No, sir.  I don’t like it. 

Joshua M. Bernstein writing for Bon Appetit talks about taking his 20-month old daughter out for a beer to Brooklyn’s Threes Brewing among other brewing establishments around the country.

The overwhelming response to this article, as far as I can tell on social media, has been “FINALLY!” or a supportive “Yes!”

I think this is totally crazy.

Some background… I am a father of two beautiful kids. I love them more than anything else in the world. I love being a father.

But I don’t want them at the brewery with me.

Nope.  Don’t want it.

Being a parent is exhausting. It is the hardest job you will ever love and I do it with joy through the exhausting hours and sleepless nights.  But I am not doing it when I am having a beer at the brewery.  More importantly, people don’t want to see me parenting at the brewery.  This is not all about you and your kids.

Some places are for adults.

Places are where adults have adult conversations about adult subjects while drinking adult beverages. I am not interested in curtailing this adult activity due to the presence of children; mine or others.

Quoting from the story: “Just because you’ve got a 20-month-old, it doesn’t mean you don’t have the social desire to try the new kick-as stout that someone is making…”

I get that your desires have not changed but your life has. You don’t need to take your kid to the brewery, just like you don’t need to try said “kick-ass stout.” I get it… but being a parent means I miss out on stuff.  It happens.

Bernstein also goes on to tout that introducing kids to the community helps to “not demonize something.” I think this is a stretch. It is entirely possible to teach children to later as adults imbibe responsibly or about the benefits of a social libation without taking them to breweries as a baby.

Yes, I understand Bernstein’s point about the kids come first, and that there are rules about having kids at breweries after 7 pm or later.  I appreciate that if his kid melts down he leaves the establishment. I get it that historically beer gardens were family affairs.

Historically, kids were in the labor force too. Sometimes kids just don’t belong certain places.

I don’t go to breweries as frequently as I like. When I do it’s for a shorter time than I would otherwise plan. This is due to being a parent. It’s my first responsibility. I balance my desires with the needs of my kids and the inherent responsibilities that come with it. Its called being a grown up.

Does this mean I think you should not take your kids to the brewery?  Hardly.  I am not that judgmental. Just don’t ever expect to see mine there.  I am there for adult time.