I’ll first preface this rant by saying that yes I have a kid…well, grown son and he was parented well on how to behave in public and if he acted up we left the establishment, that only happened once.
I’m finding that in kid friendly brew pubs/tasting rooms that even though there may be signage indicating that “Well Behaved” kids are welcome, apparently many parents are unfamiliar with what well behaved actually means. I’ve had more than a few visits to brew pubs ruined by kids running around like wild animals while the parents just ignore them or are clueless. I’ve not yet approached a server or pub manager to have them bring it to the parents attention that their lack of parental supervision is encroaching on others enjoyment. I’m good with well behaved kids and parents who actually parent, but too many times it seems I’m in Chucky Effin Cheeses instead of my local brew pub. Gotta say, if I was king for a day, I would change that rule.
Any others have experience with this?
We are pet and kid friendly at my tasting room/biergarten. I know it offends some people but I enjoy a family atmosphere. Luckily for us the kids usually stay outside and aren’t running around the tap room. We have a very big “green” venue next to us.
Parents need to do their jobs and stop being wusses.
We also need thicker skins.
When both of those things happen, everything will be right with the world. But, those things will never both happen at the same time. Can’t make everybody happy all of the time. We can only strive to make some people happy some of the time.
I agree, but the nice thing is we really don’t NEED to do anything. When I see kids in a bar, I leave. Not leave angry. Not start a campaign. I just leave. It’s totally that bar’s business how they choose to run it. Frankly, I prefer to enjoy a beer at home. It’s rare I go out. So the kid bars are not losing anything by trying to change to meet my needs.
The right answer is the football field size green space directly adjacent to and open to Majorvice’s tap room. Those parents can be pretty hands off and kids can be kids. It works. His old tap room had a large back yard. That worked to.
Bringing kids to a normal bar with no place to get up and play is no more fun for them than for the adults in the bar.
Depends upon the kids…and dogs. If they ARE well behaved I stick around. If they are yelling, screaming, or barking I split. I know people love their kids and their dogs and want to spend time with them. I suggest if you cannot control either you should spend time with them in the comfort of your own home and not disturb others.
Dogs inside is a bad idea unless it’s a “dog bar” where everyone knows what they’re getting themselves into. Kids can be well behaved, although that’s really up to the parents.
What really drives me nuts is what appears to be a common thought among many parents that it’s community parenting time and let their kids run wild. I’ve had kids throw rocks at myself and my wife and we’ve both almost bowled over kids running past us. If you bring your kids then you need to be responsible for them. Kids, dogs, other adults in your group. You showed up with them then you’re responsible for them. That’s not just on the parents; it’s on the brewery/brewpub too. If they are letting kids/dogs/adults run around acting up then that’s the environment they want to allow. It’s just not how I want to spend my time.
In Iowa, Des Moines area at least, if you only have a tap room (i.e. no food service) then no kids are allowed in. Basically you are a bar and bars are adult entertainment venues, not family places. It makes it easy for the bar owner since it’s the law.
If you have a restaurant then kids can be there with you.
It generally works okay. I’ve only heard of one place having a problem with it. That was because they are located beside a popular bike trail and if Mom and Dad wanted a beer, they had to ditch the kids somewhere. They contracted with a couple food trucks to get around it.
I personally don’t think kids really belong in bars but I also spent many evenings waiting for my parents to come pick me up after an out of town game at the VFW club since they were the only place open (unless the bowling alley got it license back for awhile). It’s pretty slim pickings in a town of 350 out in rural Iowa.
Oh, and the bars in Germany are pretty nice. The kids are used to being there and the parents still parent over there. 8^)
I’m of the too bad opinion. All of the considerations people are making are normal kids in public considerations. I’m less ok with dogs considering many people don’t know what their dogs can handle. If your dog needs to be approached slowly, he shouldn’t be in crowded places.
Dogs fine, kids… no way!
Sadly it seems there aren’t any kid free places anymore. I was just in Vegas and there were strollers everywhere in the casinos at all hours.
Whats next… take the little ones to the strip bar?
If in a Biergarten under the trees at picnic tables with food, music, and fun where alcohol is not the point but rather an enjoyable treat to be savored: everyone’s welcome in my world. Kids, dogs, grandma, everybody.
In a smoke filled, dimly lit juke joint/bar/tavern/dive where sport drinking is taking place: adults only for me. Get a sitter — no kids, no dogs, put grandma to bed already. Stupid human tricks will take place at these places and kids should not be calling 911.
