Pub refuses to serve child sparkling apple juice in Champagne flute

A manager of a Hampstead pub refused to serve Appletiser in a Champagne flute to a minor on New Year’s Eve, as it could “encourage her to drink alcohol”.

A family who requested a glass of apple juice served in a Champagne flute so their five-year-old could join in the toast on New Year’s Eve was rebuffed by the manager of the Hampstead pub hosting the celebrations.

The Old Bull & Bush, owned by parent company Mitchells & Butlers, took the stance that mimicking the glassware used to serve booze could tempt the child to drink, with the manager allegedly telling the family “it could encourage her to drink alcohol and it’s not a great look for the pub”.

According to Dr Hoenderkamp, the girl’s mother, the pub manager then removed an empty wine glass on the table so that the parents couldn’t pour their daughter’s soft drink into it themselves.

Dr Hoenderkamp, an NHS doctor, claimed the family tradition was the “Mediterranean” way of doing things, and told The Telegraph:

“We have a family habit that every meal we all cheers our glasses together, always, so we were in the restaurant and ordered two glasses of wine and we ordered her an Appletiser, because that was all they had.

“For me, [the manager] made a judgment that I wasn’t capable of parenting my own child. You know, it’s just a glass.

“It made no sense but again it’s this nanny state where parents are not allowed to parent.”

A spokesperson for the pub said: “As a responsible retailer of alcohol, we do not allow the sale of alcohol-free beer, lagers or ciders to people under the age of 18, or drinks that could perceived by our team or other guests to contain alcohol.

“Our position was explained to the guest at the time and it appeared to have been accepted without question. No complaint was raised at the venue.”

The Old Bull & Bush further confirmed that its policy was to serve children drinks in smaller glasses with wider bases, which are “easier to hold” than thin stemmed glassware.

Dr Hoenderkamp contested: “[They] were making a judgement call about my child. We are brilliant parents. She’s very adult. It was a judgement call that they knew better than us.

“We are moving more and more into this nanny state where people can’t be trusted to make their own decisions. We know how to parent. It’s a really dark place we are going to.

“We are getting to the point where people won’t be trusted to do anything.”

Parents divided

Parents are divided over the issue, with some branding the refusal “ridiculous” and one critic calling it a “sad reflection on small minded pub landlords…no wonder so many pubs are closing…too many are run by fools.”

However, others have spoken out in support of the pub and its staff, with one person commenting: “Typical self-entitled Hampstead dweller. She sounds the sort to drive her precious darling half a mile to school in a Land Rover Defender.”

Another online commenter said: “Their pub, their rules. Absolutely right. It’s nothing to do with them judging anyone’s parenting. It’s about people’s perception of their venue, their service and (ultimately) their licence. Get over yourself. Do whatever you want in your own home.”