Could he have sued? Perhaps called the police?

[Cainkane1]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

[AvalonXQ]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

I do not believe that region of origin is a protected class under federal nondiscrimination law, but it might fall under MA state nondiscrimination law. What sort of establishment kicked him out?

[Jekyll's Guest]

What sort of establishment kicked him out?

The 54th Massachusetts Civil War Reenactment Society.

Damned elitist Yankees.

[Spindrift]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

You sure he didn't say "Southie" and he was in East Boston? If so it's perfectly understandable.

[Cainkane1]

I do not believe that region of origin is a protected class under federal nondiscrimination law, but it might fall under MA state nondiscrimination law. What sort of establishment kicked him out?
So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.

[Jekyll's Guest]

Without a tape recording of the conversation, or a sign over the bar, good luck proving he was ejected for 'being from the South'.

That's even assuming your friend was telling the truth, and didn't just get the boot for doing something obnoxious.

Then there is the unknown factor, like did the guy walk in to the bar wearing a Confederate flag t-shirt and the bartender took exception?

[The Don]

Do you have a name for this establishment ?

I would like to contact them to determine the veracity of this account and if true I will organise a boycott.

[Cleon]

So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.

One can only imagine the rage from the massive Delaware exile community in Georgia.

I tend to think there's more to this story than what's been relayed.

[madurobob]

So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.

How about if a guy wearing a Georgia shirt walked into a sports bar at Auburn during football season?

Or, in my hometown, wearing a Duke shirt at a certain Chapel Hill bar. That bar had a standing "no Duke attire" rule for decades, and it became sort of a hazing ritual for a Duke fraternity. Send the pledges into the bar dressed head-to-to in Duke logo clothes.

I don't remember hearing of any law suits as a result.

[calebprime]

Without a tape recording of the conversation, or a sign over the bar, good luck proving he was ejected for 'being from the South'.

That's even assuming your friend was telling the truth, and didn't just get the boot for doing something obnoxious.

Then there is the unknown factor, like did the guy walk in to the bar wearing a Confederate flag t-shirt and the bartender took exception?

Jekyll's Guest seems to have it right.

Cainkane1, check into it, let us know. I've heard many times that people in Boston seem unfriendly (to everybody, including each other), but they're not generally interested in re-fighting the civil war.

[Jekyll's Guest]

but they're not generally interested in re-fighting the civil war.

Not even if you bring your own muskets.

[madurobob]

I know I've seen many times across the country sings in restaurants and bars:
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone

I'm pretty sure that is perfectly legal, providing the "anyone" is not a member of a protected class and can show the refusal was because of being a member of that class (as pointed out by AvalonXQ in the first reply).

[Dancing David]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

And what behavior was he engaging in at the time, what basis for his belief that is was based upon his area of residence is there?

[WildCat]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?
Fixed that for you. :p

[WildCat]

And what behavior was he engaging in at the time,
He was peeing on the floor, minding his own business. It had to be because he was a southerner.

[WildCat]

So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.
Won't ever happen, Sherman taught those good ol' boys a lesson they'll never forget.

[Checkmite]

So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.

I'm sure someone on some forum or other would start a thread about it.

[Beerina]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

I've been told Boston is one of the most divisive and unfriendly places in the US. Michigan is exactly the opposite, as I've had visitors tell me on several occasions.

[sadhatter]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

It might not be as bad as you think.

A lot of bouncers will proactively kick someone out if they " Don't like the look " of them. And usually when they do they give a silly reason, because , well they are the bouncer.

Personally i stopped going to a bar that i used to frequent constantly, due to the fact that they got a new group of bouncers in.

The first time i went i had one drink before hand, and said drink was 90% energy drink. ( actually it might be a bit more less, how many ounces is 500 or so ml?) I went to the bar with a friend, our other friend went to the bathroom. And as i was done my second drink ( not to brag, but 2 drinks does nothing to me. )one came over and said in an exasperated voice " Man, you have to leave, you are way too drunk.".

I was miffed, but my thoughts were " well maybe i tripped or something, maybe i looked drunk coming in ( sometimes Menieres disease plays havok with my balance and i don't notice.) , whatever.".

Next time, I had zero alcohol, ( trying to remove the variable as the case may be.) walked in and within 25% of drink number one, the same guy comes by. " You need to leave.". This time, i was slightly indignant " Okay, i am going to leave, i have no intent of arguing with you, or trying to stay, but i have to ask, what in this exact situation would make you think that i am inebriated in any way shape or form?" ( and in case that sounds false, the exaggeratedly professional tone was on purpose to illustrate that i was under the influence of nothing. )

He replied with " Your drunk man." and i left the bar, never to return.

More than likely the bouncer just made a (possibly, i don't know your friend.) bad judgement call, versus having actual ire for those from the south.

[sadhatter]

He was peeing on the floor, minding his own business. It had to be because he was a southerner.

Reminds me of one time at my favorite bar...

Guy, a regular, someone who goes even more than myself is there and very drunk. Now he decideds in his infinite wisdom to rip a urinal out of the wall.

Maybe he could have gotten away with it at a big bar, where he could claim ignorance , and it would take a few minutes for someone to notice. But this bar, is about as big as a medium sized convience store at best. The washrooms being right next to the actual bar where one gets their drinks.

Well before he even walks out there is a torrent of water ( the only urinal being right next to the door of the washroom.) , but this knob, walks out like everything is fine, like there is no massive flood directly following him and like there wasn't the distinct noise of a urinal being ripped out of the wall.

The entire floor near the bar is wet by the time the bouncer asks him what is going on, and he answers " What do you mean?" and still tries to play it off.

Long story short he got stuck with a 15 grand repair bill. From what i hear though they didn't ban him.

And i thought an upper decker was bad...

[WildCat]

Reminds me of one time at my favorite bar...
Here's another true bar story (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-11/news/chi-bar-incident-leaves-goose-islands-greg-hall-contrite-20110411_1_bar-incident-glasses-bartender) for ya:

It wasn’t celebrating the $38 million acquisition of his family’s brewery by Anheuser-Busch – it was just a birthday party. But it ended with a bartender saying that Goose Island brewmaster Greg Hall urinated into two beer glasses while standing at the bar and Hall saying he “(screwed) up big time.”

The incident Friday at Wicker Park’s Bangers & Lace, which Hall sheepishly blamed Monday on overconsumption, has generated apologies from Hall and lingering hard feelings from the bartender who said he had to clean up the urine left behind.

...Matty Eggleston, a bartender working at Bangers & Lace that night, said Hall and some Goose Island employees were nearing the end of several hours at the bar – drinking mostly Goose’s higher end Belgian-style beers – when he saw Hall “leaning against the front of the bar, looking down.”

Eggleston said, he “jokingly said to one of the other bartenders, ‘Look, it looks like he’s (relieving himself).’”

As Hall and his group began to leave, Eggleston said he heard Hall tell his friends, “Don’t drink that.”

Eggleston said he put his finger on the side of one of the two full 8-ounce glasses. It was warm enough to know it wasn’t Honker’s Ale, he said.

“I said, ‘Hey what’s this?’” Eggleston said. “He said, ‘Beer.’ I said, ‘Perfect, let’s have a toast before you go.’”
:D

[NoahFence]

You sure he didn't say "Southie" and he was in East Boston? If so it's perfectly understandable.

LOL!

What a wicked jerk

[TragicMonkey]

A similar thing happened at a bar in Charleston, SC a few years ago. Some Yankee opened a bar there, and the locals said "we don't want your sort here", and before you knew it things escalated, cannons were fired at Fort Sumter, and then we had the War of Northern Aggression. It just goes to show you that alcohol causes almost as many problems as Yankees do.

[cwalner]

He was peeing on the floor, minding his own business. It had to be because he was a southerner.

Nah, they would have assumed he was from Chicago in that case, not the South.

[WildCat]

Nah, they would have assumed he was from Chicago in that case, not the South.
Don't be silly, as I've already shown we pee in glasses.

[SonOfLaertes]

How about being thrown out of a bar for politely engaging an evangelical?

A buddy mine decided to stay for a while after the rest of us called it a night. He thought he hit the jackpot when a cute blond occupied the stool next to him and started to make small talk. Casual conversation was eventually followed up with "Do you know Jesus?" My friend knew a little too much about Jesus and the Bible, and proceeded to rebut some of the girls points. This made the girl very upset, and she complained to the bartender, who had the bouncers throw my friend out.

[WildCat]

A buddy mine decided to stay for a while after the rest of us called it a night. He thought he hit the jackpot when a cute blond occupied the stool next to him and started to make small talk.
Usually when that happens it's a working pro, if you know what I mean.

[Cleon]

Usually when that happens it's a working pro, if you know what I mean.

"Flirty Fishing" maybe?

[triforcharity]

I know I've seen many times across the country sings in restaurants and bars:
"We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone

I'm pretty sure that is perfectly legal, providing the "anyone" is not a member of a protected class and can show the refusal was because of being a member of that class (as pointed out by AvalonXQ in the first reply).

DING DING DING!!! We have a winner!! Yes, this is ABSOLUTELY true.

I am the part owner of a local watering hole, and there are times when I have refused service to people. For whatever reason. The ONLY ones that are protected are Race, Religion, sex, national origin.

This COULD fall under national origin, but that would be a stretch.

I am going on Florida law, but I can legally refuse to serve a pregnant woman. Not because she is a woman, but because she is pregnant.

I can refuse service to people who have Yankee shirts on if I want to. I don't, but I do give them a hard time. In jest of course.

But, I am not sure if place of birth/place of residency is protected in that sense. I would assume so.

[Cainkane1]

Jekyll's Guest seems to have it right.

Cainkane1, check into it, let us know. I've heard many times that people in Boston seem unfriendly (to everybody, including each other), but they're not generally interested in re-fighting the civil war.
I haven't seen the guy in years.

[triforcharity]

I've been told Boston is one of the most divisive and unfriendly places in the US. Michigan is exactly the opposite, as I've had visitors tell me on several occasions.

Only to Yankee fans!!

(I have to disagree though. Boston is a great place for visitors. But, nobody is perfect though.

[triforcharity]

Don't be silly, as I've already shown we pee in glasses.

If he was barefoot and wearing a beat up baseball cap, then he was one of ours.

[AvalonXQ]

Casual conversation was eventually followed up with "Do you know Jesus?" My friend knew a little too much about Jesus and the Bible

... and apparently not enough about hitting it off with women. :D

[WildCat]

Only to Yankee fans!!

(I have to disagree though. Boston is a great place for visitors. But, nobody is perfect though.
The Grateful Dead used to issue warnings to their fans to stay out of certain parts of Boston when they played there. Apparently they don't like hippies. :p

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Ok heres the story. I was talking to a good ol boy who owns a small construction firm. He said he was in Boston Massachutes when the owner told him to leave. The man asked why and he was told the establishment didn't serve southerners. Is this legal? I could understand if the man had been causing trouble but if the story is true couldn't the bar be sued for discrimination?

Your friend is pulling your leg.

[Dorian Gray]

I call Bulls.... I mean, Untrue.

[Arisia]

You sure he didn't say "Southie" and he was in East Boston? If so it's perfectly understandable.

Or maybe he was gay and trying to get into a bar in Southie on St.Patrick's Day?

[Damien Evans]

How about if a guy wearing a Georgia shirt walked into a sports bar at Auburn during football season?

Or, in my hometown, wearing a Duke shirt at a certain Chapel Hill bar. That bar had a standing "no Duke attire" rule for decades, and it became sort of a hazing ritual for a Duke fraternity. Send the pledges into the bar dressed head-to-to in Duke logo clothes.

I don't remember hearing of any law suits as a result.

Theres a hotel here which refuses entry to anyone wearing team colours on friday and saturday nights.

[triforcharity]

The Grateful Dead used to issue warnings to their fans to stay out of certain parts of Boston when they played there. Apparently they don't like hippies. :p

I can understand that. I mean, have you ever had to hang out with a hippie against your will for hours on end? :D

[triforcharity]

Theres a hotel here which refuses entry to anyone wearing team colours on friday and saturday nights.

Absolutely within their rights. I'm not sure what the purpose is though. Can you elaborate?

I refuse entry to anyone with their pants down around their butt cheeks and their underwear hanging out.

[Trakar]

So if you come from the southeast it legal to refuse to serve them? I'd like to see what would happen if a georgia bar refused to serve someone from Delaware.

They'd be given a parade!

[madurobob]

Absolutely within their rights. I'm not sure what the purpose is though. Can you elaborate?

I assume it because such guests have proven to be rowdy, drunken fools in the past (games are on the weekends, so those showing up in team attire on the weekend are likely there for the game).

[jayh]

At a restaurant in Tennessee, Sam Adams was listed as 'imported beer'. That may shed some light.

[KoihimeNakamura]

Side note: I've had to do this at work and for example: there is one customer I do not want to serve nad will kick out (Because she's trying to get me fired. Actively.)

[Jekyll's Guest]

At a restaurant in Tennessee, Sam Adams was listed as 'imported beer'. That may shed some light.

How did they get it past the blockade?

[Alferd_Packer]

there is one customer I do not want to serve nad

You serve nads?

with hot sauce?

[sadhatter]

How about being thrown out of a bar for politely engaging an evangelical?

A buddy mine decided to stay for a while after the rest of us called it a night. He thought he hit the jackpot when a cute blond occupied the stool next to him and started to make small talk. Casual conversation was eventually followed up with "Do you know Jesus?" My friend knew a little too much about Jesus and the Bible, and proceeded to rebut some of the girls points. This made the girl very upset, and she complained to the bartender, who had the bouncers throw my friend out.

I have had this situation happen so many times. ( not the getting thrown out, but the story in general.)

The "Lil Hatter" cannot stand to make an appearance to anyone who is, to but it a bit bluntly, silly. I, regardless of state of inebriation have a complete inability to find someone attractive that thinks in a way that is very different from myself. This is okay, if someone doesn't bring it up, i don't really have people fill out a test or anything, but i have had many nights end up with...

" So what happened with the hot **insert sex here**?"

" Oh, yeah it went south pretty hard at about 2 am, **jesus, psychics, Ct's, etc** was mentioned and ... yeah they slept on the couch/****** off angrily. "

[WildCat]

You serve nads?

with hot sauce?
But they call them Rocky Mountain Oysters (http://www.food.com/recipe/rocky-mountain-oysters-28386).

[sadhatter]

Here's another true bar story (http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-04-11/news/chi-bar-incident-leaves-goose-islands-greg-hall-contrite-20110411_1_bar-incident-glasses-bartender) for ya:

:D

This guy seems to be the opposite of me and my friends. We only do horrid things when not trying.

There have been a few nights, at our favorite pub, or others, when we are angered at the service, or something of that nature ( usually justified anger, if not responses, such as the time my friend got a glass a quarter full of spit, though that was somewhat his fault.) and through beer ( well sometimes whiskey , or jager. And as we all know Whiskey frenzy is even worse than lager frenzy... ten points to anyone who gets the reference.) fueled logic we decide to take out our frustrations on the bar somehow.

An upper decker here ( and no we didn't get it from Mcgruber.) , a glass taken there, generally low damage , harmless if annoying stuff.

But the worst things we have ever done in a bar, have all been done by accident.

My worst was the day i decide to go to the bar, when i had food poisoning or something similar. I shouldn't even have gotten out of bed, but it was only my stomach that was bugging me.

Well long story short, i end up using the john to meet the duke , and i have to say, john wayne was not too impressed with me that day ( to translate. I had to use the bathroom to defecate, and said defecation was a very unpleasant example of its kind. ). ( to clarify i was not drunk at this point, maybe 2 drinks in, at 6 pm. We stayed the whole night.) I remember, oddly enough, thinking, " man it would suck for everyone involved if the toilet was broken.

Well, murphy's law and all that. The toilet flushed, but this did nothing more than cause a ****-alanche. Now had there been a sign, i probably would have chalked it up to my own stupidity and did something about it, being signless, i simply made my way out as fast as i could, and was relieved ( no pun intended) when everyone working there was havin a smoke ( they know us well enough that they know we wouldn't steal.).

A tense few hours went by, but thankfully it was a slow night and no one even went in the bathroom till hours later. Though the the din of the bar, i could hear horror stories of the state of the bathroom , though no culprit could be directly named.

Another night, a friend of mine, had a persistent cough. But we drank anyway, and he got a bit too tipsy. This was okay, as if he needed to vomit he would have plenty of time, but unfortunately a coughing fit emerged. I left to go have a smoke , and when i came back he was sitting in the booth ( it was a mildly busy night, how no one saw this i have no idea.) with a drunk hang-dog expression, as if to say " what the hell do i do now?" and the booth was absolutely plastered in vomit. ( it looked as if someone walked by and tossed out a bucket of the stuff. ) Not to mention his beard.

Again, a bit drunk, and not wanting to stop, judgement was not exactly my strong suit. As my other friends came back i whispered loudly " Get to the next friggen booth, now." he looked confused but complied.

Well the waitress, new at the time, walked to our old table, gave a shudder and a gasp ( a very vocal, EWWWW) , then walked to the new table, and asked us what we wanted to drink. It took everything in me not to say " Why not just get a mass spectrometer and test the puke?"

[SonOfLaertes]

I have had this situation happen so many times. ( not the getting thrown out, but the story in general.)

The "Lil Hatter" cannot stand to make an appearance to anyone who is, to but it a bit bluntly, silly. I, regardless of state of inebriation have a complete inability to find someone attractive that thinks in a way that is very different from myself. This is okay, if someone doesn't bring it up, i don't really have people fill out a test or anything, but i have had many nights end up with...

" So what happened with the hot **insert sex here**?"

" Oh, yeah it went south pretty hard at about 2 am, **jesus, psychics, Ct's, etc** was mentioned and ... yeah they slept on the couch/****** off angrily. "

Some woman, and men I'm sure, carry their own built-in anaphrodisiac
(Had to look that word up). He had sized up the fact that she had no interest in him as a person well before she had him tossed (the bartender was her friend, didn't mention that before) and he was sincerely trying to engage her in two-way conversation. She didn't like that.

[sadhatter]

Some woman, and men I'm sure, carry their own built-in anaphrodisiac
(Had to look that word up). He had sized up the fact that she had no interest in him as a person well before she had him tossed (the bartender was her friend, didn't mention that before) and he was sincerely trying to engage her in two-way conversation. She didn't like that.

The closest i have came to that is inadvertently getting a group of truthers kicked out during a name that tune night.

They were loudly talking about alex jones, and the inside job and what have you. So we loudly started talking about how much alex jones sucks, and how stupid the idea of an inside job was. We thought they just left, but apparently they had been discussing the benefits of committing violence to us outside and the bouncer proactively told them to leave.