A Baby Walks into the Bar

The deck attached to the bar at Buckheads in Jeffersonville is a wonderful place to sit and have a beverage and a meal. The view of the river and the Louisville skyline from there is only matched by the similar decks at the restaurants on either side. This deck is reached from the outside by walking through the covered bar area. The bar area is prominently marked with a sign saying “No one under 21 allowed.”

When I noticed that the table next to us had just been seated with three small children including one who appeared to be under two, I was incredulous to say the least. How did they get in here I wondered? Why were they allowed in here? A game was on the TV in the bar and there were quite a few fans watching and shouting. One of those fans, I realized, was the dad of the family seated next to us. When the smallest child started shrieking as they are want to do, I waited for the mom to attend to him. When this did not happen immediately, I looked over only to realize that mom too was in the bar area. She eventually came over and shushed the child which had very little effect and finally she picked him up and carried him into the bar where she watched the game with him on her hip. The two older children behaved impeccably and appeared completely unconcerned that their parents were not present.

First let me say that I'm not anti-kid. I helped raise a couple of them and they appear to be on their way to transitioning into successful adult-hood (whatever that is). Both of mine are mostly out of the house now with one visiting from college some weekends and the other living in Germany and visiting only via Skype.

Now that my kids are mostly self sufficient, I spend time in bars; maybe more than I should. Recently I've noticed more kids in the bars. Also, more than I should. I feel that the bar is not the place for kids and I'm shocked that parents don't feel this way as well. This is not a moral stand and I don't think any harm is likely to come to kids while they are at the bar. It's wrong simply because I don't want them there and neither does anyone else!

No, I respect kids and I act – shall we say differently around kids, than I might do otherwise. I find their presence at the bar inhibiting to me and an encroachment on my ability to act in a relaxed manner. It bothers me when others don't act with restraint around children. So on Saturday, while sitting in the deck area attached to the bar at Buckheads I experienced what I consider a particularly egregious incident of the baby in the bar.

It was a beautiful day and we'd nearly finished a very good meal with a couple (ok three) excellent beers and I was in no mood to be grumpy and complain to anyone. I gazed past the table where the two older kids sat alone. I could see the much larger outside patio area a level below us and noted there were many available tables. So, these parents just wanted to enjoy the beautiful outside weather, have a few drinks, and watch the game. What's wrong with that you ask?

Well, aside from the fact that is is against the law in Indiana to bring children into a bar unless the bar itself is condoned off from the seating area (which it is not) nothing I guess. Unless, the fact that if one of those children were to suffer some distress it would be left to those nearby to notice and provide assistance, nothing I guess. Unless, exposing small children to the kind of language and behavior often found in a bar during a sporting event is not desirable, nothing I guess. Unless the behavior of the children, which is typical of even the best kids, negatively impacts the occupants of the bar who often choose the bar exactly because it is a kid free zone. Nothing I guess.

If you have kids, raising them is the most important thing you will ever do. Stop effing it up! There is no valid reason for bringing your kids into an environment with a bunch of fired up, swearing, drinking, adults. Your kids will find the bars soon enough. Hopefully before or after they've raised their kids!

Shane, I have no problem with the two kids sitting outside at all. The baby should have been outside too, but as no smoking is allowed in bars now, the baby was not being exposed to second hand smoke . The Mother should probably have stayed outside with the baby. I think the Indiana bar laws are ludicrous in the extreme. No pubs, bars/grills in England have a roped off area that only 21's can go, or in the case of England 18's. Pubs in England are family affairs, particularly in small villages as well you know. It wasn't as if they had taken the children into a dive bar. In my opinion the alcohol laws in the States are ridiculous, and the way that many people view alcohol and the people that drink it ridiculous too.

PS you need to come by and see me, I have one helluva story to tell you.

Shane, I have no problem with the two kids sitting outside at all. The baby should have been outside too, but as no smoking is allowed in bars now, the baby was not being exposed to second hand smoke . The Mother should probably have stayed outside with the baby. I think the Indiana bar laws are ludicrous in the extreme. No pubs, bars/grills in England have a roped off area that only 21's can go, or in the case of England 18's. Pubs in England are family affairs, particularly in small villages as well you know. It wasn't as if they had taken the children into a dive bar. In my opinion the alcohol laws in the States are ridiculous, and the way that many people view alcohol and the people that drink it ridiculous too.

PS you need to come by and see me, I have one helluva story to tell you.

Hi Alison,
I have no problem with the kids sitting outside at this restaurant either. There was a larger patio just below us that would have accomodated them nicely along with their parents who could have been paying attention to them instead of the game. As it were, we were watching their kids while they were watching the game. They didn't ask us to, but we were four parents who believe that kids deserve to be watched and protected.

The pubs in England are indeed a family affair. That is the family pubs are. I spent most of my time in England in the pubs. I often saw children in the pubs and I never saw any improper behavior in a pub with kids. Those pubs didn't have a TV on at all that I remember. The pubs that did have the TV on and turned to the football match were full of young adults and full of smoke and full of the most delicously imaginative swearing I've ever heard.

I'm not talking "flipping heck" either. My kids always wanted to know why Marguerite was always saying "flip an egg."

Would love to hear about the rest of Yana's visit. Join us at the RCW at six on Wed. Cheers Alison!

Shane, I have no problem with the two kids sitting outside at all. The baby should have been outside too, but as no smoking is allowed in bars now, the baby was not being exposed to second hand smoke . The Mother should probably have stayed outside with the baby. I think the Indiana bar laws are ludicrous in the extreme. No pubs, bars/grills in England have a roped off area that only 21's can go, or in the case of England 18's. Pubs in England are family affairs, particularly in small villages as well you know. It wasn't as if they had taken the children into a dive bar. In my opinion the alcohol laws in the States are ridiculous, and the way that many people view alcohol and the people that drink it ridiculous too.

PS you need to come by and see me, I have one helluva story to tell you.

I agree with Alison that it's ridiculous, but liquor laws in both Indiana and Kentucky restrict kids from sitting in the bar area. Period. Not for waiting on a table, not for eating. I believe they could lose their liquor license over allowing that- really stupid for the restaurant to allow it.

As for the parents I can't even comment...

Deb

It;s about Yanas visit that I want to tell you!!! Will pm you, you wont believe it.

Maybe the dad should have sat outside with the baby.

The kids shouldn't have been left alone. And I'm really surprised the bar allowed the baby to be in that space. The restaurant should have enforced that law.

The law in Indiana IS very specific about children in bars - we found that out when our son was 6 months old and we tried to eat in a place without a separated bar. We tell Eddy to this day he was kicked out of a bar at 6 months old. The management should have been on their toes.

As for the parents, they should be with their children, the restaurant or patrons should not be a baby sitter. If anything had happened to them, guess who would have been screaming and suing?

Were the kids drinking local craft beer at the very least?

Sheesh?

Were the kids drinking local craft beer at the very least?

Sheesh?

Didn't notice what they were drinking Ronnie but I'd have given them Curious Traveler Shandy in their sippy cups. So smooth and refreshing babies could drink it, but they probably shouldn't.


All wheat malt, real lemon juice, 4.4 abv - best shandy ever!

Shane, I've been with my kids multiple times to exactly the deck you're talking about and it's never been clear to me that it is specifically delineated as a bar area or off limits to kids. We've been there with other families and I've seen a lot of families sitting there. I'm not entirely sure it's really suppposed to be a "bar". Then again I've been overseas so long I'm not always able to navigate my way through archaic American liquor laws. I see a place with chicken fingers or whatever convenient food my kids might want and I have know way of knowing whether they have 62.8795% food sales vs alcohol or 832 beers sold per square foot of four top seating or whatever other bizarre state law might govern whether the establishment is a restaurant, bar, tavern, or whatever. Likewise my kids are kind of baffled by the notiion that we can eat somewhere, but you can only sit at the table 13 ft from the bar but not the table 8 ft away.

Frankly Americann views on children's exposure to alcohol consuming adults seems backwards and even paranoid to me. I'm pretty keen to leave Germany but one thing I'd miss terribly would be the biergartens, what with their swing sets set up next to the beer taps (Oh the horror)!

Shane, I've been with my kids multiple times to exactly the deck you're talking about and it's never been clear to me that it is specifically delineated as a bar area or off limits to kids. We've been there with other families and I've seen a lot of families sitting there. I'm not entirely sure it's really suppposed to be a "bar". Then again I've been overseas so long I'm not always able to navigate my way through archaic American liquor laws. I see a place with chicken fingers or whatever convenient food my kids might want and I have know way of knowing whether they have 62.8795% food sales vs alcohol or 832 beers sold per square foot of four top seating or whatever other bizarre state law might govern whether the establishment is a restaurant, bar, tavern, or whatever. Likewise my kids are kind of baffled by the notiion that we can eat somewhere, but you can only sit at the table 13 ft from the bar but not the table 8 ft away.

Frankly Americann views on children's exposure to alcohol consuming adults seems backwards and even paranoid to me. I'm pretty keen to leave Germany but one thing I'd miss terribly would be the biergartens, what with their swing sets set up next to the beer taps (Oh the horror)!

Dan, if it weren't for the signs saying the covered area was a bar and no one under 21 admitted I'd say it would be more clear just what the policy is. The covered area is certainly a bar and you have to pass through it to get to that deck. Unless there is an entrance I didn't see.

In any case, I lived in England for three years and I too think that American's puritanical outlook on consuming alcohol does more harm than good. Forbidden fruit is always more enticing. Teaching kids to consume alcohol responsibly from an early age pays dividends I believe. Some states allow parents to give their children alcohol within the home and I think some even allow it outside the home. Indiana of course does not. Indiana's laws reflect the judgmental nature of its constituency very nicely. No tolerance for anything outside their own view of what's acceptable. Couple that with wide spread and profound ignorance about many things and you have a very frustrating situation.

Before you Hoosiers decide to jump my ass about the view I've expressed above. I was born and raised here. Spent 21 years away and chose to come back and live here. There's no place I'd rather live. There's no perfect place. My family and my wife's family are all from here. My opinion on this subject is just that. Yours may differ and you are entitled to it. When you decide excoriate mine you will just support my point.

Finally, kids around responsible adults consuming alcohol are fine. Kids around adults who are letting their hair down and acting out and who are paying little or no attention to the kids are at risk. I don't like to see it and I never allowed it to happen when I was raising my own. However, in order not to be the no tolerance, judgmental ass that I've labeled my fellow Hoosiers I will allow that perhaps my own opinion on the matter is not at all the only valid one. Cheers Dan!

Love it

Frankly Americann views on children's exposure to alcohol consuming adults seems backwards and even paranoid to me. I'm pretty keen to leave Germany but one thing I'd miss terribly would be the biergartens, what with their swing sets set up next to the beer taps (Oh the horror)![/quote]

what with their swing sets set up next to the beer taps (Oh the horror)!

Too true! Beer is bound to be spilled in that circumstance. Vote no on swings next to the taps!