The other day, my dad and I went into a restaurant/pub in the evening to have a meal. A 16ish year old waitress led us to some seats. After we ordered two beers, a woman came up and demanded ID from me, at which point we were told to leave. (I go to university, am 19 years old and look older. I have a beard. I have not been asked for ID for over 2 years and certainly never since I have been 18. It grinds my bones to be asked at a restaurant not a club/bar where alcohol is exclusively purchased.) The point is that it is legal to order a drink with a meal when a person is 16 and not 18. So they had no right to turn me down on the basis of not being 18. I was not looked at and judged on my age by anyone other than the 16 year old waitress. My dad and I walked out and had a meal elsewhere.
I am a very vindictive person and would like to hurt the restaurant/pub as much as I can. What can I do?
2007-11-12 09:40:08 · 12 answers · asked by James H 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
sorry should add 18 is legal drinking age in UK. And the staff were reasonably polite as was I. I wasn't thrown out exactly...I just was refused service. I should make it clear I'm very petty, I'm nasty piece of work, I like justice...some of the reason why I study law.
2007-11-12 09:57:48 · update #1
Okay, it is legal for you to have one alcholic drink while EATING your meal, if you're with an adult...
Key issue here is, you ordered the drinks before you ate, so technically nothing can be done here.
Besides, if the woman was under the impression you were under 21, she had every right to ask you for ID... At the end of the day, if you were a minor, she could possibly be facing a hefty fine.
No way you can do anything to be honest..would be absolute waste of time and money...
Maybe you should sort yourself out, it's a bit strange you want to hurt something as much as you can, purely because you were asked for ID...you're only one year over the age limit anyways.
Can I ask, where on earth do you study law??? there's no justice in hurting a person now is there? I'm not looking forward to you becoming a lawyer or anything in the legal system if you do get a degree....
2007-11-12 12:10:47 · answer #1 · answered by elin j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You can do nothing at all, legally. A business has the absolute right to refuse service to anyone for any reason not forbidden by law.
("We don't serve blacks" is illegal. "We don't serve people with beards" is legal. "We don't serve women" is illegal, "We don't serve college students" is legal.)
What you don't make clear is why they asked you to leave after you showed your ID. If you're 19, and the drinking age in your jurisdiction is 18 (Canada? England?) then why did they ask you to leave? If you didn't HAVE your ID then they were perfectly within their rights to toss you - serving to an underage customer is a crime of strict liability. That means that the restaraunt saying "We thought he looked old enough" is not a defense.
The cops send underage decoys who "look" old enough to drink into brs / pubs etc all the time to try to buy booze, and then cite the place if they sell to him.
Richard
2007-11-12 17:50:50 · answer #2 · answered by rickinnocal 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Most places reserve the right to serve whom they choose. They can't discriminate under Title VI, but other than that they can determine who they will serve.
** Note: This is a general discussion of the subject matter of your question and not legal advice. Local laws or your particular situation may change the general rules. For a specific answer to your question you should consult legal counsel with whom you can discuss all the facts of your case. **
2007-11-12 17:49:54 · answer #3 · answered by scottclear 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If you were in WI when this happen -- you may have a case since under State law beer and wine may be served to a minor when in accompanying a parent. There are some local rules ---
States have revoked their control of sane liquor rules to get federal highway funds --- Congress in its silliness extorted the state to yield liquor control in exchange for a drink and the federal money teat.
2007-11-12 17:59:10 · answer #4 · answered by NeilsB 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
NOTHING!!!
Seriously get over it, if you look under 21then you have to be ID surely you have seen the signs everywhere?
You do not have a leg to stand on, and the fact that you want to get an innocent person into trouble reflects badly on you.
The law does not like vexatious litigants! You annoy me.
2007-11-12 17:57:14 · answer #5 · answered by raggyann 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Just continue telling people how rude and ignorant the people at the restauirant are. Maybe tell people waiting to walk into the restaurant how bad they are to other people.
2007-11-12 17:47:30 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Tough a restaurant or pub can turn you away for any reason or no reason at all
2007-11-12 17:44:53 · answer #7 · answered by Scouse 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If it was a 'chain' restaurant....eg weatherspoons....you should complain to the head office....otherwise all you can do is complain to the manager/landlord
2007-11-12 20:54:32 · answer #8 · answered by stormydays 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Nothing legal.
2007-11-12 17:43:47 · answer #9 · answered by davidmi711 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
grow up
2007-11-12 17:48:04 · answer #10 · answered by nice3fishinggal 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋