alcohol which is always happens when folks sit at the bar.

Sit at a table, enjoy the HH specials and time with your kids. I have seen kids in bars eating meals but I have never seen a child sitting at the bar itself.

Yes. Bartenders will tell you it is illegal, but it isn't - that's just an excuse so they don't have non-drinkers taking up bar seats.

But, why on earth would it bother you as a patron if a "non-drinker" (by which I assume you include adults who aren't drinking, along with OP's teenagers) is sitting at the bar? You would prefer the designated driver to wait in the car?

I meant the children which was the question posed. Three seats at a bar (OP said teenagers so I assume two) with only one drinker is selfish.
But since you bring up adults I have no issue with a DD sitting at the bar with friends. However, if we were talking about a group of non drinkers sitting at the bar I would be bothered.. The bar is for drinking. If you want to socialize without drinking the are other places in the bar to drink than just the bar itself. But I love how people here always go to extremes. If I don't want non drinking teens at the bar (the teens were the topic of the thread not teetotalers) I must want the DD to sit in the car, with all the windows down on a cold winter night, with no jacket and wet hair.