Should Children Be Allowed at Breweries?

New York Times

15-07-2025

Good morning. It's Tuesday. Today we'll look at the sometimes contentious efforts to bar children from breweries. We'll also get details on Andrew Cuomo's announcement that he will run against Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor, in the general election.
Imagine sipping an ice-cold beer only to look over and see a toddler squatting on a travel potty. This is the reality at some breweries, my colleague Rheana Murray reports. Brewery owners across the United States are caught in a delicate struggle between barring children from their establishments or welcoming them — and their beer-buying parents — with open arms.
Fifth Hammer Brewing in Queens is where Jenny Chang-Rodriguez, who lives in Lynbrook, N.Y., hosted her baby shower. After her son was born, she said, breweries were among the first public places she brought him. While sweet for parents, allowing children to hang out at breweries comes with its own set of hassles for business owners.
Breweries are often spacious warehouses with quaint outdoor areas where parents can let their hair down alongside their children. In a casual, family-friendly environment, parents aren't on the edge of their seats trying to contain a youngster's screams or tears the way they might at a fine-dining restaurant.
'There's less pressure to make sure they behave perfectly,' Chang-Rodriguez said.
However, some proprietors say parents have become too lax.
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