Caerphilly pub Masons Arms bans under 25s from weekend drinking

Landlords have called last orders on under 25s from drinking in their pub on weekend evenings.

The changes will see anyone under the age of 25 not allowed to drink at the Masons Arms in Caerphilly after 19:00 BST on Fridays and Saturdays.

The post on Facebook, which has been met with a mixed response, said the change was due to “a lack of respect for the pub and its patrons” and that “the minority have spoilt it” for everyone else.

Any under 25s already in the pub on Fridays and Saturdays will not be served after 18:30. When contacted by the BBC, the owners declined to comment further.

In the post, the owners said they had tried to do their best for the community and “always have our customers’ interests first”.

The news was met with a mixed response on social media, with some backing the move.

“Good for you, hope they have respect” one wrote, while another added: “Well done.”

Some suggested the pub should employ bouncers, to keep out those causing trouble, while others were concerned that the rules were in breach of the Equality Act, adding that the Facebook post “invited ridicule and potential business loss”.

Section 13(2) of the Equality Act 2010 states: “If the protected characteristic is age, a person does not discriminate against another if they can prove their treatment is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.”

Under the law, an employer or organisation can justify less favourable treatment, based on age, if it can demonstrate it is necessary and fair to achieve a specific goal, such as improving efficiency or safety.