By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-09-23 19:30:55 | Updated at 2024-09-30 13:34:56
6 days ago
An Ohio brewery has taken the extraordinary step of banning children under 16 from the premesis in response to 'a few bad apples' who wreaked havoc on guests.
Jay Demagall, from Forest City Brewery, took to Facebook this weekend to share the new policy, describing it as a 'difficult decision' but one that he had to make.
'Over the past 8 1/2 years, we have tried to implement policies that would allow children to be at the brewery as long as they were supervised by a guardian,' he said.
'Due to a few bad apples, and irresponsible parents, we will no longer allow children under 16 on the premises.'
Demagall accepted his decision would be 'disappointing' for some longtime guests who were used to bringing their children along with them.
But he said staff 'can no longer afford to act as babysitters for the irresponsible parents that continue to put their kids, our customers and our business at risk.'
Jay Demagall (left), from Forest City Brewery, took to Facebook this weekend to share the new policy, describing it as a 'difficult decision' but one that he had to make
Demagall accepted his decision would be 'disappointing' for some longtime guests who were used to bringing their children along with them
'Simply put, we are a brewery. Our business is to serve great beer, food and other alcoholic beverages to ADULTS,' he said.
'Quite frankly, kids were never a part of our business plan or our vibe.
'Our staff are not equipped to monitor or babysit kids whose parents treat the brewery like a playground.'
Demagall shared the details of two other local breweries in which children are allowed in an effort to give disappointed patrons another option.
The decision was well received by patrons, many of whom said they're fed up with parents not taking responsibility for their children in public.
One wrote: 'Other adults out having fun do NOT want to hear your children or any children that's why they left theirs at home with a babysitter.'
And another added: 'I have two kids, love them dearly, and I am glad I'll have a place to go where they cannot!'
A third said: 'Completely excited for this! No screaming unsupervised kids!
'As an adult, it's very nice to go somewhere and not have loud, needy, snotty kids running around while their parents ignore them. A brewery is not a babysitter.'
The decision was well received by patrons, many of whom said they're fed up with parents not taking responsibility for their children in public
Another patron said he 'supports and applauds the decision.'
'There is nothing wrong with adults having some adult-only places (or close enough to it), just like it's okay to have places specially meant for children.
'Can you imagine if adults without kids started going to Chuck E Cheese just to drink? There'd be an uproar, and rightfully so. So why should spaces that cater to adults be held to a different standard?'
But there were disappointed patrons too who said Demagall's announcement had ruined their future plans.
One wrote: 'There are already so few eating and drinking establishments in Cleveland to go to with our son.
'Regular restaurants just aren't well designed for kids. Forest city was one of the few places that was. It's open and spacious. There's a lot of nature around.
'Huge bummer that now there's one less place for us to go (and spend our money). Also, I had no idea kids were never really welcome in the first place. We would never have gone there with him if we knew kids weren't part of the ''vibe''.'
Another said he 'hates this news.'
'We were frequent guests on Sundays with our daughter in the back yard from the time before she could crawl through a few weeks ago when we visited.
'As a family who loves live music, it was a one of a kind destination.. Totally respect that it's your decision but we'll have to switch to other family friendly walkable places instead.'
