Would you bring your kids along to the pub while you have a few drinks?

It can be difficult to find – let alone pay for – a babysitter, leaving some to feel that the easiest thing to do is bring the kids along on a night out.

But for those out on a romantic evening or looking to have a rowdy catch up with friends, the presence of children can be awkward or distracting.

John Harney from Harney's Final Furlong Pub in Clerihan Tipperary said he has no issue with kids on his premises – so long as they behave themselves.

“We run a fairly strict code for the kids,” he told Lunchtime Live.

“If they’re running around, they’re asked to sit down; if they don’t behave themselves, they’re asked to leave – we're noted for that.

“I think personally, it’s good for kids to go in and understand that there’s rules and regulations.

“They can’t just ignore people round them and they have to sit down and behave.”

A baby drinking beer in a pub in England. Image: CBW / Alamy. 18 November 2011

Mr Harney said that despite his pub being “mainly a drinking pub”, he has never had a reason to be concerned about a parent’s conduct.

“We’ll just take Tipperary winning the All-Ireland; our pub was full of families, and everybody really enjoyed the day,” he said.

“A publican is very observant behind the counter and is watching the whole time, and I hadn’t any concern at any time that there was a person there who wasn’t able to manage their children.

“Now, maybe husbands stayed on longer than the wives to discuss the match or whatever, but generally, I don’t see that happening where kids are forgotten about.

“People have become very responsible, even young people – young people don’t drink drive anymore.”

'Absolutely not'

Mother of four Lisa O’Sullivan Shaw said that for her, it depends on the situation.

“After a game, I have no problem bringing my boys in [to the pub],” she said.

“It depends on the environment, especially if there’s food involved and there’s a restaurant and everything, that always helps with the atmosphere.

“But would I bring my kids to go out for a specific drink on a night and just bring the kids? Absolutely not.

“I think that’s a different environment.”

Main image: Group of Children at a bar in Ireland. Image: Stephen Power. 13 September 2009