Klaus Jurgens
A RECENT discussion on social media has focused on the fact that apparently many hospitality establishments in Didim lack the necessary paperwork in order to allow under-18 year old guests to enter their premises. By paperwork I refer to the appropriate license obtained from national authorities.
This topic is of course a hot pick and in particular so during peak season when many families arrive in town ready to have a fun holiday or extended summer house vacation.
Granted, while traveling to sunny places with teenagers or younger children in tow one would somehow expect that rules are more relaxed with regards to whether or not we can take them along when going for a drink.
‘More relaxed’ as in that an under-18 year old person can legally enter a bar selling alcoholic beverages, and as is the case in some other countries, even legally consume a pint of beer from age 16 onwards.
In this context it makes sense to first of all review our very own United Kingdom laws which are very detailed, and at times confusing to say the least.
Having worked in the sector previously I had to study extensive documents and legal frameworks before being vetted in Court and ultimately granted the right to sell intoxicating liquor, aka alcohol to you and me.
As a licensee you have to moonlight as a legal expert. Let me give you two examples: if your license says so, it is your duty to spot any underage guest and make certain that no one under the age of 18 enters your premises. Believe me, a tricky job as many young people either look older than they are, or are actually older than their physical appearance would suggest.
A photo ID helps to make the appropriate decision. You do not want to lose out on potential custom yet you do not want your place being shut down for infringing the law either. Another delicate balancing act: if a guest has had a drink too many – or ideally before reaching that stage – you not only have the right but the legal duty to refrain from selling any further alcoholic beverage to that customer.
In a nutshell: whilst it is technically speaking possible for a parent to bring a ten year old child into a public house as long as this public house has a separate dining room and even allow your child to consume a pint (!) – yes, English licensing laws mention this point in particular and as a matter of fact during my licensee exam exactly that question came up – under normal circumstances drinking alcohol in a bar or pub up and down the country is illegal until the age of 18. Nightclubs may even add another three years on top of that minimum age.
Restaurants and hotels have a different legal framework and it is rather common to see entire families enjoying a meal (legally) in a hotel restaurant or a pizzeria where alcohol is served, too, yet of course not to your children.
Back to Altinkum: it is argued on social media that less than twenty bars, restaurants or even hotels have the correct nationwide recognized license allowing under-18 year old guests to legally enter their establishment. There seems to be a difference between locally issued alcohol licenses and others awarded by the national ministry for tourism.
Not having had a chance to verify numbers or names of establishments listed on social media I hope that a solution can be found in cooperation with our municipality and the ministry concerned as after all Didim is a tourism zone by definition.
I do not promote underage drinking, not at all. Yet I think that a holiday resort and its cafés, bars and restaurants should be allowed to have families enter their locale and whilst parents may order a glass of wine their children can happily sip their soft drinks.
Hence, would it not be possible that those establishments currently not holding the required license get an upgrade? Or would that be too costly? Perhaps the local tourism association could hold a meeting or make survey amongst its members and find out how our hundreds of licensees view this subject?
Going on holiday under palm-trees includes having a late night meal or drink out and where would we leave our children unless they accompany us?
Yet until the situation has hopefully been amicably sorted in time for the 2015 tourist season we must be aware of that local laws are there to be respected. Thus said, please inquire with your favorite bar or restaurant about their specific license so as to avoid hassle for you and legal trouble for them.