Younger people treated differently, AIBU?

[YourBrightFawn]

Me and DD (19) regularly go to the theatre and pay for the lounge package for before the show and during the interval. If you have food and drink in the lounge then you pay for it during the interval and not at the time of ordering, you always pay for it in the interval. DD went with her friend (20 years old) last night and was told that they couldn’t pay during the interval like everyone else would and that they had to pay at the time of ordering “in case” they “didn’t pay as younger people are less likely to pay” (DD said the staff member used those words) but everyone else in the lounge was able to pay during the interval as normal. DD doesn’t see the problem and says she was happy to just pay at the time of ordering when they asked and not during the interval like usual but I think it’s age discrimination and absolutely outrageous to judge people based on age like that. AIBU? DH doesn’t see the problem and DD doesn’t either but I think it’s outrageous and discrimination.

I just think that it’s totally unfair to judge people solely on their age like they did to my DD and her friend.

Meh. They didn't mind paying. I think you're making a mountain out of a molehill. Older people are treated differently in other ways!

Which theatre group is it? I wonder if it’s a policy or just an individual staff member decision. Dd used to work in a similar role, I’ll ask her.

in general though audience behaviour has massively declined so staff are a lot more wary.

In some cases it’s legit to treat people differently based on age. Younger people also pay more for car insurance for example, because they are more likely to have an accident.

If it’s based in the theatre’s past experience then it’s not prejudice, it’s a reasonable precaution for them to take.

Yeah its always been like this, it is what it is don't you remember being a teen and being in shops while the security guard just followed you round

It's not what we do at work but I can understand why, if they have had a lot of problems, they might implement this policy. Lots of "runners" has a sever negative impact

The theatre is part of ATG.

Dd has worked in several ATG venues & did lounge hosting in two of them.

DH and DD don’t see the issue but I just think it’s not right to judge people solely on their age like that.

Let me know what she says if possible please, thank you in advance. I’m not sure if it’s a company policy though or just that particular staff member decided that they should pay upfront because of their age.

I think it’s discrimination though for them to have judged them on their age like they did.

One other question. Was it a touring show or a west end venue? At certain shows staff may be more wary (jukebox type shows for example) Bodyguard & Pretty Woman were very difficult for staff.

Mary poppins musical at the Liverpool Empire.

Yep, age discrimination.

Not a venue she’s ever worked at (she lives there now but they had no vacancies). But I’ll ask her.

Would you rather they lose money than take practical steps to prevent it? Young people get advantages over older people in some cases (because they're generally healthier and more attractive than the rest of us, for example). It's just life. If your daughter wasn't even bothered, it's probably best to let it go and find something else to worry about.

Thank you

If your daughter wasn't bothered then you should respect her views and leave it. Ultimately if you have food and drink you have to pay for it at some point so it really is immaterial.

It's the same as "only 2 schoolchildren at a time"

That’s what I think too.

That’s different though. That’s not the same situation at all.

Yes it is - it's a policy made based on age and trouble that is most likely to happen with that age

I still think it’s not right though. In a shop you haven’t already paid for anything until you go to the till so I can understand why they worry about shoplifting there but in the lounge you have already paid for the lounge itself but just not for the food and drink until the interval.

I’m not going to contact the theatre on DD’s behalf but I do think it’s age discrimination and outrageous though.

Bit odd - having worked front of house, old people are just as likely to be rude crazies as young people. Usually with more entitlement if they've been coming for decades longer than you've worked there.

Phrase your complaint to them as a query and you'll get a better response.