I recently read an article printed in the summer edition of The Ontarion about The Brass Taps and honestly it is the most outrageous thing I have ever read. The writer seems to be under the impression that because a pub was following its policies in accordance with the government’s own laws regarding underage patrons, that pub should be shamed and ostracized. Those policies not only protect underage individuals from heavy fines if found with a drink in hand, they also more importantly protect the whole business and its staff from lawsuits.I understand that the writer, Beren Garvie, was caught off guard, and that liquor laws might seem a little confusing, but to write a whole article bad-mouthing a business about its commitment to following the law is absurd.
This policy is not “born out of sheer sloth” or designed to “discriminate against so many undergraduates” as Garvie says in his opinion piece. This policy is standard at many pubs in Canada and the fact that this rule allows underage patrons to stay until 9 p.m. is better than not being allowed in at all, like at most bars and clubs.Honestly, the quote from the assistant manager explaining that their policy to ask underage patrons to leave at 9 p.m. is to protect the establishment’s liquor license is the only thing provided as proof, and that piece of information should have been taken and accepted instead of being used against The Brass Taps.
Being upset about a business’s policy is a little foolish, especially when in my opinion The Brass Taps did everything right — even going as far as giving the writer a gift card which is really nice of them and not necessary in the slightest. I think both the writer of this article and the editors of The Ontarion need to check their egos at the door and focus on real news instead of business bashing.
Photo by Dana Bellamy/The Ontarion