Why was Rex Betar denied entry into this Sydney pub?

REX Betar was denied entry into a Sydney pub for a farewell party last weekend. He was the only one of his friends singled out.

Rex Betar, who has cerebral palsy, was denied entry into a Sydney pub over the weekend.

HE’S an Oxford graduate and a former lawyer — but Rex Betar, a 32-year-old with cerebral palsy, claims he is the victim of discrimination after being denied entry to an inner west pub in Sydney last weekend.

The management consultant and motivational speaker was sober and going to a friend’s farewell when he claims he was singled out by a bouncer from Newtown’s Webster’s Bar, and stopped from entering because he did not have official identification.

While the bar’s management denies any discrimination, Mr Betar said the incident occurred around 5.20pm on Sunday.

“I was already running late and headed straight for the stairs, before being stopped by security, who said ‘whoa are you OK?’ and then asked for ID,” the Bellevue Hill man said.

“I don’t carry formal government ID as I do not have a driver’s license and, I am 32 and bald so whether I am over 18 is never in doubt.

“As for security asking if I was OK, well I have cerebral palsy which sometime gets mistaken for me being intoxicated.

“I told security I had cerebral palsy but he informed me I couldn’t come in because ‘something might happen to me’ and I would need ID in case it did.”

Mr Betar said the manager was then called, and informed him that the law stated all patrons must have ID so police could identify them should they need to.

“Even though when I was at the same venue three months earlier I was not asked for ID and none of the 15-20 people already at the venue for my function were asked for ID,” Mr Betar said.

“My friend then came down and tried to reason with them, saying he’s known me for 12 years and I’m clearly well over the legal drinking age — the duty manager said my age wasn’t an issue but they weren’t letting me in without ID.

“I had a student card with my name and photo on it, but it did not have my age so they wouldn’t accept it — despite the fact that we had already established my age was not at issue.

“In a last-ditch attempt to get in, my fiancee sent me a photo of my passport, however this was not accepted as ‘I needed the ID on me’.”

Webster’s Bar in Newtown, where Rex says he was denied entry.

“At this point my friends were furious enough that everybody left and went to Kelly’s pub a few doors down — incidentally I got into Kelly’s with no issues.”

Webster’s Bar management deny discrimination and maintain Mr Betar was treated legally and as any other patron would have been, but apologised for his ‘negative’ experience.

When contacted by news.com.au, the bar said Mr Betar was not singled out.

“I can tell you categorically that we hold no prejudices of any kind towards a person suffering from a disability — we always strive to provide the best experience for all of our customers, regardless of who they are,” a letter to Mr Betar read.

“I understand that when you compare yourself being asked for ID when your friends may not have been could be confusing, though if the manager, staff member, or guard is unsure whether the patron appears to be under 30 years of age, they have every right to ask … and the only acceptable forms of ID on a licensed premises are a current Drivers License, a current Proof of Age Card, or a current Passport — all of which must be in your possession at the time you enter.

“The second reason (a person may be stopped) is to give the guards or the manager a chance to determine whether the patron is approaching intoxication.

“I cannot determine at this stage whether the guards saw signs of intoxication, but if this reason came in to play on Sunday, after not being able to view an acceptable form of your ID, they could have made that assessment, and denied you entry for that reason.

“There is absolutely no way that our team would see that someone was suffering from a disability, and deny them entry for that reason.”

Mr Betar, who also gives motivational speeches on overcoming obstacles in life, described management’s response as “appalling”.

“First the duty manager not doing anything about it and second management’s patronising non-apology they sent after I complained,” he said.

“The fact they are still trying to excuse the behaviour and they’re using language like ‘suffering with a disability’ is offensive.

“The way I was treated is not OK and they shouldn’t be able to get away with it.

“Many people with disability have this happen and don’t want to or can’t speak up but I can so I have an obligation that’s bigger than myself to do so.”

Scarred by the incident, Mr Betar says he’ll lodge a formal complaint with the Anti-Discrimination Board in NSW and the Australian Human Rights Commission in the hope it won’t happen again.

“The whole experience made me feel incredibly sad and embarrassed,” he told news.com.au

“Much more than I thought it would.

“Discrimination is still rife toward people with disability, particularly in the pub scene — I’ve already been contacted by a few people with cerebral palsy saying it happens to them all the time.”

Originally published as Why was Rex Betar denied entry into this Sydney pub?