# "We reserve the right to refuse service... ": Legal? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 13, 2003, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036 "2003-11-13T15:36:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![usedtobe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ec9cab/32.png) [@usedtobe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/usedtobe)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/21 "2013-09-05T06:20:18Z")
Oh look - a brand new member digging up a zombie to post FMoL nonsense. How unusual! Wonder if he’ll also find a dead thread to revive by sharing his One True Religion? No, not that one, not that one - you know, the TRUE one! ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/22 "2013-09-05T06:21:19Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Isn’t this kind of pointless now that the ban on gays in the military has been lifted? **Otto** posted that nearly ten years ago, in November of 2003. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/23 "2013-09-05T10:36:45Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#): > > **Otto** posted that nearly ten years ago, in November of 2003. And has subsequently been, er, refused service here. ---
**Author:** ![aNewLeaf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ac91a4/32.png) [@aNewLeaf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aNewLeaf)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 12:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/24 "2013-09-05T12:04:43Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Not sure what to say to that,exactly, so I’ll just ask a question. > > I’ve never owned a business, but is there generally anything on a business license that tends to establish that the licensee is running either a place of public accommodation, or a “private establishment?” If you get a business license, it’s a business. Private establishments are clubs with members- the Elks, the Boy Scouts, the AME Church. …was my understanding when I applied for a business license some years ago. It’s true you can decline service to an individual, but as stated above in this zombie thread, it’s risky. Did you boot him out for being left handed? Or Korean? Was he drunk and disorderly, or just a black gay Jew? ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/25 "2013-09-05T12:06:56Z")
FMoL? We need a sticky acronym thread. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/26 "2013-09-05T12:27:38Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > FMoL? > > We need a sticky acronym thread. [Freeman on the land](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Freeman_on_the_land) (in before **BrainGlutton** posts it) ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/27 "2013-09-05T14:08:22Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I’ve never owned a business, but is there generally anything on a business license that tends to establish that the licensee is running either a place of public accommodation, or a “private establishment?” There is no bright line distinguishing private clubs from businesses for the purpose of civil rights legislation. Courts have generally adopted “factors” tests. The factors can include whether the establishment is operated on a for-profit basis, whether it is owned by its members, whether it employs commercial solicitation (advertising) to draw new members, and its criteria for membership (is it actually exclusive or does it just exclude black people?) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/28 "2013-09-05T14:20:17Z")
> [@usedtobe](#): > > Oh look - a brand new member digging up a zombie to post FMoL nonsense. > > How unusual! > > Wonder if he’ll also find a dead thread to revive by sharing his One True Religion? > No, not that one, not that one - you know, the TRUE one! **Moderator Note** **usedtobe** , personal attacks are not permitted in General Questions, no matter what your opinion of the poster might be. No warning issued, but don’t do this again. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2013, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036/29 "2013-09-05T14:23:46Z")
> [@Randy\_Lee](#): > > The government will continue its assault on the free agency of individuals until they finally discover that if they place a sign conspicously near the door that reads PRIVATE ESTABLISHMENT, WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO REFUSE SERVICE FOR ANY REASON INCLUDING THOSE WE DEEM PERSONAL AND PRIVATE. It is only necessary to overcome the presumption that the establishment is a public accommodation for one to be able to exercise their right to engage in selective service. **Moderator Note** **Randy Lee** , political commentary is not appropriate for General Questions. If you want to discuss this further, open a new thread in Great Debates. Since this thread is very old, I’m closing it. Colibri General Questions Moderator [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/we-reserve-the-right-to-refuse-service-legal/213036.md?page=1)