{"id":368907,"date":"2023-01-03T18:01:45","date_gmt":"2023-01-03T23:01:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-for-being-kicked-out-of-a-bar.html"},"modified":"2026-05-21T14:09:59","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:09:59","slug":"can-i-sue-for-being-kicked-out-of-a-bar","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/litigation\/filing-a-lawsuit\/can-i-sue-for-being-kicked-out-of-a-bar.html","title":{"rendered":"Can I Sue a Bar for Discrimination?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Can I Sue a Bar for Discrimination?<\/h1>\n\n
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\n By Steven Ellison, Esq.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by Laura Temme, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last reviewed\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n

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You may indeed be able to sue a bar for kicking you out because of your race, religion, sex, disability, national origin<\/span>, or other protected group.\u00a0Those subjected to such discrimination may have legal grounds to sue and seek remedies such as injunctive relief or punitive damages<\/span>. Bars can legally kick you out for almost any other reason, including being obnoxious or overly intoxicated.<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n

Determining whether something is discrimination can be difficult, especially when you’ve been drinking. No matter the reason for your removal, the bar should handle it as courteously and discreetly as possible.<\/p>\n

Even if your removal was lawful, being dragged through the bar and called demeaning names humiliates anyone. If bar staff used racist, sexist, or other discriminatory words, you may want to speak to a civil rights lawyer<\/u><\/a>.<\/p>\n

The process for filing a civil rights or personal injury lawsuit is complex. It requires legal knowledge that most people don’t have. A civil rights or personal injury attorney<\/u><\/a> can help explain the legal issues<\/span>.<\/p>\n

Can Bars Discriminate Against Customers?<\/h2>\n

While private businesses<\/span> can remove patrons for disruptive behavior, they cannot do so based on prejudice or bias.<\/p>\n

Bars are considered public accommodations<\/span> under federal and state civil rights laws. This means they cannot discriminate against individuals based on protected characteristics<\/span> like race, religion, or disability.\u00a0<\/p>\n

When Is Getting Kicked Out of a Bar Considered Discrimination?<\/h3>\n

Discrimination means they kicked you out because of features like your race, religion, or gender.<\/p>\n

That’s not the same as kicking you out because you were loud, drunk, and happened to be of a particular race, religion, or gender. Bars and nightclubs can rightfully remove anyone for being too drunk, even if it seems like the guy next to you is just as drunk.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Example of Discrimination at a Bar<\/h3>\n

Let\u2019s use a hypothetical example to help illustrate this:<\/p>\n

It’s St. Patrick’s Day, and you decide to dress up in green and head to a local Irish pub with some friends to have a couple of drinks. You’re having a good time in a safe environment until the door opens and a group of patrons, all dressed in orange, walks in. They are loud and rambunctious, but not more so than those dressed in green. A bouncer heads over to a particularly loud young patron (let’s say his name is William), takes him by the arm, and shoves him to the door. As he throws him out, the bouncer shouts, “We don’t serve Proddies here on St. Paddy’s Day! Don’t let us see you come in here again!”<\/p>\n

You have no idea what a “Proddy” is, so you ask the bartender as he’s refilling your drink. The bartender smirks and tells you that a “Proddy” is a Protestant.<\/p>\n

You’re not sure why, but that doesn’t seem right to you. Is it legal for the bouncer to kick William out of the bar, a public accommodation<\/span><\/u><\/a>, because he is a Protestant? The answer is no.<\/p>\n

Protected Classes<\/span> Under Federal and State Anti-Discrimination Laws<\/span><\/h2>\n

The federal government and the states have laws that prohibit discrimination in public accommodations<\/span>, including most bars. Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964<\/span><\/u><\/a> and the Americans with Disabilities Act<\/span><\/u><\/a> create protected classes<\/span>.<\/p>\n

If you are a member of one of the following protected classes<\/span>, federal law<\/span> prohibits someone from discriminating against you in a public accommodation<\/span> because of:<\/p>\n