Underage Pool Shooters, Beware!
The owner of Pinky's in Henagar, Alabama, was arrested and fined for allowing underage youth to play pool (below the age of 19 is underage!), in violation of a state law many hadn't realized existed.
The pool tables in Pinky's were taken away after owner Lissa George was ordered to remove the tables. George said, "I think it's crazy. And nobody knew anything about the law." Alabama Code pertaining to billiards rooms states it's plainly illegal for anyone under 19 to play pocket billiards, or even be in the room where billiards are being played, without the strict supervision of a parent or guardian.
Pinky's regular crowd say the law is ludicrous in this instance. 18-year-old Eric Nix stated, "I don't see nothing wrong with shooting pool. I mean I shoot pool all the time. There's nothing wrong with it."
Upset that Pinky's was seemingly singled out, Nix went on to say, "I've been out here for two years and never seen any kind of trouble happening. I mean the cops come in all the time and never get onto anybody… nothing ever happens down here, just fun."
Parents are upset, too. After all, a solid teen club helps keeps kids off the streets and out of trouble. They feel it's a back-door try to close Pinky's for good.
Comments
Someone please tell me the law that states the legal age of playing pool in alabama…… I have read almost every law I can find on the internet concerning pool tables and none state an age limit.
There is a good reference for your needs at http://www.restaurant.org/rusa/magArticle.cfm?ArticleID=428 and pool author Robert Byrne has several pages on rallying others to your cause in his “Byrne’s Standard Book of Pool and Billiards”.
Hope that helps.
What about tables at the boys and girls clubs? there is no parent or guardian, usually when legal guardian follows parent is it not pertaining to that particular childs parent?, besides they’re dropped off or walk if it’s close by.
There are many US teenage national pool champs, I think it can be challenged and I also think they were just trying to shut the club down because of some whining old person with nothing else to do but complain.