A pub owner on the Kapiti Coast has backed down on his controversial stance to exclude those under the age of 20 from his bar.
Jamie Williams introduced the ban after fights broke out and young patrons vandalised bathrooms at the opening weekend for his Monteiths Brewery Bar in Paraparaumu, north of Wellington, in December.
Some 200 young people were thought to have caused about $2000 worth of damage.
The Human Rights Commission, which received a complaint about the ban, has told the bar that its position contravenes the Human Rights Act.
Despite his U-turn, Mr Williams is adamant young patrons will still be heavily scrutinised on their attitude and dress code.
"Generally, later on in the evening we know they've probably been somewhere else drinking, so they're not really going to get in after 9pm, and that's just based on attitude really," he says.
