I used to think it was a bit offensive and just wrong.

However, after a few visits to the UK and Germany, it doesn't bother me that much.

Kids know what is 'adult' and what is for them if you set the record straight to them. It's one of the reasons you can see nudity on their televisions--they just have a different attitude towards it.


I'd rather see hanging out at a bar for children demystified than the grotesque college binge drinking college & highschool Americans tend to do. It's like they've stumbled upon the holy grail of bad-assery when they can get ahold of liquor.

But then again, I've not read ANY studies on whether it's good or bad for kids--I just know from observation that it doesn't seem to affect UK or Germany kids all that much at the pubs.

I can see both sides to this issue. Depends on the establishment, the time of day (naturally) and the people involved.

If it's the middle of the afternoon and mom and/or dad are having one (or two drinks max) and leaving, I don't see that it's THAT big of a deal if it's not a seedy drinkers bar. If they also serve food and such. There are plenty of places that serve food and alcohol and there's nothing wrong with bringing a baby to.

Now, if it's a BAR and the primary activity is drinking and/or music stuff then it's WRONG. And should not be allowed, period. Especially if smoking were allowed. Bleh.

I'm a lot pickier. I'm not going to take my child anywhere that drunken adults are a high likelihood. So i don't care if it's first thing in the morning, or the middle of the afternoon. You take your kids to a RESTAURANT. If there's a BAR with a BARTENDER? I don't care if they're serving food, it's a BAR THAT SERVES FOOD. Which means grown folks doing grown things. Which means I don't want to see fucking kids in there.

The problem is fucking hipster parents that "still want to be cool" and don't want to be responsible. If you decided to be parents, then BE PARENTS. That means you get a BABYSITTER if you want grown-time. I don't care how cool you think you are, and how cute you think your kid is, they don't belong there. And I personally don't think you should be drinking and being responsible for infants anyways. That's just me.

I'm a lot pickier. I'm not going to take my child anywhere that drunken adults are a high likelihood. So i don't care if it's first thing in the morning, or the middle of the afternoon. You take your kids to a RESTAURANT. If there's a BAR with a BARTENDER? I don't care if they're serving food, it's a BAR THAT SERVES FOOD. Which means grown folks doing grown things. Which means I don't want to see fucking kids in there.

The problem is fucking hipster parents that "still want to be cool" and don't want to be responsible. If you decided to be parents, then BE PARENTS. That means you get a BABYSITTER if you want grown-time. I don't care how cool you think you are, and how cute you think your kid is, they don't belong there. And I personally don't think you should be drinking and being responsible for infants anyways. That's just me.

On the one hand, I see your point.

On the other, one drink isn't harmful to anybody, so a parent isn't doing anything wrong. Should they get wasted? Absolutely not. But a glass of wine or a pint isn't gonna hurt anything.

As for other patrons of the bar - that's what I meant by depends on the establishment.

I really think our attitude towards alcohol is all wrong in the US. If it weren't so "taboo" and we taught our children to consume it responsibly (by example) we wouldn't have nearly the problems we do.

Maybe not harmful, but yesterday when I went to get my Thai food, I had a Singha beer. The drive home was very, very cautious because I was a bit tipsy. I very rarely drink, and I'm a thin woman, so alcohol affects me much sooner than say a larger person.

On the one hand, I see your point.

On the other, one drink isn't harmful to anybody, so a parent isn't doing anything wrong. Should they get wasted? Absolutely not. But a glass of wine or a pint isn't gonna hurt anything.

As for other patrons of the bar - that's what I meant by depends on the establishment.

I really think our attitude towards alcohol is all wrong in the US. If it weren't so "taboo" and we taught our children to consume it responsibly (by example) we wouldn't have nearly the problems we do.

I had a Singha beer.

well i've seen pregnant chicks in bars so a baby isn't all that **cough** unusual.

It was 10:35 on a lonely Friday night
She was standin by the bar, hmmm she was lookin alright


...he left her with a baby and another one on the way.

I don't see the problem.

Now, from the title i'm sure some people are going to be like "what the hell?" but hear me out.

This was a HUGE debate on CNN a couple of weeks ago.

I recently moved to NYC from Detroit. Now i'm not going to make this a "NYC" thing, because this was a pet peeve of mine when i lived in Detroit. And that was babies in bars. YES, babies. IN BARS.

I had dj residencies at bars for almost 4 years straight, and would occasionally see people bringing kids into the bar and it would drive me NUTS. In Michigan, you can smoke in bars and to see people with kids in there literally made me nuts. I almost got into a fight with a bartender at one neighborhood place that i'd frequent because his brother brought his kid in there and had him bellied up to the bar and I went off about it.

Here in NYC, obviously you can't smoke in bars but it doesn't make it less of an issue for me. I have a son, and he's never been in a bar and I wouldn't dream of taking him to one. I don't think I'd take him outside of the house if i'd been drinking, but that's just me. I've seen people here in Brooklyn WEARING BABIES ON THEIR BELLIES AT THE BAR AND SPILLING BEER ON THEM. And today, on St. Patrick's Day of all days I stopped by a neighborhood spot to grab a couple of pints and there were no less than 6 people with kids hanging out.

Here seems to be the point of contention.
There seems to be a difference of opinion over what a "bar" is.
Hipsters here seem to think that if it's a "pub" then it's alright.
To me a "pub" is a bar that serves food, and that's for grown folks.
If there's an actual BAR for people to sit at, then you probably shouldn't have your kid in there.

Anyways, that's my take on it.
What say you , Org?