Manchester Bar Owner Faces Backlash After Banning Solo Drinkers To ‘Protect Customers’
The owner of a bar in Greater Manchester is catching some flak after banning solo drinkers after 9pm.
Carl Peters, who runs Alibi Bar in Altrincham, has told customers that “unless you’re with a group, and we know who you’re with, then you’re not coming in”.
He laid out two reasons for the new policy on Instagram, explaining:
1) If someone on their own has a seizure or an accident with no-one with them “in a late night busy bar environment, it’s an absolute nightmare for us to deal with”.
2) “Sometimes if you let people in on their own, the reason why they’re on their own is that they’ve got no-one to talk to, so they start mithering other groups. And that’s when things start to happen … people are like ‘who is this person on their own annoying us’?”
So basically, they can’t be @rsed dealing with medical emergencies, so if you have no friends to help you out, then they’re not welcome at the Alibi bar. Which I guess is the bar’s prerogative, but how often are people having medical emergencies at this place that it warrants banning solo drinkers outright?
As for the second point, sure, you do get those people at pubs and bars around the UK. Sometimes people get lonely and head to bars for company. Well, go be lonely somewhere else, loser! Only cool people with cool friends permitted at the Alibi bar.
The entrance policy now reads: “No single entry. After 9pm, Alibi does not permit single entry. If you are with guests already inside the venue, please contact them in advance of entry. This is for the safety of all guests.”
Naturally, there’s been a load of backlash in Carl’s direction after Manchester Evening News covered the story, which he says he’s ‘astounded’ by but is paying no mind to because it’s coming from ‘keyboard warriors in their basements.’
Carl says: “I won’t apologise for prioritising people’s welfare, safety when they come to Alibi. That is literally the number one priority for us. Followed by making sure that you’re having an amazing time and that Britney Spears has been played.
“I understand that some people don’t agree with the policy, but in a way I sort of don’t care because this literally comes up maybe once or twice a month on the door, and it’s usually someone drunk at midnight wandering around trying to find somewhere to go.
“This applies to the late late night when the bar is packed and it’s a party atmosphere. That’s it. What if you bang your head? What if you have a seizure? What if you drink too much? We always want to make sure people have other people with them.
“I want to draw a line under this because it’s a zero-story to me. I’m astounded and kind of interested by the public interest in it. And I’ve really appreciated all the keyboard warriors in their basements, tapping away in their curry stained vests, having an opinion.
“And now people are both experts and highly offended at the matter. See you at the weekend.”
Well, fair enough really. His bar, his rules. Things seem to be going well, in any case:
For the pub-goer who was glassed in the face after telling a 39-year-old woman that she looks 43, click HERE. Just a tad OTT.
