Whetherspoons to limit parents drinks

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7170939.stm

What do you guys think? Are they right or wrong?

I know there are some parents that go ott. But I think it would put me off taking the family to Whetherspoons for a lunchtime spot of nosh and a pint. I don't want to feel that I'm being watched whenever one of us goes to the bar for a drink.

Say you've had your two, your kids are perfectly content waiting for their pudding, and a friend rings to say they're going to meet you there shortly. You're screwed if you want another quick one.

I'd prefer it if they just put up signs saying unruly kids will be barred! Then that would rule mine out.

Surely that's like someone tripping over in the street and someone else saying "Well if you hadn't been there in the first place, it wouldn't have happened!".

I think if people don't want to be bothered by unruly kids then they shouldn't go to pubs where they're allowed or at least go later in the day when they're less likely to be there.

Obviously it's right to limit people's alcoholic drinks if they've brought their kids so they don't get drunk, but not non-alcoholic ones.

the same argument was used for smoking but smokers are still unwelcome in All pubs

At the end of the day public houses have the right to admit or refuse to serve anyone they wish WITHOUT having to give a reason - i'm sure in reality generall common sense will prevail and it will be one of those rules which is only enforced when either the kids ARE unruly or iif someone else complains , a sort of get out clause if you will.

BUT either way at least parents can choose to go to a pub which doesn't mind kids - us smokers don't have that luxury!!

Kids generally can't give you cancer though.

no ...... but alcohol kills and maimes far more than nicotene!
DBut the point i was making is parents have alternatives to wetherspoons if they want to go to a pub with kids
That choice has been taken away from smokers
The way i see it The pubs SHOULD be allowed to choose whether they allow kids in, how many drinks the parents can have - whatever they choose - including whether they operate a smoking or non smoking policy.
If you don't like the 2 drinks policy go to a pub that doesn't opperate that policy .And i believe the same should be for smoking - if you don't want to drink in a smokey pub go to a non smoking pub - or if you don't want to work in a pub that allows smoking don't take the job - there are plenty of pubs who allow kids within the boundries of the law and i'm sure there are plenty of bar staff , publicans and punters who would appreciate the same choice for smoking!
I supose my overall opinion of this is that it may not be the smartest of moves IMO from a business sense (but time will tell) but on a grander scale ,whether this is an infringment of parents liberties, i think the smoking bann was the catalyst for us to probably lose all rights to complain since the government has set a precedent - if (in the opinion of the government) it is bad for us they can bann it
So weatherspoons are just following the way of the country - do whats best for them and try and pretend they've done it for the good of the majority!
OOOOOHHHH i love a good ramble/rant

Can see both sides - as someone who has been annoyed by kids in pubs the quicker they are in and out the better but the times when I've been out with family with young kids I wouldn't expect to have the clock ticking on the length of time we could stay there but as the BBC quote says, it's because there's nothing there for them to play with but even if there was there will still be kids making a lot of noise and annoying people

I doubt it will affect their business in a huge way whether the policy is in place or not.

If you're taking it down the smoking route though, the vast majority of pubs would no doubt have opted to stay smoking because I'm sure their profits took a hefty dip because of the ban - non-smokers would then be back to no where to breathe and enjoy a drink. My sis is a smoker and works in a pub but still prefers working in a smoke free environment.

To take the smoking thing further, at least in a smokey pub there is little chance of passive smoking affecting the kids plus you don't end up smelling like an ashtray when you get home again whether you are a smoker or not. As my gran is currently dying of lung cancer I can tell you it's not something you willingly want to pass onto people.

D