To what extent are "watering holes" acceptable?

General Discussion
1

The “Generic Business” section of the “Wayfarer Help Center” content guidelines states.

  • Generally speaking, local businesses that are considered long-standing watering holes, favorite hyper-local hangouts, or even more regionally recognized as a cultural hotspot, fall under the eligibility criteria of Explore and can be submitted for consideration and review.

However, the rejection criteria also include the following statements Liquor stores are included there, but not bars or taverns.

  • Location is an adult-oriented store or service, such as a liquor store, shooting range, f***arm store, or provides sexual and/or adult content.

What I am now questioning is the description of the “watering holes”. By “watering holes” I assume they mean a favorite bar / tavern. Wayfarer’s rejection criteria do include places that offer adult-oriented stores and services, though I believe that bars and taverns, unlike liquor stores, do not fall under the refusal criteria, adult oriented stores and services. Is this correct?

2

Bars and all the similar words are very different in different cultures.

In the USA the term normally means an adult only place that you have to be a certain age to use and children are not allowed.

In the U.K. it’s different. Children are allowed, the laws are complex but essentially children can have soft drinks and it is viewed as a social place.

So it’s really down to the local situation and the words need to have context in this global platform.

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3

Liquor stores are shops that sell liquor (“off-licences” in the UK) and have no element of socialisation or exploring. Bars and taverns (pubs in the UK) are very different and often make good wayspots, because people /do/ socialise there. The key difference being “do people sit down and enjoy themselves vs just buy stuff and leave”.

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4

Is it correct to say that the rejection criteria apply to bars in the US but not bars in the UK?

Of course, minors cannot drink alcohol, but Japanese law does not restrict minors from entering bars and taverns. Parents often come to taverns with their children. Depending on the type of business the bar or tavern is in, the bar or tavern may prohibit minors from using the bar or tavern based on that establishment’s judgment.

5

I think context is everything.
We need someone from the US but I think they will often be considered as unsuitable. So commonly rejected - probably not even nominated.
Whereas in the U.K. it is more a case of it’s a bar :+1: but there may be some that operate a strict no under 18 policy but that’s rarer.

So the rejection reasons just do t often apply in some places.

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6

@elijustrying @salixsorbus
Thank you very much. This has cleared up my question.

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7

I accept bars in the US as long as children are allowed in. If it is a nightclub kind of thing where you get carded to enter (id is checked to prove age), then I don’t accept.

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8

Thanks @cyndiepooh i wasn’t sure my impressions were correct.

9

Yeah, to add more context…

“Bar” means that you have a license to serve more than beer and wine. Most sit-down restaurants have some kind of beer/wine option. But for them to have a “bar” with liquor, means they can make more money.

Context is vital to knowing whether the “bar” is a place only for adults or if the whole family is welcome.

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10

The context can vary by state in the US as well. In Virginia, all bars need to serve a certain percentage of food to stay open and viable.

My favorite restaurant/bar serves wonderful food and beer/wine/spirits. It is also a favorite for families and tour groups that visit the US capital and surrounding sites.