Accused of discrimination, the manager said he did not understand the criticism because the policy, he said, was put in place “for the safety of all customers.”
No friends, no entries. This is a very controversial rule at Alibi, a bar in the city of Altrincham (England), Greater Manchester. Accused of discrimination, Carl Peters, owner of this cocktail and karaoke bar, admitted that he did not understand because this policy, according to him, was implemented “for the safety of all customers”.
He explained in a video published on Instagram at the beginning of November: this measure, implemented from 9 p.m., aims to “reduce risks” and “protect its customers” from the “discomfort” caused by people drinking alone.
“Sometimes if you let people in alone, the reason they’re alone is because there’s no one to talk to, so they start disrupting other groups,” Peters said. Plus, if someone has an accident in a bar and they don’t have friends who can help, “it’s a nightmare that we have to overcome,” he added. “Therefore, our role as an institution is to eliminate this. »
“I don’t care.”
As reported by the BBC, this ban has divided social media in recent weeks, even though the regulation has been in place since its inception in 2022.
While one user assured that he “always felt safe at Alibi,” another called the policy “close-minded,” adding that he never bothered anyone when he finished working late and decided to drink alone. “I’m happy to be in my own company,” he added.
Carl Peter is unconcerned by criticism and considers his establishment to be “an inclusive and safe place”. “I understand that some people don’t agree with this policy, but I don’t care because problems arise once or twice a month at the entrance,” explained the manager. The latter refused to apologize, especially since “usually someone is drunk in the middle of the night, wandering around trying to find a place to go.”
