Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by enriquto 2487 days ago
> the law in the US and UK (for example) is that you are free to refuse service to anyone you please as long as it is not illegal discrimination

Just wondering what does it mean and how can this ever be enforced? Does this mean that you can refuse service to anyone as long as they are not part of any minority?
2 comments
eximius 2487 days ago
Race, gender, religion, disability... I'm probably forgetting a few other protected classes that you can't discriminate against.

That said, you only cannot discriminate on the basis of one of those listed above. There are unfortunately many people who will try to discriminate using a rule which indirectly singles out a group (I am intentionally omitting examples, use your imagination).

There are, perhaps more unfortunately, valid reasons to serve one cohort and not another that can have bias along these lines. Once again, the actions of some hateful few can ruin things for the rest of us.

link
mytailorisrich 2487 days ago
In the UK there is a list of so-called protected characteristics that originates from EU law. It includes sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion. It is not legal to discriminate based on those. In general it is legal to otherwise refuse service. I suspect the US are similar.

On the other hand, for example in France it is illegal to refuse service unless you have a good reason to.

So in the UK if I walk to a market stall with money in my hand they are free to refuse to sell to me (I suspect the same is true in the US), but in France they would need a 'good reason' to refuse.

link
enriquto 2487 days ago
> So in the UK if I walk to a market stall with money in my hand they are free to refuse to sell to me,

But I do not understand how can this be enforced. If for example you are gay and are refused service, can't you claim that it is due to your sexual orientation? Conversely, if the shop wants to expel you because of illegal reasons, can't they always claim that it is due to some other, ridiculous but valid reason?

link
mytailorisrich 2487 days ago
Yes you can obviously claim that, and yes they can obviously claim this was not the reason.

Then it's the usual job of the courts to try to uncover the facts.

link