My dd popped to the pub this afternoon.

[Ponchodreams]

My dd has been at her friend's this afternoon. When she got home she informed me that they'd both popped in the local pub for a drink and a packet of crisps. Now I'm sure this was a lovely afternoon for them both and I don't suspect them of any dodgy behaviour, but they are only 12😨!! I am slightly bemused by this as it's ridiculous, but would you say anything to the pub???

Oh no, not the men’s toilets !!!! Won’t someone think of the children 🙄

@PonchodreamsYour daughter will go far!

But the licensing laws don’t say the kids have to eat a meal to be there allowed there unaccompanied. Just that the pub has to be more of a food pub as opposed to a drinking pub. So something like Toby Carvery would be fine. One of the pubs in my village would be fine but not the other.

Genuinely don't understand the issue, if it was a grotty old pub full of people smashed in the afternoon sure, but I'm guessing you would have mentioned it in the OP. I don't see a difference with going to a coffee shop, when lots of the coffee shops round here also serve alcohol.

Well the OP thought the mens toilet's was worth mentioning, otherwise how would we know about it?

Or the drug dealing etc.

Could you please link to these licensing laws that state that?

Because all I can see is AI which isn't terribly reliable, is it?

Bar?! Pubs are not bars.

Not British, so I'm clearly spectacularly missing something here, but what's the problem exactly? They had a soft drink and a snack? In daytime? And this is an issue....because?

Most children's cards don't allow them to be used in places that sell alcohol. And, very few places accept cash. My 12-year old couldn't use his card to buy a packet of crisps in the club house of a tennis club he goes to for tennis coaching on weekend mornings. How did they pay for the drinks/crisps? And, I would certainly be telling the staff off!

@mzpq I mean this with every ounce of my being take a day off. They had a j20 and a bag of crisps not double vodka red bulls and a line of coke. Just to add I have seen dealing being done in Burger King and plenty of 12 year olds go there with their friends

If the pub sells food then I think it's legal.

And your daughter is fab!

At aged 13 my daughter and her friends took themselves off to the local pub for an early dinner. They sat in the pub garden and had scampi 😁

@LeBaiserDuDragonPosters on MN love a pearl clutch and this is the latest one.

My 13 year old went to the pub with his mates for chicken wings 🙈 they were told to leave. He couldn’t understand why this was a problem.

I thought it was hilarious

Our village pub or our local weather spoons would both be completely fine for my 12 year old to pop in to, completely normal here.neither are remotely rowdy but very civilised.village pub even sells sweets behind the bar.

Because as the OP stated

The children are vulnerable
The pub is known for drunken rowdiness
The pub is known for drug dealing

The staff very probably would have refused them entry if they knew they were unaccompanied by adults.

I don’t think it’s that big a deal. I wouldn’t want her I there without an adult so I’d make that clear to her but the staff probably assumed on a busy Sunday you were in there so sold them the j20. Think reporting seems bit much. Not like they sold them a large Malbec

'With every ounce of your being'??

How dramatic 😁😁

It's just a chat forum, I really don't think I'm the one who needs time off if you're feelings are that deep.

I find this very cute tbh

The children are vulnerable

In what way did OP say they are vulnerable?

The pub is known for drunken rowdiness
The pub is known for drug dealing

I've encountered drunken rowdiness on a train and seen drug dealing in the street. Better not go out at all.

Shes got a HSBC card, she can use it anywhere. Im just trying to illustrate that it's a country pub but still a bit dodgy sometimes. Its funny as she was so frank and innocent about it, they weren't up to no good. I guess like many I was drinking in clubs at 15 so I'm not completely naive as to what can go on.

I expect the staff presumably thought the parents were also with them. Many parents send their children to the bar to get drinks, it’s not unusual.

if it’s a busy pub, it’ll go undetected, plus they may. Also look slightly older

Hit the nail on the head.

Sounds like they had a nice afternoon! Can’t see the issue and it’s not illegal

And I didn't say I would report, I said should I speak to them. I know them.

Because it’s a licensed premises not a cafe

I thought children were not allowed to approach the bar in a pub. ?