14 April 2023 , 21:51
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A dad has slammed his local pub after they told him they would refuse to serve his 18-year-old son because of his disability.
Jim Green, from Wimborne in Dorset, says the landlord at the The Dorset Soldier in Corfe Mullen told him he could not pour a pint for Hadyn, who has autism and global development delay.
The row began after the family booked out the premises ready to celebrate his 18th birthday on December 17, with the father engaging pub owner Geoffrey Mockford in light conversation beforehand about potentially having to limit Hadyn to two pints due to his condition.
But Jim has not returned since after the exchange left him horrified, with the landlord allegedly telling him he "might not be able to serve him at all."
Jim Green says the decision to refuse his son Hadyn alcohol is 'blatant discrimination' (Getty Images)After responding that he would have to serve him because he would be turning 18, the dad set off home and the pair continued their argument over text, reports The Sun.
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Screenshots shared by the father appear to show the landlord explaining that he believed he could not serve Hadyn as he was "not a normal 18 year old".
Claiming this is standard practice already enforced on another customer, he goes on to say : "He has a lower mental capacity for his years. It would be like giving alcohol to a 9 year old and it is my business I need to show due diligence"
"I do it for somebody else he only has half a bitter shandy because of his mental capacity."
He then insisted that Jim should be concerned "as a parent" about him consuming alcohol, as he would "not be able to deal with it".
Hitting back, Jim told him that Haydn is "an adult in the eyes of the law" and can make an informed decision about his alcohol use having been given "all the information" and being aware of all the dangers.
After he contacted Hall and Woodhouse, the brewery for The Dorset Soldier, they told him they stood by Geoffrey Mockford's decision, as they said he found in his position as Designation Premises Supervisor that the 18-year-old "may be a danger to himself if he consumes too much".
They informed him that this appeared to be "in line with the licensing objectives, and not based on discrimination."
Despite the row, the party went ahead as normal on December 17 as it was too late to move the venue, with the pub refusing to serve Haydn any alcoholic drinks.
Jim has since told The Sun that he regards the pub's decision as "blatant discrimination" and says he has not retuned since.
He says he is going to "keep fighting" for his son's rights to a pint, and claims there has not been an issue with him being served at other venues he has visited.
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Hall and Woodhouse have been approached for comment.