Café 8, a restaurant in D.C., has decided that after 8:30 p.m. it will ban customers under the age of 30. The restaurant wants to attract a more mature clientele and thus reduce noise and safety problems. The decision was prompted by recent incidents, including an assault suffered by the owner and an attempted armed intrusion into the venue. However, the decision may violate the Human Rights Act, which prohibits age discrimination for people over the age of 18 unless there is a specific business need. Still, the rule received support from customers, who were satisfied with the calmer, “adult” environment.
When asked about the legality of the restriction that was raised during a December 3 meeting of the Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Committee (ABC), venue manager Elis Sam pointed out that a licensing specialist from the district”s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) told Café 8 that since theirs is a private business, there was no problem with setting an age limit above 21.
However, as Hillrag reports, the district’s Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) reported that their advisor had expressed no opinion on the restriction by turning to the Office for Human Rights (OHR) for clarification on the matter.
During a meeting with the Advisory Neighborhood Commission, Sam also pointed out that the venue had subsequently received similar feedback from the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD). “From the police department, it was confirmed that if it is an establishment and a private business, it can be operated as a property.” According to Sam, the officers stressed, however, that “therefore, you can make a decision on the age limit for entry to your establishment, even if it is not fully legally approved.”
