The common law rule was a private business may refuse to do business with anyone for any reason. However, federal and state laws have modified that to prohibit a business from refusing to serve customers if the reason for refusing to serve is a characteristic that is protected by law. Federal law does not prohibit discrimination by a place of public accommodation (like the bar) based on age. Ohio law prohibits a place of public accommodation from discriminating against customers based on age but only if the customer is at least age 40 or older. In short, under both federal and Ohio law it is legal for a business to refuse to serve customers because they are under age 25. My guess is that the bar has had too many problems with younger drinkers and has decided it would rather not deal with that. The law allows the bar to make that choice.

