Can les cafes set their own age rules for customers?

A coffee shop known for its photo spots posted a notice serving only customers aged 10 and above, and the rule spread quickly on social media. Staff said children had made noise, damaged facilities and created safety hazards. Some parents found the threshold hard to accept, and some commenters called it discrimination against children.

Lawyers say businesses may operate independently and set reasonable rules based on their positioning, so the policy is not discrimination, though explaining the reasons helps. The case reflects a wider tension in les cafes that sell atmosphere: owners want a calm room for other guests, while families expect to be welcomed. Questions such as whether coffee is bad for you rarely arise here.

A coffee shop known for its photo spots has sparked widespread discussion on social media after posting a notice stating "only customers aged 10 and above are served." The shop says the move is a last resort, as children have frequently caused noise, damaged facilities, and even created safety hazards. Some parents are puzzled by the rule, believing that 10-year-olds already have some self-control, while some netizens question whether it amounts to discrimination against children. In response, lawyers point out that businesses have the right to operate independently and can set reasonable rules based on their positioning, which does not constitute discrimination, but they suggest clearly explaining the reasons to gain understanding. Behind the incident lies the dilemma cafes face in balancing ambiance and customer experience.

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Recently, a café posted a notice on social media to inform its customer base, which unexpectedly sparked heated discussion among netizens. Judging from the entrance notice shared by the poster, this shop's main selling point is photo spots, and to ensure customers' photo experience, only customers aged 10 and above are allowed inside.

Today, some cafes that emphasize ambiance set age thresholds, though most establishments politely decline younger children. Many consumers also agree that some young children are hard to control and prone to making noise, so they understand why owners set rules to maintain a good experience for other guests.

However, in many people's eyes, children around 10 years old can already communicate on equal terms and behave with more restraint compared to innocent kindergarteners. As long as you communicate patiently, they shouldn't disturb other customers. So this rule makes some parents find it hard to accept, and some feel it shows the café is biased against children.

Regarding this matter, a reporter from JingShi Live contacted the café, and staff responded that such a rule is truly a last resort. It is understood that the store focuses on photo spots, with decorations like a piano and a fountain to create attractive scenes. But children often make loud noise and damage items, which not only ruins the environment but also affects other customers.

"Some parents did try to discipline their children before, but just couldn't control them. Kids would first bang on our piano, and our gentle reminders didn't work; some kids would step on our fountain, which is electrified and very dangerous; others would run around the room touching things, even throwing items into the fish tank. We could only keep apologizing to customers, and their experience was really bad."

Staff explained that their café has been open for less than two weeks and mainly serves customers who want to take photos, so to maintain a comfortable and pleasant atmosphere, they had no choice but to write this post.

Surprisingly, while the post was gaining traction, their shop suffered cyberbullying from some people, with malicious negative reviews appearing on third-party platforms, and many netizens believing their action was discriminating against children.

In response to the controversy in the comments, lawyers believe that the café has the right to operate independently and can set reasonable operating rules based on its business philosophy and target customer positioning, and this practice does not constitute discrimination against children.

As netizens often say, behind every outrageous rule there must be an unpleasant story. So to avoid similar situations, the café just needs to inform customers in advance of the rules to follow.

However, lawyers also remind businesses that when writing controversial rules, they should clearly explain the reasons in a lawful and reasonable manner. "For example, to create a quiet environment that caters to the main target customer group; or for safety reasons, since in-store facilities may pose risks to children—this can make parents more understanding and accepting."

Image source: Internet

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The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.