A bar in Greater Manchester, England, has banned 鈥渁nnoying鈥 solo drinkers to stop them from bothering other patrons.
Altrincham bar Alibi has not allowed single parties to enter past 9pm since its 2022 opening, the BBC reports.
While the ban has been slammed by online commentators as 鈥渄iscriminatory鈥, owner Carl Peters said the criticism reflected today鈥檚 鈥渨oke agenda鈥.
Sharing his thoughts on the Alibi鈥檚 Instagram account, he claimed single drinkers are typically on their own because 鈥渢hey鈥檝e got no one to talk to鈥, leading to them 鈥渕ithering鈥 other customers.
鈥淏ecause, they鈥檙e not just going to sit there in a bar having a drink on their own in silence,鈥 he said, 鈥渢hat鈥檚 when things start to happen and people are like, 鈥榳ho鈥檚 this person on their own annoying us?鈥欌
Peters said the decision was also informed by safety concerns, noting the increased responsibility hospitality venues carry for their solo clientele.
Residents speaking with the Daily Mail had a range of views on the policy.
Amy Marsh said the move could inhibit people from going out of their comfort zone, calling the rule 鈥渟trange鈥.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a hard thing to go into a bar on your own and if anything it should be encouraged.鈥
But others referenced 鈥渨eird鈥 interactions with single drinkers, particularly drunken men.
Though the ban does not apply to singles specifically, Nicola Slawson, author of Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms, told Metro the policy makes singles seem 鈥渨eird or freaky鈥.
鈥淭here鈥檚 so many reasons to be on your own and to lump everyone in the same box is quite sickening, it鈥檚 really hurtful to a lot of single people.
鈥淚 do understand they鈥檙e trying to protect people, but you鈥檙e just throwing all single people under the bus because there are a few letchy people.鈥
Also on the banned list are roadmen, tracksuit wearers and those wearing Stone Island clothes.
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