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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be not understand why...

53 replies

cookiemonster5678 · 01/03/2014 16:43

...i was asked to leave a betting shop because i had my 5 week old baby with me?

I get that there are laws in place to stop under age gambling...

BUT

He is a tiny baby, tucked up in his pram, and was fast asleep so not screaming or anything...

I can understand the problem with toddlers/young children running around, or teenagers trying to gamble underage.

I can even accept if a baby was making a lot if noise then customers may be distracted.

I also understand that young people may be influenced by seeing gambling and therefore their presence isn't appropriate. But a 5 week old quiet baby, what the actual fuck?!

I took my custom elsewhere, and was not asked to leave in the second shop!

OP posts:
Smilesandpiles · 01/03/2014 17:01

Asking questions to get the full picture isn't the same as being judgy.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 01/03/2014 17:01

People can bet online and via the phone nowadays. Is that an option for your dad?

fromparistoberlin · 01/03/2014 17:04

yabu i am afraid, a babys a child, and is under 18

LOL though at a MNetter at William Hill

fromparistoberlin · 01/03/2014 17:05

yeah on judgement here either, all my DPs have liked a flutter

Giddypants · 01/03/2014 17:07

Bet online they have some great deals for new accounts

Original poster
cookiemonster5678 · 01/03/2014 17:08

Not expecting them to break the law, like i said, the thought didn't even cross my mind when i walked in, i accepted it and left straight away, although was quietly confused and a little annoyed.

I am just putting it out there that it seems silly given that a baby isn't aware what is going on. Perhaps discretion from the staff/manager when it comes to very young babies/children.

Just because it wasn't a vital errand matter.

My dad isnt computer literate, and anyway he only makes the occasional small bet for certain football matches. I didn't realise nipping in for him while i was passing would be an issue!

Some people on here are so harsh and judgemental! Whatever happened to friendly debate!

OP posts:
Original poster
cookiemonster5678 · 01/03/2014 17:11

"LOL The thought of a MNetter at William Hill"

Why is this funny? Confused

OP posts:
Sirzy · 01/03/2014 17:11

Not expecting them to break the law

well you are, and you are expecting other places to break the law by going in with a child.

If you weren't expecting them to break the law you wouldn't be expecting to be allowed in with an under 18

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 01/03/2014 17:14

Can your dad use a phone?

fromparistoberlin · 01/03/2014 17:16

well (a) i dont usually see women at William Hill, and (b) when I do they are...shall we say the profile of lady I'd expect to see MNetting, nuff said

dont ger miffed, I just usually associate it as a very male pastime thats all

Smilesandpiles · 01/03/2014 17:16

OP: AIBU
MN: Yes
OP: No, I'm not.

I'm not being harsh or judgmental. I was asking questions so we had the bigger picture.

I'll be harsh now though:

Not expecting them to break the law, like i said, the thought didn't even cross my mind when i walked in, i accepted it and left straight away, although was quietly confused and a little annoyed.

Quietly confused? Because you were asked to leave because of the law which they are accountable for?

given that a baby isn't aware what is going on. Perhaps discretion from the staff/manager when it comes to very young babies/children.

Again, from several posters - at what age do you think that law should start to apply then? When will that end?

Just because it wasn't a vital errand matter

So you could have done this at another time - without the baby?

My dad isnt computer literate, and anyway he only makes the occasional small bet for certain football matches. I didn't realise nipping in for him while i was passing would be an issue!

Fair enough, most people like a flutter - nothing wrong with that. You wanted to place the bet for him, again, lovely of you to do adn most of us would do the same. The issue is, you started a thread asking why the betting shop was being unreasonable - they are not, they are upholding the law of No under 18's. Next time, just don't take the baby.

Some people on here are so harsh and judgemental! Whatever happened to friendly debate!

Yes some are, but there isn't on this thread, yet. A friendly dabate happens when there is a debate to be had. There isn't in this case.

Pinkdressonthewall · 01/03/2014 17:16

I used to work to work in the gaming industry and it's not rules/ policies that the shop set themselves, it's the law. If they warn to stay in business they have to follow it. The second shop you went into could get themselves in a lot of trouble (hefty fine or loss of licence) if they let under 18s in and are found out.

There's no room for betting shops to apply discretion, at least ones who don't want to face the consequences of breaking the law.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 01/03/2014 17:16

Fwiw- a lot of people who use the bookies are 'nipping in' and they arent allowed to bring children either. Also, the bookies have no idea how long you are going to be there. Regardless, you arent allowed children there for 30 seconds or 30 minutes.

Original poster
cookiemonster5678 · 01/03/2014 17:18

I was after a bit of a discussion/debate on this as i was interested in other peoples views.

Never said i expected the shop to break the law for me personally, i wont be going in again with my baby after today not that i go often, i only tried the second shop as my dad wanted it for this afternoon otherwise i would have gone another day.

Seems people are more interested in why i needed to go, why my dad couldn't go himself, whether it was an urgent errand, how much of a terrible mother i appear to be to enter a legit betting shop as it is obviously the same as a strip club/drugs den/brothel/etc... Confused

OP posts:
Smilesandpiles · 01/03/2014 17:18

Sorry for the spelling errors. I didn't read my post properly.

YoureBeingASillyBilly · 01/03/2014 17:18

For all you know OP that shop could have had a mystery shopper in at the time that they knew was watching how they dealt with you. They were acting entirely appropriately.

unlucky83 · 01/03/2014 17:19

I ran into this -but with slightly older DCs - I was somewhere I don't normally go and DD (about 3 or 4 ) announced she really needed a wee ...
I asked a woman on the street where the nearest loo was and she said they had one in the bookies just up the road ...when I got there they wouldn't let me take her in even just to use the loo - and couldn't even suggest anywhere else I could take her...said I could use it though - if I left her outside!
I asked someone else and she ended up using one in a not child friendly bit scary, intimidating, grubby, drug den looking pub...
I know there are rules like that for a reason - but surely some common sense should apply - would they really be fined/prosecuted for letting a DD walk though to the loo to wee in an emergency?

Smilesandpiles · 01/03/2014 17:20

Now you are just twisting everything.

No one said you are bad mother. The questions were asked (and I'll say this for the last time) are so we could get the bigger picture, which is usually a good idea on MN.

ikeaismylocal · 01/03/2014 17:21

Would you take a baby to a club? My ds would have loved being at a club at that age, all that loud music and movement. I ofcourse didn't take him to a club as it would have been illegal.

ilovesooty · 01/03/2014 17:23

For all you know OP that shop could have had a mystery shopper in at the time that they knew was watching how they dealt with you. They were acting entirely appropriately

Good point. I have a friend who's done a lot of mystery shopping in betting shops.

ikeaismylocal · 01/03/2014 17:24

how much of a terrible mother i appear to be to enter a legit betting shop as it is obviously the same as a strip club/drugs den/brothel/etc

Surely it wouldn't matter if you took your sleeping oblivious baby to those places either?

Pinkdressonthewall · 01/03/2014 17:30

unlucky83 the law is very clear on no under 18s while gaming is taking place.

The consequences are fines, potential closure of the business and potentially prosecution - would you risk it?

FrigginRexManningDay · 01/03/2014 17:32

Unless you are prepared to pay the fine a betting shop would get for having an under 18 on the premises then dont get huffy about being asked to leave.

Sirzy · 01/03/2014 17:32

Did you realise before you went in that it was illegal?

Nanny0gg · 01/03/2014 17:38

Your father may not be computer literate, but you are.

Why don't you open an account for him and place his bets online?