Two Drink Limit For Parents?

A chain of pubs in the U.K. has started enforcing a two-drink limit for all patrons who are dining with children. According to the report, the management of the chain has implemented this policy to discourage parents from keeping their children in a pub all day (although the reasons given for the discouragement differ - the company says it is "unfair" to the children, while others argue that it is more about not having children in pubs for long periods of time because they get too rambunctious.)

For reference, I suggest you read the Wikipedia page on pubs before continuing, as it differentiates between a pub, bar, restaurant, and other types of establishments, particularly in the U.K.

This is an interesting story to me, primarily because it is not a straightforward situation. On the one hand, if we believe the management's position that they are doing this to prevent kids from being stuck in a pub all night while a parent gets loaded, then it is clearly an altruistic policy: they are forgoing profits for the sake of children. However, if we believe the alternative theory, that they are just trying to discourage families from staying around too long, then it seems discriminatory. But, even if it is discriminatory, if it keeps kids from being forced to sit in a pub all day while Mommy or Daddy gets drunk, is it really wrong?

Personally, this rule would not affect me. I am, at best, a social drinker. For the entire 11 days of my Christmas holiday, I consumed one alcoholic beverage. So, a drinker I am not. The reasons for this are quite simple, and no, it is not because I am in AA or anything of that nature. My father has what I have chosen to identify as an "elbow problem", as in he bends it too much. I remember how this made me feel as a kid, and so I avoid making my daughter feel the same way. Therefore, I suspect that any opinion I have on this subject will be heavily coloured by my own experiences, and wanted to clarify before continuing.

Honestly, I see nothing wrong with this policy. If a parent is out with their child, they still have a responsibility to be a parent. It does not matter if one of the parents is drinking water to be the designated driver (as was the case in the story that brought this policy to the public eye), parenting involves more than being a safe driver. I am not trying to say that drinking alcohol in front of one's child is necessarily bad parenting, but I do believe that drinking to excess is, and so limiting someone to two drinks is a reasonable mechanism to prevent this.

In reality, there are always other options for those who feel it is their right to have more than two beers when out for dinner with their family. This is just one pub that has taken a stand (for whatever reason) and opted to discourage those who would drink excessively with children; there are plenty others. Not to mention the alternative of going there to get drunk without one's kids.

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Comments

[Laural]

I'm with you on this one.
We've never really sat down and discussed this, per se, but we generally draw the line anyway.
If we are out somewhere with our son where we would be driving one of us doesn't drink. (the exception would be maybe at my parents if we were toasting Christmas I'd do a toast, but that's it.)
When we go out with Matthew to a restaurant Mike may get a beer - but I can't imagine him getting more than 2. Max.
If we want to be out and tipsy/drunk it's not with my son.
If we are at home and having a few drinks it is after he goes to bed.
But, I can't honestly remember a time when we have both drunk excessively with our son around. We've gone out, but had him stay at my sister's/mom's for the night (i.e.a couple night's away) or one of us has gone out with a friend while the other stayed home.
A bit of a sacrifice, sure, but worth it.
Besides, my child would not sit still while we drank multiple drinks (shots, maybe?) and I can only imagine my husband, drunk, chasing Matt around a pub.

[Assertagirl]

When I worked at the Air Canada Centre we imposed a two-drink purchase limit on patrons. Of course, this meant they could return and purchase two more...

I think it's okay for the establishment to set this policy, as long as they aren't breaking any local laws, but it won't stop people from getting pissed at home and then heading to the pub with the kids.

[Don Mills Diva]

I don't agree with this policy actually. Generally I don't believe anyone needs more than two drinks if they're out with their kids, but the thing is you can't legislate common sense and Big Brotherish- paternalistic laws like this make me queasy.

[metro mama]

I think there should be a two-drink MINimum when you're trying to dine in public with toddlers.