Are there more and more shops that do not accept children? Journalist's on-site visits
Recently, some cities have seen shops openly stating that they do not accept children, which has sparked heated discussions. In Beijing, some small shops have also been widely discussed by netizens for posting reminders such as "Our store is not suitable for children".
Why do these shops make such prompts? The reporter's visit found that many businesses are for reasons such as ensuring safety and maintaining the environment. If there are adults accompanying and taking care of children, some shops also welcome children to enter.
On site visits
"Not suitable" does not mean that one cannot enter
In reality, do the so-called "refuse children" shop places really exist? The reporter's investigation found that the prompt language that sparked heated discussions on social media platforms is not necessarily a "hard rule".
"Come on, this store is full of old items!" In Wudaoying Hutong, a woman saw a clothing store and greeted her son to come in together. But when she saw the "Our store is not suitable for children" notice posted on the door, she hesitated for a moment and immediately said, "It's okay, let's go in and take a look!" Then she led the boy into the store.
This clothing store displays second-hand clothing, shoes, bags, jewelry, and other unique items. Although there were prompts such as "Do not touch" and "Do not take valuable items by yourself" next to the product, the boy saw a cartoon ornament and still reached out his hand, ready to pick it up and take a look. "Don't move!" The mother quickly stopped the child.
In the store, there is also a girl around ten years old and her mother stopping in front of a row of jewelry. "Does this style have a bracelet?" Upon hearing the girl's inquiry, the salesperson enthusiastically approached and introduced, "It can be used as a bracelet by winding it a few times."
"Children are allowed to enter the store, but be careful not to touch the goods on the ground." The salesperson told reporters that there have been cases in the store where children need to compensate for damaging the goods, so a text reminder was posted at the door. In fact, the store did not exclude children.
The reporter found that some stores that are considered to "reject children" actually have false rumors. On social media platforms, some netizens posted that they are celebrating their birthday and plan to find a restaurant that does not accommodate children to avoid being disturbed. In the comments, someone mentioned a liquor distillery located in Chaoyang District, stating that it refuses to receive children under 12 years old. The answer has also been liked and collected by many people.
But when the reporter called the restaurant for consultation, the staff was quite surprised. "When is there an age limit?" The other party introduced that the restaurant is a Japanese restaurant that can eat normally, not a place specifically for drinking. "As long as parents take good care of their children and do not make noise or disturb other guests, we welcome children of all ages."
Store concerns
Difficulty in ensuring children's safety
At the same time, there are indeed some merchants and shops that clearly indicate that they do not accept some children.
At a cat coffee shop located in Fangjia Hutong, customers were playing with cats with great interest, with few children among them. The "Entry Notice" posted in the store states, "For the safety of children, children under 12 years old are not allowed to enter. If false reporting of age causes injury to children under 12 years old, our store will not be responsible."
"Children over 6 and under 12 years old are now allowed to enter, but the time limit is one hour. Children under 6 years old are not allowed to enter." A staff member explained, "Mainly for the safety of children. There are too many cats in our store, and the staff cannot take care of every child." She also mentioned that there are larger Maine cats in the store, standing about 1 meter tall. "Although cats are gentle, there is also a possibility of knocking down children. Therefore, it is a mandatory rule that children under the age of 6 cannot enter."
Difficulty in ensuring children's safety is one of the main reasons why some stores choose to "discourage" children.
Another small shop in Wudaoying Hutong also had a sign on its door saying "This shop is not suitable for children". A young couple passed by with their four year old son. The dolls, ornaments, and other items displayed in the storefront window caught the boy's attention. The boy reached out to the window and wanted to enter the store to take a look. "It says it's not suitable for you, let's go to another store!" The child's father lowered his head and advised the child. The boy nodded after listening, and the family walked forward.
"The small shops here in Wudaoying are quite unique, and it's understandable for the boss to set some 'store rules'," the father told the reporter. "Moreover, the door still says' indoor space is narrow', and I'm afraid I might bump into it with my child inside."
The reporter pushed open the store door and walked down the stairs into the store. A note with the words "Please take care of your child" is placed in the store. The salesperson said, "A child used to chase, play, and fall in the store, and I lost several times." The reporter noticed that the small store was filled with clothing, CDs, small ornaments, and other items. Inside the store, a boy became interested in the dazzling array of badge brooches. The salesperson quickly emphasized to the nearby parents, "There is a needle behind the brooch, so it is not recommended to buy it for the child."
Although there is a reminder at the entrance that "our store is not suitable for children", the salesperson told reporters that children can come into the store and have a look. "But there is nothing suitable for children in the store. There are more things that are more suitable for children to play with, so don't hesitate to come to us to buy."
Merchant perspective
Provide a good consumer experience
In places that place more emphasis on atmosphere and experience, there are other reasons for limiting customer age.
A caf é located in Shunyi has a "no children" signboard outside the store, and the owner's public explanation is "because they don't have the ability to satisfy everyone.".
In his imagination, his caf é should be a quiet space, and customers also enjoy a quiet environment. And children have a lively nature, and I am unwilling and should not limit this nature. In addition, he has designated the caf é as an "animal friendly space" where guests can enter with their small dogs on leashes. The owner also has two dogs and may occasionally appear in the caf é, which may pose certain safety risks to children.
Not only targeting children, the reporter noticed that commercial portraits are also prohibited from being displayed in the store. In short, the owner's intention is very clear, hoping to provide a pure coffee experience for customers who need a quiet environment and love animals.
A theater located in Xicheng District, mainly performing traditional Chinese opera and cross-talk. Next to the ticket window, a ticket notice clearly states: Children and adults above 1.2 meters must enter with tickets, while children below 1.2 meters are not allowed to enter.
"We are here for tourism, and we don't allow children to be taken care of. Who can the children show them to?" This requirement has caused a lot of controversy because some tourists consider appreciating the performance of the theater as an important experience for traveling to Beijing.
The reporter inquired with the staff on site and learned that although children under 1.2 meters are not allowed, if they are willing to buy tickets for children who are not tall enough, they can still be brought in. "There are no discounted tickets for babies, no matter how old they are, the ticket price is the same as for adults."
In online comments, most viewers advise not to bring children as much as possible. "For two and a half hours, if the child is too young to understand, it will be very boring and difficult to endure. You need to be distracted and take care of him." Some audience members even said, "I have encountered a child who is three or five years old and can't sit still, running around in the venue, and even crying in the end, which greatly affects the performance."
Consumer voice
Take what you need and clarify your audience
Either due to unsuitable store environment, business content, or high requirements for quietness, various explanations of "declining children's places" are not incomprehensible.
A parent commented on this, "If you write it clearly, the person you like will naturally go, and the target audience is very obvious. Even mothers like me who see it will not go in. Everyone takes what they need, which is quite good."
"Some shops are indeed not suitable for children to go to. My child is 5 years old and it is a lively time, so going to those shops with a lot of decorations is prone to accidents." Ms. Wang told reporters that sometimes when I go to a caf é with friends, I see parents with their children staying in the shop for a long time, but because there are no drinks suitable for children in the shop, the children are bored and inevitably run around and make noise. "When taking my children out, I tend to go to stores that are suitable for them."
Ms. Dan, a citizen, has two children at home, attending elementary school and kindergarten respectively. In her impression, she didn't seem to be eager to enter, but found the experience of being "rejected" due to bringing her child. "In fact, businesses know that children's money is best earned because behind their children, they must follow their parents. One child can leverage the entire family's consumption. You see, the busiest thing in the mall is often the children's area, and there are also the most child friendly restaurants and places. There is really no shortage of businesses that 'refuse children'."
