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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to ask about dd drinking in a restaurant?

103 replies

minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:00

My dd is 17 and as a family we occasionally have wine with dinner or a couple of glasses on a Sat night watching x factor or whatever. Today was my d's first day of college. Afterwards I met her in town and we went to a Wetherspoons for a bite to eat. I ordered a carafe of wine and 2 glasses, as a wee bit of a celebration really. Halfway through the meal a bartender came over and asked d for id. I explained right away that she was 17 but I was her mum and I was ok with it. He said that no, she couldn't drink in there and we'd have to leave. Tonight there has been much debate in the house about this. I was CONVINCED that 16 yo could drink wine or cider in a restaurant if accompanied by an adult? I can't for the life of me remember where I heard this though. Any restaurateurs around to clarify?

OP posts:
PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 29/08/2012 22:02

Is it different because it's a public house & not an eatery as I thought the same.

Chucked out of a spoonies though! Grin

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 29/08/2012 22:02

If she's having a meal - then you can drink wine with a meal from 14.

BreeVanDerTramp · 29/08/2012 22:03

I have no idea but I vaguely remember hearing that over 14s could have a glass of wine with a meal in a restaurant. I hope it didn't spoil your afternoon out and you drank the wine yourself Wink

Loshad · 29/08/2012 22:03

you were right, 16 and 17 yo can drink wine/beer with a meal if accompanied, and paid for by an over 18

Catsmamma · 29/08/2012 22:04

I thought you were fine, over sixteen with a meal, if it was ordered for you by an over eighteen.

We have done this often enough with ds1 and dd.

BreeVanDerTramp · 29/08/2012 22:04

Just saw you had to leave Blush. Did you have to pay?

MrsKeithRichards · 29/08/2012 22:04

I was under the impression it was 16 with a meal.

There Witherspoon places are super strict though or I could be wrong.

I've only ever seen carafes on holiday

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 29/08/2012 22:04

But having said that - every land lord can adapt rules to suit themselves, ie some bars will have an 18/21/25/30 age restriction

Original poster
minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:04

I KNEW it. I am livid now. Especially as I guzzled the bottle myself quickly before we left and now have a banging headache! Sad

OP posts:
carma · 29/08/2012 22:05

She can drink alcohol in a restaurant, pub, etc if she is 16+ and has ordered/is eating a meal and accompanied by an over 18.

carma · 29/08/2012 22:06

Too slow typing!

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 29/08/2012 22:06

I always thought that a 14 year old and older could have a drink when eating with an over 18 accompanying them.

Bloody hell at being kicked out of Wetherspoons. Grin

brighthair · 29/08/2012 22:06

I'm sure there is something about a designated eating area or restaurant. I should know this after 27 years in pubs!

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 29/08/2012 22:06

legally you can give a 5yo alcohol - but that would be frowned upon Grin

Celticlassie · 29/08/2012 22:06

I think it depends on the establishment though, as they can refuse to serve anyone they like.

MrsKeithRichards · 29/08/2012 22:07

My 6 year old has a sip of my wine at home.

WorraLiberty · 29/08/2012 22:07

It's entirely up to the Management.

We had this in a Harvester when my DS was 17 and they said it was against their own personal rules...or that of the company anyway.

Why did they ask you to leave instead of asking her to stop drinking?

ravenAK · 29/08/2012 22:07

Over 16 with a meal. But it's up to the licensee.

Original poster
minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:08

We've always been relaxed about alcohol. I think this sends out the wrong message to young people about responsible drinking. It's not like we were knocking back shots of bloody tequila and getting sloshed.

OP posts:
PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 29/08/2012 22:08

You should def. look this up and complain!

Did you pay?

Sue for damages, say your neighbours find out you were booted out of a spoonies and you can't hold your head up no more. Sad

savoycabbage · 29/08/2012 22:09

I think being chucked out of a weatherspoons will have marked her day much better than the wine and meal anyway. Grin She'll never forget. You better start planing her first day at university right now.

Ismeyes · 29/08/2012 22:09

This doesn't surprise me in a Wetherspoons - at the grand old age of 19 I was asked to leave Wetherspoons for ordering a coffee and not having any ID! I am not even particularly young looking!

MrsKeithRichards · 29/08/2012 22:09

I'm laughing at the thought of you downing the rest of it.

Totally the sort of thing I'd do. I'd stand up, down it, slam it down on the table with a harrumph and flounce like I've never flounced before!

PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 29/08/2012 22:09

I agree op. teaching her to enjoy a drink responsibly is a good idea. When I was 17 I was hoiying back thunderbird and bring sick in shop doorways.

brighthair · 29/08/2012 22:10

Google tells me

If the table is in an eating only area then yes, the establishment can choose to allow 16+ to drink alcohol with their meals... Up to the pub though...

If it's a table in the pub that can be used for eating or drinking then the 18+ rule applies...also up to company police and landlord discretion

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