Dave and Busters. Is this an appropriate place for four young women, ages 17-19, to spend a

[Bunny]

Saturday evening? My daughter wants to go, I've never been to this place. She claims that it's like Chuck E Cheese for older kids, but I looked it up online and it looks like a bar to me. The House Rules mentioned something about one adult required for every six minors, but it also says over 21 and guardian must be 25.

Here's what I copied from their website:
(6 minors to 1 adult maximum).
21 and up; Guardian age 25. Designated Smoking Areas.

So, is this an appropriate place for my kid? I think it looks too much like a bar and I told her she can't go, but I'm not sure if I'm just being too cautious. Anyone ever been to Dave and Busters?

http://www.daveandbusters.com/Locations/default.aspx

[vard28]

1. We've been as a family several times

but we go during the day 'cause we take our kids with us. They do serve alcohol and have a full foood menu, and it's got lots of great arcade and video games, but I'm sure the drinking crowd is different in the evening than when we go during the day. And for the record, C-E-C sells beer too... LOL! Does she have an adult going with them?

[gmoney]

2. They'll be OK, but should behave like adults

I'm guessing their policies are there to prevent the place from becoming Chuck E. Cheese. It's geared for adults who will throw around a lot of money on the games, drinks and food.

BTW, if they're cute, they could very well get hit on by adults.

[MrsBrady]

3. i wouldn't

it's a bar with games for adults
they are trying to scam you, mom


they might card anyway....
and you wouldn't want them without supervision around adult males who have been drinking.
It they want to go, then go with them.

[Tighelander]

15. Yes, be careful

but if the name is something other than "Dave" don't send them at all.

[THUNDER HANDS]

4. yes

it's like an arcade, but one that also has a bar and restaurant and in some places, a bowling alley and pool hall.

[bigwillq]

5. I think they will be fine.

Go with them or have an adult go, just to be safe.

I've been there many times, it's a fun place. I saw a lot of families, teenage boys and girls, older people, younger people.

If they're going to get in trouble, they're going to do it no matter where they are.

[Chan790]

6. Yes, in your shoes I'd let them go...with conditions.

Every time we won a sales competition at work, we'd get money for a social and we went a few times. The policies in place are pretty much explicitly because they don't want a lot of under-supervised children on the premises. (It is like Chuck E Cheese for adults.) Most of my coworkers were <21 and we never had a problem. They will actually need a 25 year old "guardian" though. I know because I was always that guardian when we went because I don't drink in work-related settings and we usually had to carry my manager home. They check IDs. They may not get in anyways if they're a group of nearly-drinking-age teens without an adult adult (You know, someone who is presumably responsible enough to babysit a group of teens. I mean having a 25 year old with th<em isn't necessarily enough if that person seems flaky or irresponsible.)

Yes, they serve alcohol...no, it's not really a bar atmosphere...more like an Applebee's/Ruby Tuesday/Bennigan's/Friday's sort of place with games. Same sort of crappy food and gimmicky drinks and desserts...and Whac-a-mole. And a lot more people.

So...I guess it comes down to who is/are the guardian(s) and do you trust this person to keep your daughter out of trouble? Is it another parent? Or is it someone's older sibling who isn't going to care? What are the alternate plans? You know, the 20+ questions that moms ask that used to annoy us when we were that age.

[crispini]

7. Definitely not a "real" bar but they do have alcohol.

I mean, in case you were wondering, it's not exactly Sam's Smoky Hole In the Wall. It's a pretty nice place. But it does look to me like they'll need an adult along just based on their policies and other posts in this thread.

[rcrush]

8. Its just Dave and Busters

You ever seen that lame commercial where the guy is having so much fun at ski ball or whatever? The one we have where I live lets everyone in but they card at the bars. Its mostly just a giant arcade/pool hall.

[Bunny]

9. Well, thanks everyone for your input.

They are four young women aged 17-19, and they won't have anyone over 25 with them. I think they would be turned away at the door, especially since it's a Saturday evening. I don't want them in there anyway, with a bunch of drunks leering at them. They are not mature enough for this place, so my initial unease seems well-founded. Thanks for the feedback!

[Richardo]

10. Anytime Bunny!

:hi:

[Bunny]

11. You! How you been, baby?

:hi:

Having a happy new year?

[Richardo]

12. So far so good, sweets - hope yours is as well...

:hi:

[Radical Activist]

16. It's mostly full of families and teens when I've been.

Its not really an adult place. Its for families who want to take kids somewhere that the parents can still drink. There's no reason they would be turned away at the door. The six kid rule is so they don't have large numbers of unsupervised hooligans causing trouble.

[CreekDog]

13. i went with a group of church folks that didn't drink

they had a good time.

the game area is separate from the bar, in fact it was a good distance away at the Milpitas, CA (San Jose) Dave and Buster's.

and the games were a lot of fun. they had games for kids through adults.

[MountainLaurel]

14. Depending on what time they go, they might not get in

At the D&B in Maryland, I think only people over 21 were allowed to enter after 8 pm.