A dad has hit out at his local pub after they refused to serve his 18-year-old son because of his disability. Jim Green, was at The Dorset Soldier in Corfe Mullen, Dorset to celebrate his son Hadyn's 18th birthday.
Jim was left furious after the family booked a table at the pub to mark his son's special occasion, but was later told by the landlord that he could not pour a pint for Hadyn, who has autism and global development delay.
The father claims to have spoken pub owner Geoffrey Mockford in light conversation beforehand about potentially having to limit Hadyn to two pints due to his condition - but on the day the pub refused to serve his son at all.
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After being told he wouldn't be able to get his son a pint, the dad and son left the pub and the pair continued their argument over text, reports The Sun.
Jim says he has not returned to his local after the exchange left him 'horrified', with the landlord allegedly telling him his Haydn was "not a normal 18 year old".
Screenshots shared by the father appear to show the landlord explaining why he believed he could not serve Hadyn.
Claiming this is standard practice already enforced on another customer, he goes on to say: "He has a lower mental capacity for his years. It would be like giving alcohol to a 9 year old and it is my business I need to show due diligence.
"I do it for somebody else he only has half a bitter shandy because of his mental capacity."
He then insisted that Jim should be concerned "as a parent" about him consuming alcohol, as he would "not be able to deal with it".
Hitting back, Jim told him that Haydn is "an adult in the eyes of the law" and can make an informed decision about his alcohol use having been given "all the information" and being aware of all the dangers.
After he contacted Hall and Woodhouse, the brewery for The Dorset Soldier, they told him they stood by Geoffrey Mockford's decision, as they said he found in his position as Designation Premises Supervisor that the 18-year-old "may be a danger to himself if he consumes too much".
They informed him that this appeared to be "in line with the licensing objectives, and not based on discrimination."
Jim has since told The Sun that he regards the pub's decision as "blatant discrimination" and says he has not retuned since.
He says he is going to "keep fighting" for his son's rights to a pint, and claims there has not been an issue with him being served at other venues he has visited.
Hall and Woodhouse have been approached for comment.
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