Should parents be allowed to bring their babies and children to bars?
Here’s a controversial topic where few dads are willing to go on record. However, with March Madness upon us, and the opportunity to watch 32 games on a Thursday and Friday-during the day-this is certainly a relevant topic. Since they outlawed smoking in NYC bars, these nearly vacant burger & beer social outlets, are breeding grounds for at-home parents with their kids during the day. What’s bringing the issue to a head is brewing out of Brooklyn…
CNN’s Brooklyn Brewhaha: Babies In Bars by Jessica Ravitz, focuses on a freelance writer & at-home-dad in Park Slope, Brooklyn, (Matt Gross, of the Dad Wagon) who enjoys hitting the occasional bar during the day with his child because it’s one way to enjoy adult interaction. The Brooklyn debate stems from a popular & local bar that banned strollers from their premises about two years ago – later it overturned the policy. “Parents, on the other hand, say that as long as they’re responsible and their kids behave, they deserve the right to grab a quick drink with friends. And, they might add, in a place like New York — where the cost of baby sitters can be prohibitive and tight living quarters can make hosting guests at home difficult — they need places to hang out, too.”
CNN STORY HIGHLIGHTS
– Babies in bars are the subject of heated discussion in Brooklyn, where strollers rule
– Singles don’t want to watch their language, behavior; parents don’t want to be shut out
– Debate began when bar banned strollers; policy overturned after outcry, blogger says
– Dad says he’s “not knocking back double vodkas while my daughter is stumbling around”
All dads need to check out this article and give their two cents on this one: Should parents be allowed to bring their babies and children to bars?
Yes, yes, and yes. We are so culturally paralized when it comes to anything relating to alcohol. 1)You know they serve alcohol at Applebees, Fridays . . . virtually all the “family friendly” restaurants. 2)Is sitting in the bar while your baby relaxes, naps, or interacts with you really so different than sitting in a coffee shop? 3)As a society let’s abuse and the state of our public education; let parents take care of the mundane like diaper changes, feeding, and getting out of the house!
The basic answer is yes. The longer answer is Yes, but it depends when and you should be respectful. Which kind of applies everywhere.