DD making her own way home from a bar job in the city centre.

I think you're right that they won't do it but I still think they should if employing young non drivers. It's a dangerous world and a young woman regularly finishing work late is vulnerable.

Some definitely did. I had a shared taxi home with other staff.

Generally I don't understand why anyone would encourage their teens to work in a bar, surrounded by drunk people, let alone late at night. It doesn't provide any better work experience than retail or similar.

If there is no other choice and she has a real need for the money, then it is what is. But that's the case here, so why?

(Edit to say: I've got nothing against an 18yo going out to bars or pubs btw, I just think it's a shit job and shit work conditions for most young people. It's not very compatible with studying either)

OP, your daughter sounds like an admirable young woman and you should be very proud of her. She'll be fine, but the point is that this is her decision to make. You won't know what she's up to once she gets to university!

I'm not sure what planet you live on where pubs pay for that sort of thing.

They certainly didn't in all jobs. I was working as a 16-21 year old in the late 90s early 2000s in bars, restaurants and then doing care work starting and finishing at all hours day and night and none of them ever provided a taxi.

Your daughter sounds like a very capable and hard working person. She's done so well to get an unconditional offer and a job! I completely understand your worries. However, it probably is good experience for her. She'll be living away soon enough and probably doing similar work. My eldest's first job at uni was in a bar/club in a really rough part of the city. My anxiety was - if anything - worse because he was so far away. But I was glad that, like your DD, he'd had some experience of the job and getting home after the late finish previously. It was pretty scant reassurance but it was some! What does annoy me is that when I worked till 3am in clubs in the 90s, we were provided with taxis home as standard. I think it's really irresponsible of businesses to no longer do this. But for every minimum wage bar job - in a university town especially - there are numerous candidates for each and every minimum wage role. It sucks. The worry doesn't go away. But you probably have to support her choice here.

how would the bar have any control over what driver is assigned? there aren't many female drivers, for one thing.

An 8 minute uber costs me about a tenner, a 40-50minute journey at 2am will be at least £50! No bar is going to pay that for multiple staff every shift, they'll just hire people who are willing to get themselves there or live close.

I was thinking this, the night buses in my city were cancelled during covid and have never been reinstated. Even if they do run, how often? Finishing at 2am and getting a 2.10 bus home is different to finishing at 2am and waiting around in the rain until 2.50.

Not to mention presumably the most common late night shifts will be on the weekend - she'll be knackered if she's up at 7ish, in school all day friday then working 6-2am, then again saturday, home by about 3.30am sunday night then back in school all week - I'm not one of those 'A levels should be their sole priority' but those working hours really aren't ideal for revising.

Maybe see how she gets on, a few weeks of it and she might decide for herself it's no good?

I think if finishing that late, the bar should provide a cab home. Preferably a female driver.

I think it’s fine, it’ll be busy. 5am I’d be concerned

I wouldn't like that at all but I am an anxiety ridden wreck a lot of the time.

Do the buses even run at that time ?

She's 18. Let her sort it out.

You're being a smother.

She's 18. She'll be leaving home soon. It's time to let go.

You've told her what you think. That's all you can reasonably do. She's an adult living in a free country.

We have just had words on her way home as while I’m glad the interview went well I just don’t think I’d be comfortable with her getting a night bus back on her own while the pubs and clubs are piling out. Her argument is she hasn’t been able to find anything else so it’s this or nothing and I know she really wants the money.

Had words with her? An 18 year old showing initiative and wanting to work? What a shame for her. And 'her argument is...' she shouldn't have to put up an argument over this

She was probably excited and happy and you just brought her right down. Bloody shame for her.

I can understand your concerns. My DS is doing similar at the moment in a South London suburb known for knife issues. It was the only thing he could find after graduating (so is older).
But the point is, he applied for loads of jobs (to cover until his grad job starts in September), and it was the only one he got, even with a decent CV. It is really hard to get part time/casual work at the moment. Extra hours go to existing employees, rather than employing new staff.

I don’t think it is the same as being with a group of friends at all completely different imo. My DC and their friends all look out for each other in nights out. I worked in Casino bar at Uni and regulars could be creepy and hang around after closing knowing I was leaving. Thankfully, the bouncers always walked me to the bus stop.

I would pick her up the first few times and see if she has made friends at work and if she feels they all will look out for each other on the way home. If someone else is going to the bus station to get the night bus that is fine too.

We prioritised DC driving even though like your DD their Uni is in a non car friendly city. It didn’t cross our minds to postpone learning to drive just because of the Uni they were going to. It is a life skill after all.

I would have the same concerns as you OP and I’m someone who lives in a reasonably nice/safe city (although somewhat sporadic bus service).

It’s totally different from just going out to pubs/clubs, if she was going out then she’s probably unlikely to be alone. Finishing work she may well be alone if she doesn’t have a co-worker who is travelling in the same direction.

I would feel nervous about her at 2 am in a city -waiting for a bus - up to 10pm no problem but 2 am no I would not be happy

My dd is in a similar position. Went for a normal hours job in the town centre. They’ve manipulated it into starting at 5am at another branch on an industrial estate through various underpasses. It’s not safe. They should provide a taxi if they want young people to do these hours. They used to.