British bar Alibi defends solo drinker ban amid backlash over ‘woke agenda’

Greater Manchester bar the Alibi has banned solo drinkers for bothering other customers. Photo / Alibi

A bar in Greater Manchester, England, has banned “annoying” solo drinkers to stop them from bothering other patrons.

Altrincham bar Alibi has not allowed single parties to enter past 9pm since its 2022 opening, the BBC reports.

While the ban has been slammed by online commentators as “discriminatory”, owner Carl Peters said the criticism reflected today’s “woke agenda”.

Sharing his thoughts on the Alibi’s Instagram account, he claimed single drinkers are typically on their own because “they’ve got no one to talk to”, leading to them “mithering” other customers.

“Because, they’re not just going to sit there in a bar having a drink on their own in silence,” he said, “that’s when things start to happen and people are like, ‘who’s this person on their own annoying us?’”

Peters said the decision was also informed by safety concerns, noting the increased responsibility hospitality venues carry for their solo clientele.

View this post on Instagram

Residents speaking with the Daily Mail had a range of views on the policy.

Amy Marsh said the move could inhibit people from going out of their comfort zone, calling the rule “strange”.

“It’s a hard thing to go into a bar on your own and if anything it should be encouraged.”

But others referenced “weird” interactions with single drinkers, particularly drunken men.

Though the ban does not apply to singles specifically, Nicola Slawson, author of Single: Living a Complete Life on Your Own Terms, told Metro the policy makes singles seem “weird or freaky”.

“There’s so many reasons to be on your own and to lump everyone in the same box is quite sickening, it’s really hurtful to a lot of single people.

“I do understand they’re trying to protect people, but you’re just throwing all single people under the bus because there are a few letchy people.”

Also on the banned list are roadmen, tracksuit wearers and those wearing Stone Island clothes.