discrimination

irish life

Me and two of my mates went to a pub 100 yards from my house on Saturday. I'm 18 and the other two were 18 and 20. The pub has recently been taken over by new owners.

Anyway, we were sitting in a seperate part of the pub to the bar (not a lounge) and watching the England v Scotland match. I was getting charged €3 a pint while the others were getting charged €4.40 for some weird reason but thats neither here nor there. I actually think it was the barmans first night as he asked me if I think it will be busy later that evening.

After 2 or 3 drinks the other two went out for a cigerette and a foreign barman came over and asked me for ID. I showed him my passport and the owner seen me shown it to him and said "Its over 21's, you'll have to leave". I just said something like "that changed very quickly", he ignored me and I said "ok, can we finish up our drinks". The barman stayed there for a few seconds as the owner walked off and said its the bosses orders and just shrugged.

My mates came in and I explained what had happened. They were obviously annoyed but we didn't do anything. The owner came back over and this time said "Sorry lads but its over 25's". He was really nervous and I explained that you had to have signs up if that was the case while looking around to see people who were certainly not 25. He would not take the blame himself and kept saying things like "its under new management" and "they haven't got around to it yet. We finished up our drinks, my mate brought the glasses up to the bar and the barman gave us a nod as we walked out. The two barmen couldn't have been nicer.

We don't get into anywhere in town and basically only have 2 places to go. I have never been to a proper night club with my friends just because we are 18-20 year olds from the city centre area. Anyway, this is the final straw and I really want to take action against this man. If travellers can win a case for not being served, surely we have just as much a right to take him to court. I have a few receipts if we need them.

Do I have a case and what should I do?

MorningStar

As far as I know unless the signs were up they can't ask you to leave. I thought they even made it illegal to discriminate in this way. I know a challange was brought against it but I never found out the outcome.

HelterSkelter

If they don't have signs up stating the age limit then you can take a case against them. Give the Equality Authority a ring and they will advise you how to take action. Don't have their number but check their web site, www.equality.ie.

pickarooney

Did they have their price-list displayed outside the door as they're meant to under law? Were your friends overcharged repeatedly for drink in the same round as you were charged less (for the same drink?). You're more likely to cause them hassle over this than over them asking you to leave, I'd say.

Kappar

Under s.25 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 2003 which amends s.5(1) of the Equality Status Act, 2000 it is lawful for them to refuse you if they have signs up specifying the age and if it is implemented in a non-discriminatory manner they cannot chop and change they age based on how they feel. Visit http://www.equality.ie/

galactus

You have to be 18 to drinbk in a pubs in Ireland. If you've a valid passport proving that fact then you definitely have a right to complain.

http://www.oasis.gov.ie/consumer_affairs/consumer_complaints.html

irish life

pickarooney wrote:

Did they have their price-list displayed outside the door as they're meant to under law? Were your friends overcharged repeatedly for drink in the same round as you were charged less (for the same drink?). You're more likely to cause them hassle over this than over them asking you to leave, I'd say.

Don't know if they had a price list up but they were being charged the correct price I think while I was just getting charged €9 for 3 pints. I went up twice while another of my mates went up the other time. The barman was decent so I don't want him getting the sack. Its getting thrown out that has really annoyed me and I'm fed up with constantly being discriminated against.

joejoem

I would be too, I would love to see you win something like this. What pub was it?

*Page*

what time was this at?

Johnny_the_fox

joejoem wrote:

I would be too, I would love to see you win something like this. What pub was it?

its best NOT to name the pub.. (as boards* could get in trouble)

advice ok... name and shame not.



*other mod/admin could confirm this.

I am MAN

I don't see why boards could get in trouble...
Name the place everyone has a right to know about bad service

irish life

So should I contact the equality authority or the consumer complaints board?

Thanks for the replies.

MojoMaker

"The management reserves the right to refuse admission".

You seen it written almost everywhere today. Did you think it was just a cliche? The license holder, or a designated representative, can eject anyone anytime they see fit.

Perhaps the new management didn't want word getting around that it was a teen-friendly bar. Unfortunately for you and your friends that's just not good for business.

Where is this place, what area of Dublin?

irish life

MojoMaker wrote:

Perhaps the new management didn't want word getting around that it was a teen-friendly bar. Unfortunately for you and your friends that's just not good for business.

The same way having travellers in a bar isn't good for business which is unfortunate but true. If they don't want 18-20 year olds in a bar they should put signs up. Age is only part of the reason and I am positive of that. If we were from a higher class area of Dublin there wouldn't have been a problem. The reason I know age wasn't really the main problem is because he got worried that we could be 21 so changed the age to 25.

Where is this place, what area of Dublin?

Mount Street.

HelterSkelter

MojoMaker wrote:

"The management reserves the right to refuse admission".

You seen it written almost everywhere today. Did you think it was just a cliche? The license holder, or a designated representative, can eject anyone anytime they see fit.

True, but it's a whole different ball game if they give under 21's or the like as the reason. That's where the Equal Status Act comes into play. If you check www.odei.ie you will see lots of travellers win their case all the time. Age is another ground you can get them on. If they don't have a sign specifing an age limit then they cannot refuse you on age.

Irish Life wrote:

So should I contact the equality authority or the consumer complaints board?

The Equality Authority. What are you waiting for??!! You can just discuss it with them if you like first, there is no obligation to take a case if you phone them.

HelterSkelter

irish life wrote:

Age is only part of the reason and I am positive of that. If we were from a higher class area of Dublin there wouldn't have been a problem. The reason I know age wasn't really the main problem is because he got worried that we could be 21 so changed the age to 25.

Go for it then, usually if they discriminate against you because of your class there is nothing you can do. But you have a golden opportunity here to pay them back for being such snobs, and you might make a few quid out of it too. Take a case on the age ground, mention nothing about class.