Pub Threatens To Make Your Kids Behave If You Won't

A pub in England has come up with a solution (or veiled threat, depending on how you look at it) for patrons who let their kids run amuck—forcible constraint.

The sign reads: "To avoid accident and injury to your child whilst the little darling is running around this establishment why not hand the little poppet to a member of staff who will be happy to nail it to your table for you!"

Subtle enough? Of course not everyone gets the joke. Some critics claim the signs make light of a very real problem: child abuse.

Cultural norms dictate that pubs (particularly in Europe) are family friendly. You go there to eat and socialize on weekends for a lazy brunch or Sunday roast dinner.

This sign outside the Black Lion pub in Bedforshire suggests that though kids are welcome, they aren't expected to run wild while their parents kick back and nosh into oblivion.

Such joshing signs are popping up regularly, with another, in the US, vowing to ply unattended kids with "a shot of espresso and a free puppy" (which should be enough to terrify any sensible parent into reacting).

Pubs may provide a more relaxed atmosphere than other restaurants, yet that's not to say parents get a carte blanche to switch off and let their kids turn feral. Courtesy still applies, regardless of whether the tablecloths are made of lace or plastic.

Kids need to stay at the table. And if they can't (and hey, I get it. I have one of those!), then a parent should escort the child on a guided walk of the premises. Pub staff are servers, not sitters.

You tell me: Should parents who aren't watching their kids be asked to leave, or should pubs just roll with it for business sake?

Is it discrimination to ban kids from certain restaurants?