# Could you legally have a business that did not allow teenagers inside? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 24, 2008, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231 "2008-11-24T11:16:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 11:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/1 "2008-11-24T11:16:09Z")
If you had a business and over time determined that 90% of all thefts, fights and trouble were caused by teenagers (say ages 15 to 19) could you legally ban them from the premises of your store or restaurant? ---
**Author:** ![An\_Gadai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@An\_Gadai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Gadai)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/2 "2008-11-24T11:20:33Z")
FWIW I believe \*\*Kittenblue \*\*works in a mall where under 18’s are not allowed access unaccompanied by an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/3 "2008-11-24T11:55:36Z")
“Teenager” is not a protected class. So, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Myself](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Myself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myself)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/4 "2008-11-24T13:37:34Z")
Bars and liquor-serving dance clubs Porn shops, adult stores My Aunt Carmela’s living room ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/5 "2008-11-24T13:37:53Z")
Casinos and bars do this all the time. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/6 "2008-11-24T14:35:17Z")
I don’t know if this is where **kittenblue** works, but a [mall in downtown Cleveland](http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21582725/) bans all teens after 2:30 PM unless accompanied by an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Santo\_Rugger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@Santo\_Rugger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Santo_Rugger)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/7 "2008-11-24T14:53:17Z")
> [@Myself](#): > > Bars and liquor-serving dance clubs > > Porn shops, adult stores > > My Aunt Carmela’s living room > [@FatBaldGuy](#): > > Casinos and bars do this all the time. The business is not banning teenagers from being there, the government is (except for your aunt’s living room, of course ;)). However, I agree with the general sentiment. ---
**Author:** ![shallora](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@shallora](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shallora)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/8 "2008-11-24T15:05:06Z")
> [@astro](#): > > If you had a business and over time determined that 90% of all thefts, fights and trouble were caused by teenagers (say ages 15 to 19) could you legally ban them from the premises of your store or restaurant? In most states, there are truency laws whereby you can easily ban children (whom are unaccompanied by an adult) from the premises during normal school hours. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/9 "2008-11-24T15:45:14Z")
> [@Myself](#): > > Bars and liquor-serving dance clubs There are also quite a few concerts that are 18+, which isn’t for alcohol-serving reasons. ---
**Author:** ![Reply](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/reply/32/15952_2.png) [@Reply](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reply)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/10 "2008-11-24T16:12:07Z")
More complicated: Would you be able to ban 15-19 yos while allowing anyone \<15 and \>19? ---
**Author:** ![Cliffy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cliffy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cliffy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/11 "2008-11-24T16:38:26Z")
Probably, but you have to expect it’d piss a lot of people off. One reason why this isn’t done more is not because it’s illegal, but because teenagers are profligate spenders. You send the teens away (at least from stores which attract them in the first place), you’re sending away your customers. –Cliffy ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/12 "2008-11-24T16:40:46Z")
> [@Q.E.D](#): > > “Teenager” is not a protected class. So, yes. Does age discrimination only apply to employment? ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/13 "2008-11-24T17:01:03Z")
> [@Cliffy](#): > > Probably… Possibly, but possibly not. The malls that ban teenagers allow them in the company of parents. It would be hard to argue that a group of 14-year-olds could be allowed in while 15-year-olds would not be. I’d bet on an immediate lawsuit and I’m not sure the ban would stand. There have been numerous suits over teen curfews, teen restrictions, and teen bannings and many laws and prohibitions have fallen because of them. > [@](#): > > One reason why this isn’t done more is not because it’s illegal, but because teenagers are profligate spenders. You send the teens away (at least from stores which attract them in the first place), you’re sending away your customers. But it is done in the cases in which the store owners feel that they are losing more business from adults than they gain from business from teens who cruise but don’t buy. Overall, teens are not good customers. Adults spend a heck of lot more money when they go to malls. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/14 "2008-11-24T17:07:44Z")
My SO and I have a dream of opening a restaurant for adults only. A place where you could eat in (relative) peace, not having to worry about hearing a baby or toddler scream. No worry of teens being loud. But with the convenient mid-range price instead of having to spend a fortune for a place that doesn’t really cater to kids. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/15 "2008-11-24T17:17:52Z")
Mall Of America doesn’t allow [teens under 16](http://www.mallofamerica.com/mall_hours.aspx) after 4 p.m. without an adult over 21. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/16 "2008-11-24T17:22:00Z")
I think I mentioned this here before, but a local chain of theaters has started a policy that I love. Each Friday night, they pick one screening of a popular movie and designate that screening as 21+. No babies, children or teenagers are allowed. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/17 "2008-11-24T17:25:50Z")
Some TV shows have age limits for the audience at tapings. E.g., Letterman’s show. No government rule at all. And since what goes on the air is not R-rated, at best it’s to limit exposure of children to the occasional (later to be bleeped) swear word. But I suspect they just don’t want kids. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/18 "2008-11-24T17:57:00Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Does age discrimination only apply to employment? > [@](#): > > **The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (ADEA) protects individuals who are 40 years of age or older from employment discrimination based on age.** The ADEA’s protections apply to both employees and job applicants. Under the ADEA, it is unlawful to discriminate against a person because of his/her age with respect to any term, condition, or privilege of employment, including hiring, firing, promotion, layoff, compensation, benefits, job assignments, and training. Source: [http://www.eeoc.gov/types/age.html](http://www.eeoc.gov/types/age.html) If you are thinking about a Young Whippersnapper Get off My Lawn protection, forget it. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/19 "2008-11-24T17:58:34Z")
How would you enforce it? I could see in a place like a bar with a single entrance where you card everyone but not everyone has an ID. How would you tell an 18 year old from a 17 year old? Like at the library kids under 14 have to use the computers for “under 14” but the kids discovered that they can go on the adult computers and if anyone asks they simply say “I’m 15,” and the librarian always accepts it. ---
**Author:** ![Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e56c9b/32.png) [@Harriet\_the\_Spry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harriet_the_Spry)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2008, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231/20 "2008-11-24T18:01:16Z")
> [@BrandonR](#): > > Does age discrimination only apply to employment? The Age Discrimination in Employment Act does only apply to employment, as the name implies. It also only applies to those 40 or older, although some state and local employment laws prohibit any discrimination based on age. Children (defined to include teenagers) are also protected from housing discrimination. I am unaware of any law that prohibits retail discrimination against minors. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-you-legally-have-a-business-that-did-not-allow-teenagers-inside/474231.md?page=2)