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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:
Original poster
minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:10

I did say she'll stop drinking then, but the guy said she's already been drinking in here which isn't permitted, you'll have to leave.

OP posts:
Goofus · 29/08/2012 22:10

Bloody Wetherspoons.
Not long ago, a friend and I went in there for a drink. Now, I very much look my full 29 years but they decided to I.D us. I realised I didn't have my I.D on me so annoyingly (fair enough) I accepted I couldn't order an alcoholic drink.
But! They wouldn't even let me order a pepsi. Or my friend (who did have I.D) get a pepsi for me. Utterly ridiculous! We had to leave. Blush

WorraLiberty · 29/08/2012 22:11

Stupid fuckers should have checked her id before she started drinking then Hmm

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 29/08/2012 22:11

I am also laughing at you knocking the wine back, whilst muttering at the barman under your breath. Grin

If this happened with my dd in tow she would be thrilled and tell all her mates that her mum was slung out of Wetherspoons for encouraging underage drinking (all wildly exaggerated of course).

Gumby · 29/08/2012 22:11

They do carafes at wetherspoons ?!!

At ours it says if you're with children you can have 2 drinks with a meal & any more you have to leave Shock

Panzee · 29/08/2012 22:11

Did you ask for a full refund? I would have, but then I'm an awkward so and so.

carma · 29/08/2012 22:12

Look this up ... complain ... Hmm

GIYF. Google Is Your Friend.

www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Yourchildshealthandsafety/Youngpeopleandalcohol/DG_10026211

Gumby · 29/08/2012 22:12

So if I want a g&t with my starter
Glass of wine with my main thats it
If I want a baileys with my pudding & the dcs are present they'll refuse to serve me!!

Enfyshedd · 29/08/2012 22:13

This is the law: www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/17/part/7/crossheading/children-and-alcohol

150Consumption of alcohol by children(1)An individual aged under 18 commits an offence if he knowingly consumes alcohol on relevant premises.
(2)A person to whom subsection (3) applies commits an offence if he knowingly allows the consumption of alcohol on relevant premises by an individual aged under 18.
(3)This subsection applies?
(a)to a person who works at the premises in a capacity, whether paid or unpaid, which authorises him to prevent the consumption, and
(b)where the alcohol was supplied by a club to or to the order of a member of the club, to any member or officer of the club who is present at the premises at the time of the consumption in a capacity which enables him to prevent it.
(4)Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply where?
(a)the individual is aged 16 or 17,
(b)the alcohol is beer, wine or cider,
(c)its consumption is at a table meal on relevant premises, and
(d)the individual is accompanied at the meal by an individual aged 18 or over.
(5)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction?
(a)in the case of an offence under subsection (1), to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale, and
(b)in the case of an offence under subsection (2), to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale.

It appears that Wetherspoons staff are not fully versed with licencing laws that's not surprising considering the number of underage drinkers and drunks being served in my local 'Spoons.

MrsKeithRichards · 29/08/2012 22:13

Yeah I'd have been well impressed if I'd got chucked out of a pub with my mum at that age. Stuff of legends!

Original poster
minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:13

None of you have carafes at your local Spoonies? Shock Oh you've never lived. This is quite a 'posh' one though, if there's such a thing!

OP posts:
Hulababy · 29/08/2012 22:14

I got refused entry to a Wetherspoons once because I was wearing inappropriate footwear - I had a pair of little canvas pumps on with a long dress. Who knows???

Goofus · 29/08/2012 22:14

Yes ours warned us we were only allowed 2 drinks with our meal when we had DD with us!
Not that I would particularly want to drink more than 1 anyway but being told what to do didn't sit well with me tbh.

maybenow · 29/08/2012 22:15

the law says she can but i'm not surprised weatherspoons say she can't as otherwise they'd have gangs of 16 an 17 yr olds eating there every weekend so they could drink.

NovackNGood · 29/08/2012 22:18

I hope you refused to pay.

NovackNGood · 29/08/2012 22:19

On second thoughts give them a quid then if you are wrong it is a civil case instead of criminal.

SomethingProfound · 29/08/2012 22:19

You can drink beer , wine or cider from the age of 16 as long as you are eating a meal, and accompanied by an adult. However it is at the discretion of the management, also an individual premises may have a stipulation with in their premises license that doesn't even allow under 18's on site.

Also just because you can allow something doesn't mean you have to, I'm a personal licence holder and in my site only over 18's can drink, mainly to stop it becoming a destination for underage drinkers and to protect my staff and business.

If in doubt ask.

Original poster
minikimmi · 29/08/2012 22:19

I had already paid when I ordered, and I had eaten (most of) the meal and drank (downed) the wine...

OP posts:
NovackNGood · 29/08/2012 22:21

You had to pay when you ordered??? Was it a cafeteria?

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

Wetherspoons always take payment at time of ordering?!

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

It's wetherspoons novack. They chain you to the chairs as well.

PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 29/08/2012 22:23

Complain mini. If they insisted you left and you didn't break the law worth a shot!

Gumby · 29/08/2012 22:25

Trouble is with wetherspoons they can't decide if they're a pub or a restaurant

ravenAK · 29/08/2012 22:30

Quite impressed, though. I go to lots of gigs, & the pre-gig meeting up point is usually '...we'll all be in the 'spoons round the corner from the venue'.

Can honestly say that given the behaviour I've witnessed over the years, I didn't believe it was possible to get kicked out of a Wetherspoons. If there's not a fight by 8pm the manager starts one...Grin

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