A London pub's decision to ban children under 10 has sparked debate, with readers weighing in on both sides. The Alma in Crystal Palace implemented the policy, which one reader, a child-free woman, defended as a welcome choice for those who prefer adult-only spaces. She argued that parents have ample options elsewhere and that such policies cater to people like her who feel alienated by societal pressure to have children.
Another reader, Sue Powell from Bradford, West Yorkshire, recalled a time when children were never allowed in pubs. She noted that even as a parent, she would not have taken her children to pubs, preferring to enjoy adult time without other people's kids. She stated, 'Pubs are no places for young ones. When drink comes in, common sense often goes out.'
Michael Cunningham from Wolverhampton referenced a chalkboard outside a pub in Helensburgh that read: 'Nae weans, nae food, nae bother,' highlighting a traditional view that pubs are not for children.
The debate follows a review by Grace Dent and a subsequent letter contesting the ban, which some saw as excluding families. However, supporters of the policy argue it is a single establishment in a city with many child-friendly options, and that adults deserve spaces free from children.
