Women not allowed to drink from pub’s fountain of youth

ARE you right there young ladies and old gents please? That age-old drink-up call has gained two adjectives to cater for the tastes of a Limerick pub.

They didn’t want “older” women at The Bootlegger Bar on O’Connell St. This was the clear message sent out to Suzanne and Margaret Crawford, aged 29 and 36 respectively, on a fateful night in May, 2001.

Despite being regulars and having celebrated their mother’s birthday there the previous Sunday, the doormen were unmoved by the women’s pleas to gain entry, telling them that they were “too old”.

In true Hollywood style, management had brought in a new policy of “younger women and older men” as customers.

The only concession granted was to allow one of the women entry to tell her friends she was not being admitted. While inside, she informed the barman of their predicament, but he laughed at her and told her he could not overrule the doorman’s decision.

Outlining their case to the Equality Tribunal, the women said they found the incident so upsetting that Suzanne cancelled a Communion booking for the Bootlegger scheduled for the following weekend.

Neither lady has visited the pub since.

In its defence, solicitors representing the Bootlegger said the bar was primarily a restaurant (adjoined to the Texas Steak Out) frequented by all age groups. They argued it was not in the manager’s interest to restrict people on the grounds of their age.

The bar engages a security firm to supply door staff. The owner of the firm said at the hearing it was normal practice for him to investigate all complaints.

However, he could not recall specifically talking to the door staff about the incident.

The equality officer ordered the Bootlegger Bar to pay Suzanne and Margaret Crawford “the sum of €300 each for the hurt, humiliation and loss of amenity suffered”.

Whoever said age doesn’t matter unless you’re a cheese?