Adults Only: What Happens if You Bring Kids Anyway?

As the trend of “Adults Only” or “No Kids” zones continues to grow in trains, hotels, and restaurants, the authorities are raising their voices against it. In early July 2026, the National Consultative Commission on Human Rights (CNCDH) officially called for a complete ban on these child-free zones, labeling them as discriminatory. In an interview with Women’s Journal, Sarah El Haïry, the High Commissioner for Children, condemns these practices and believes they must be stopped. “One should not underestimate what this signifies: these are places that either prohibit entry to children or refuse to sell a service to them. This means we are allowing the exclusion of part of the population. This falls under the law and is called discrimination. It means that families, children, and parents are being excluded, considered as less than others.“

Be aware, this trend, originating from foreign countries like those in America or Asia, “tells us something about how children are viewed in our society. Are they seen merely as accessories, as objects, or on the contrary, as full-fledged rights holders?“, questions Sarah El Haïry. With this, a critical question arises about the future of our public spaces: what do these establishments risk if they continue to ban families with children?

Until now, parents did as everyone else: if a place is explicitly for adults only, they wouldn’t attempt to book or visit with their children. “Actually, no, we won’t just go elsewhere, this is where a societal question lies,” the High Commissioner for Children tells us. Moreover, the law is clear: if you book an adults-only hotel and are denied access because you have children, you can “sue them for discrimination.” However, it’s not prohibited for an establishment to adapt its practices in certain situations. For instance, a swimming pool might be open to families in the morning and reserved for adults in the afternoon: “this is a way of adapting the use to everyone, each customer finds their joy and pleasure. But denying access to a place or a full service is not the same thing.“

“We cannot lament about our declining birth rates and regret that there are fewer children, while at the same time placing a massive, guilt-inducing burden on parents’ shoulders,” Sarah El Haïry laments, referencing a recent controversy over adult-only train carriages. “You can’t take a train without someone complaining because your child moved or made noise, but it’s not a question of upbringing: they are children, they need accommodations, and so yes, for many parents, we end up spending the journey between two carriages, that’s the reality. When we’re denied access to a terrace, we’ll go to another establishment. But actually, we don’t have to accept this; I believe it’s time to say today, this is not just another trend, not just a marketing ploy, it’s something that deeply fractures our society and we shouldn’t have to endure it.“

For Sarah El Haïry, the real challenge is to tailor the reception to children’s needs, by equipping a restaurant or café with spaces to store strollers, providing high-chairs or boosters, and most importantly, showing a bit of kindness towards parents. In early July, the second edition of “The Choice of Families” took place, an award that honors the most kid-friendly establishments. Cafés, restaurants, shops, cultural venues, accommodations, and tourist sites are recognized by families who evaluate those that make their daily lives simpler through concrete efforts and tailored hospitality.