News

Wetherspoons refuses to serve disabled man because they thought he was drunk

Pictured here is Matthew Ball, right, pictured with his father Justin. A terminally ill man was refused service at a Wetherspoon's pub after staff mistook his medical condition for drunkeness. Matthew Ball, 22, suffers from a rare neurological condition and headed for a drink to mark the birthday of his late mother Rachel who died nine years ago. Matthew showed staff at the Malcolm Uphill pub in Caerphilly, South Wales, his diability card on entry due to his suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C. But because the condition affects his speech, balance, and mobility, bar workers thought he was drunk - and refused to serve him. His sister Abby said: ?Matthew wasn?t drunk. He was displaying symptoms of his neurological condition. ?He showed staff and security his disability card, yet he was still treated as though he was simply intoxicated. Niemann-Pick disease type C is a rare, inherited genetic disorder that damages organs like the brain, liver, and spleen over time. Sister Abby said the condition had already led to Matthew suffering falls and broken bones and being unable to work. She said: ?He should not have to lose even more of his freedom because people mistake the symptoms of his disability for drunkenness,? A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: ?After discussing his medical condition with a member of door staff, Mr Ball entered the pub on August 22, and bought a pint. ?When Mr Ball approached the bar to purchase a further drink, during a busy trading period, a different member of staff mistakenly thought the customer had too much to drink and he was refused service. ?The company apologises to Mr Ball and looks forward to Mr Ball and his family returning as customers in the future.? The family wants improved disability awareness among hospitality staff so those with medical conditions are treated with dignity. WALES NEWS SERVICE
Matthew had gone out to celebrate his late mother’s birthday (Picture: Wales News Service)

A man was refused service at a Wetherspoon’s pub after staff mistook his medical condition for drunkenness.

Matthew Ball, 22, had gone to the Malcolm Uphill pub in Caerphilly, Wales, to mark the birthday of his late mother, Rachel.

After showing staff his disability card at the pub, Matthew, who suffers from a rare neurological condition, was refused service.

Matthew suffers from Niemann-Pick disease type C, which affects his speech, balance and mobility.

His sister Abby said: ‘Matthew wasn’t drunk. He was displaying symptoms of his neurological condition.

Sign up for all of the latest stories

Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.

Pictured here is the Wetherspoons in Caerphilly. A terminally ill man was refused service at a Wetherspoon's pub after staff mistook his medical condition for drunkeness. Matthew Ball, 22, suffers from a rare neurological condition and headed for a drink to mark the birthday of his late mother Rachel who died nine years ago. Matthew showed staff at the Malcolm Uphill pub in Caerphilly, South Wales, his diability card on entry due to his suffering from Niemann-Pick disease type C. But because the condition affects his speech, balance, and mobility, bar workers thought he was drunk - and refused to serve him. His sister Abby said: ???Matthew wasn???t drunk. He was displaying symptoms of his neurological condition. ???He showed staff and security his disability card, yet he was still treated as though he was simply intoxicated. Niemann-Pick disease type C is a rare, inherited genetic disorder that damages organs like the brain, liver, and spleen over time. Sister Abby said the condition had already led to Matthew suffering falls and broken bones and being unable to work. She said: ???He should not have to lose even more of his freedom because people mistake the symptoms of his disability for drunkenness,??? A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: ???After discussing his medical condition with a member of door staff, Mr Ball entered the pub on August 22, and bought a pint. ???When Mr Ball approached the bar to purchase a further drink, during a busy trading period, a different member of staff mistakenly thought the customer had too much to drink and he was refused service. ???The company apologises to Mr Ball and looks forward to Mr Ball and his family returning as customers in the future.??? The family wants improved disability awareness among hospitality staff so those with medical conditions are treated with dignity. WALES NEWS SERVICE
Wetherspoon has since apologised for the mistake (Picture: Wales News Service)

‘He showed staff and security his disability card, yet he was still treated as though he was simply intoxicated.’

Niemann-Pick disease type C is a rare, inherited genetic disorder that damages organs like the brain, liver, and spleen over time.

Sister Abby said the condition had already led to Matthew suffering falls and broken bones and being unable to work.

She said: ‘He should not have to lose even more of his freedom because people mistake the symptoms of his disability for drunkenness.’

A spokesperson for JD Wetherspoon said: ‘After discussing his medical condition with a member of door staff, Mr Ball entered the pub on August 22, and bought a pint.

‘When Mr Ball approached the bar to purchase a further drink, during a busy trading period, a different member of staff mistakenly thought the customer had too much to drink, and he was refused service.

‘The company apologises to Mr Ball and looks forward to Mr Ball and his family returning as customers in the future.’

The family wants improved disability awareness among hospitality staff so those with medical conditions are treated with dignity.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

Related Posts:
  • Ship disabled by attack in Strait of Hormuz and other news from around the Middle East News By The Associated Press An oil tanker was hit with a projectile off the coast of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report Tuesday that highlighted the ongoing dangers for shipping companies attempting to use the waterway while Iran holds it in firm control. The attack came…
  • Van der Woude said he transferred to Newport Harbor because of ban following arrest News Lucca van der Woude, once considered one of American water polo’s top Olympic prospects, recently admitted under oath that he transferred prior to the 2024-25 academic year to Newport Harbor High School from Harvard-Westlake only after the nationally renowned private school banned him from its campus following his February 2024…
  • Review: Usher and Chris Brown solidify why they are still the torchbearers of modern R&B despite controversy News Usher and Chris Brown are two generational titans from two overlapping eras of R&B and pop music. Seeing them share a stage for “The R&B Tour” (a play on their last names) at a sold-out Soldier Field on Friday felt like seeing the last of a dying breed: male superstars…
  • Princess Kate Sends Prince Harry and Meghan Message Just Before They’re Set to Move Back to the U.K. Entertainment <p id="par-1_21">Both Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have stayed silent since the news that <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/?swcfpc=1" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prince Harry</a> and <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/?swcfpc=1">Meghan Markle</a> are <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/prince-harry-meghan-markle-surprise-uk-return-fears-king-charles.html/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">moving back to the U.K.</a> </p> <p id="par-2_54">The announcement being met with such silence from Harry’s family members has become almost as big of a…
  • Prince Harry and Meghan’s Montecito Neighbors Reveal Why They Are Glad to See Them Go Entertainment <p id="par-1_42">Following the surprising news that <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/prince-harry-looked-elated-enormously-relieved-returning-uk-first-appearance-since-announcement.html/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Prince Harry</a> and <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/meghan-markle/?swcfpc=1">Meghan Markle</a> are leaving the U.S. and <a href="https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/prince-harry-meghan-markle-surprise-uk-return-fears-king-charles.html/">returning to the U.K.</a> six and a half years after they bid farewell to the duke’s homeland, some of their Montecito neighbors are sharing their feelings on the move.</p> <p…
(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

Related Posts

At Chicago State University, football is a whole new ballgame

King’s upset of St. Laurence proved the Jaguars on the rise

Illinois prosecutors fed ICE information about immigrants, leading to arrests and deportations

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *