Blind woman refused drink at Horizons Cocktail Lounge because she ‘didn’t have a carer’

A visually impaired teacher says she was told she was a “safety risk” and refused a cocktail at an Adelaide venue, all because she “didn’t have a carer” with her.

A vision impaired teacher says she was left “crushed” after being refused a drink at a Glenelg venue because she “didn’t have a carer” with her.

Vanessa Ransley, 51, who has been legally blind since birth, arrived in Adelaide from Hobart on Saturday for a work conference at the Stamford Grand hotel in Glenelg.

She decided to go for a drink at Horizons Cocktail Lounge in the hotel that evening but, when she attempted to order a drink, was told by a staff member she “couldn’t be served unless (she) had a carer”.

“He asked me if I was unaccompanied, which was confusing because I’d travelled from Hobart by myself, and then said I was a safety risk,” Ms Ransley said.

“This was a first. I’ve had a guide dog in the past and had guide dog refusals, but I’ve never had a ‘me’ refusal.”

The 51-year-old, who has travelled extensively around Australia and the globe on her own, said the incident occurred just days after her guide dog tragically passed away.

Shaken by the interaction, she approached the front desk manager – but said the bartender was unapologetic and “refused to listen to her point of view”.

“It was really devastating, it threw me and I’m a reasonably articulate, assertive person,” she said.

Vanessa Ransley, from Hobart, wants to protect others against discrimination after being refused a drink at Horizons Cocktail Lounge. Picture: Dean Martin

“Then I became angry. Why should I have to put up with this? I’m a taxpaying citizen who’s old enough to have a nice cocktail, it was incredibly frustrating.”

Ms Ransley took to social media and posted online reviews about the incident and was met with overwhelming support.

She said a manager at the venue had since contacted her and informed her the staff member would face retraining, but wanted to use her experience as a “teaching moment” to protect others against discrimination.

“I worry that someone who has that happen when they’re feeling depressed, or they’ve just acquired a vision loss, that it might tip them over the edge,” she said.

“It’s really important to get the message out that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable and we shouldn’t have to put up with it.”

“I wasn’t asking for any special treatment. You don’t get between a blind person and their cocktail. ”

The Stamford Grand did not respond to requests for comment by deadline.