Banning kids from restaurants?

I agree with the owner 100%. Parents today let their children run wild. When I first became a mother, if her father and I went out to a casual dining place and she began to scream, one of us would take her out of the situation. If it continued, the one remaining at the table would request doggie bags and pay the bill. I would NEVER subject anyone to my daughter's screaming while they are trying to eat. But parents today often think it's perfectly fine to let their kids scream--they tune them out! I was raised in the 70s and 80s...and my parents would make sure we didn't pitch a fit! I was brought up with "children were seen but not heard", and if we were heard, we got smacked! But parents now (in my experience) aren't very good at realizing that their child is annoying everyone else around them! I compliment parents with beautiful children, and offer praise if their child is well-behaved; if they're screaming, I don't look at them nor do I compliment their parents. If they truly need a break, perhaps they should invest in a babysitter! Or start training their kids at home on proper restaurant behavior!

I think an establishment owner has the right to decide who may frequent their establishment. I have raised two daughters and I have always been fine with the concept that there are places where my children are not welcome, either by law (such as pubs and bars) or by choice. People, unfortunately, do not always properly care for their children in public. A restaurant is not a playground and yet you see many parents who sit down to eat and give no regard whatsoever for the behavior of their children. I've had kids standing at my table, staring at me eating, crawling under my table, between everyone's legs, etc. I've had the unpleasant experience of eating at a buffet restaurant and watching people's children grabbing at and eating food from the steam tables with their bare hands (rather than serving utensils) - this is not only unsanitary but it's also dangerous to a child. We have all had meals disrupted by children who scream at the top of their lungs because they are bored and won't sit still while their parents dine. It's really just unpleasant. For some people, eating in a restaurant these days is a rare treat (because they may not really be able to afford it very often) and to have the experience ruined by someone else's unrestrained children is not right. From the time my children were very young, they were taught that if they misbehaved in a restaurant, the bill would be paid immediately (whether or not we were done eating) and we would we go straight home - and I wasn't kidding. I wanted them to respect other patrons regardless of whether we were eating at McDonald's or a nice quality "sit down" establishment. It has always been my experience that, when children are quiet and well-behaved, they are actually treated very well in almost any restaurant.

Recently there has been a few cases where alchol was served to very small children. Supposed to have been cases of mislabeling. Those places should bann anyone under legal age. Really i would think that most places would loose business by banning children under six. Personally i wouldnt go into them. Parents should take their children outside when they misbehave. If the parents seem not bothered by their childs actions then staff should ask that famil to leave. Many children behave well. Why spoil it for the good kids?

I don't think children should be banned from restaurants, but it's sad that so many parents have lost the ability to correctly discipline their kids and they seem unable to teach them how to behave in public places. It's a nightmare hoping to go out for a nice meal and a quiet chat with a friend or whoever, only to have the whole experience ruined by little monsters who run around, screech, scream and generally wreak havoc, whilst their parents sit and smile or ignore the bad behaviour. I'm not blaming the kids....it's the parents....they really should be teaching their children what's appropriate behaviour for certain places. For instance, it's fine for them to scream and run around in a children's playground, for example, but not in a restaurant, library, church or wherever. A supermarket close to me has put a notice up stating that children running riot and out of control in the store will, along with their parents, be asked to leave. Should the staff encounter an aggressive response from parents or children who are asked to leave for uncontrolled, riotous behaviour, the police will be called in. It's so sad that it's come to that, but these parents really only have themselves to blame and as always, at the end of the day, it's the children who suffer as without kind, proper, firm discipline, they aren't going to grow into adults who can fit respectfully into society. Rant over! :-)

This is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Let me know what place this is so I remember not to patronize them ever...even when I don't have the baby. I suppose the owner can do what he likes, but I think this will highly affect his business. He should only get patrons that don't have children which is not many. I think any self respecting parent would be offended. But then, there are those that want to go out and not have to deal with children. So it could be looked at both ways I suppose. I'm going to have to digress on this one. It's like going to a club that for 21 and over, which I prefer. Don't want to dance with the kiddies, lol. Double standard I know, buy hey, I'm playing the human card right here, lol.

I think it is wrong to ban children under 6. Not ALL children are rude and disruptive. I make my children behave. They know they better not act like animals anywhere we go. My mother's church always says how quiet and well behaved my children are in service! They are always complimenting me for that because other kids there scream and act horrible. So, I think there should be a sign up in the resturant that says if your child is disruptive or overly noisy we can refuse to serve you. There you go. That would stop most of it and they would deserve it. But for someone like me with my kids it is not fair at all. I know how to be strict, my kids know who the parent is. I think this is another assumption and generalization... NOT ALL CHILDREN ARE BAD, NOISY or DISRUPTIVE!

At first I disagreed with banning children because they're part of a family and it doesn't seem right, but restaurants should have the right to serve whoever they want to. Of course this means that if they refuse service to 6 year olds and younger, they can refuse service to others based on age, gender, financial means or social standing. Why not? So they cut their customer base. It doesn't hurt anyone but them, so let them do it. If I had children under six right now, would I even want to go to a restaurant where I knew they were unwelcome? Nope. If they don't want my money, I'll go elsewhere, no problem. If enough people thought that way, they might not even have to serve anyone.

I think it is a great idea. The sad thing is All of this could be avoided if parents could get their kids to be quiet. I'm all for this at posh restaurants , but at family style restaurants ? They can't. I heard the restaurant gained more customers! so the ban worked.

I will be very disappointed if there is a restaurant that will ban children. As I have a child and I pay attention to have a family time together. So if my child can't go to the restaurant, we won't go there. And this restaurant will lose the potential customers. I can understand that sometimes the children may cause troubles. But after all, one day they will grow up and will be your customers. So they will lose these customers and this is very stupid. McDonald's does a good job in this aspect because children all like going there. I love China

Apparently this WAS a specific type of restaurant, but I still disagree with this. To me this is AGE discrimination, which is against the law. I think this was one of those fancy places where generally people are not going to be bringing kids anyway, but I see some issues with this. First of all, the BIG HUGE AGE DISCRIMINATION thing going on. I don't think this is okay, it's like saying 'we don't want any senior citizens here'. Think THAT would get peoples' hackles up? Why is it okay to exclude children when very old people could be just as disruptive? Then what about couples who have a new baby? I know that my husband and I went out quite a few times with a baby and she slept THE WHOLE TIME. Not only did she not disturb us, she didn't disturb ANYBODY. Except for the presence of an infant carrier with a small blanket blocking the light, nobody would even know we had a baby with us. I also have a few things to say to the people who complain that all kids are brats and loud and disruptive. SOME OF THEM ARE NOT. I am offended that the owner of any establishment would ASSUME that ALL children are that way and therefore put a blanket rule to exclude ALL children based on the bad behavior of SOME. If the place is a BAR, I can understand banning children, but that's a well understood legal thing. I could also understand if they state 'no minors after 8 PM' or something similar. An all-out all-hours ban is ridiculous. Nobody is saying that children are the center of the universe, but neither are adults, especially arrogant ones who believe they deserve the right to move about the world without having to see children. If the children are misbehaving, the parents should take them home, and any establishment should reserve the right to ask such patrons to leave. I believe that is perfectly legal. I just do not believe that people should be punished BEFORE they commit a crime. A better idea entirely would be to post a sign which says 'any person who is obnoxious, destructive, disruptive, loud, or throwing a tantrum will be asked to leave this establishment and not invited back'. I have encountered more ADULTS who fit this description recently than children. I think these adults need to be made aware that their behavior is noted and not appreciated. It is my sincere hope that this restaurant suffers by having fewer patrons in the future. I certainly would not take my business there.

Absolutely a good idea. More restaurants should do this. When I go out, which is seldom, I want to eat in an atmosphere free of noise and stress. Too often have I been forced to eat with small kids running around, sitting and whining, babies crying, throwing food all around, and just all manner of inappropriate behavior for a public place. I've refused to go back into establishments where I know there will be kids. It's bad enough that we have to deal with there shenanigans in groceries, movies, hairdresser's etc. A restaurant that will afford us a little peace and quiet for the duration of a good meal will receive my patronage over and over.

I think it should just be a certain type of restaurant, and not all restaurants. I mean like for a fine-dining restaurant I guess it's understandable for the management not to allow kids inside the restaurant. In not-so-fancy restaurants though, like fast foods (McDonald's, Jollibee, etc), I think it's okay. I think the reason why the restaurant owners do this is because children, especially those throwing tantrums can be pretty disturbing and annoying to some customers who just wanted to have an enjoyable and relaxing meal, as well as to some businessmen and professionals having business lunch/dinner meetings. I do believe though that it should be the parents' responsibility to calm their children or bring them outside for a bit in order not to disturb the other customers. However, not all parents recognize this so perhaps that's why the restaurant owners have decided to impose such measures. I guess that when we have children, some things change. Like some privileges are no longer applicable and we have to understand and accept that. Like dining in fancy restaurants for instance.

Well, in my opinion, children under X (6 as you said), should be banned from entering restaurants ALONE. But I'm concerned not about the children until 6, but about teenagers, who rather choose restaurant or cafe to spend the "free time" than to go to school. My classmates used to go to restaurants and cafes during lessons. This is not OK. That's why they never graduated... A child is a child and a scholar is a scholar. Child always has much free time, but scholar should go to school and not to restaurants or cafes. They are risking their future. That's all. Hope You got the picture.

what? Some kind of racist?

I like the way you worded your question. Yes, it should be a certain TYPE of restaurant. I have no clear cut answer on this. I understand the restaurant's point of view...misbehaving children have gotten out of hand, it's a growing problem for that restaurant & they are consistently having regular customers complain. Here's where the TYPE of restaurant comes in. If it's a somewhat quiet establishment, then by all means, ban children. Although I wonder what age limit they've placed on the children...do they ban up to school age or say, to age 10? There are plenty of family friendly restaurants that you can take your children to in order to teach them the proper behavior. Good manners start at home, but kids definitely need to experience eating at restaurants in order to really learn what's expected of them. I think it's very sad that so many parents aren't willing to teach their children good manners and take them to restaurants expecting the restaurant staff and fellow customers to make exceptions for their children. If I'm going to a quiet restaurant, there's a reason for that - I expect it to be QUIET. I don't expect to have to deal with your child running up to my table to say "hi". I don't expect to have to see children running around the tables, interfering with the wait staff. I don't expect to have to sit through you yelling at your child over & over to come back to the table. The kids aren't the only ones misbehaving here, it's the parents as well!

I totally agree with the ban. I can only wish this happens in my country too. I agree with an earlier post that parents have lost their ability to control their child(ren). Too many a times I've had my dining pleasure spoiled by a screaming child. Or have a child run into my chair, and running off without as much as an apology. If parents can't control their children, then they don't deserve to dine outside!

I think instead of banning kids, there should be a separate section, just like some restaurants have a smoking section. Families have a right to dine together, but adults have a right to not have to be exposed to misbehaving children. I think if it is a really fancy restaurant where formal attire is preferred, maybe they can get away with it; but most restaurants cater to families and should not ban children.

I think if it is a high class restaurant where people expect service, food and atmosphere to be perfect, children should be banned if they are under 13. I work retail and it seems to me that parents do not take control of their children like they should. Kids need to be taught good manners no matter where they are at. I agree with the owner when he stated that the child is not the center of the universe.

It's up to the restaurant, and it's okay with me. Restaurants try to serve their customers, that's the only way they make money, and certain customers want to go to places where there are not young children spoiling the experience with noise or whatever else.

I don't think this is fair at all. Some children under the age of 6 are vary well behaved . M y child has manners and is vary well behaved in a public place specially a resistant. I think this Old fuddy duddy should step back and rethink his decision . I mean it is nice to go into a place that don't have children but people need to reinitialize that they were once a child and no matter where you go your gonna one, two or maybe five.