Since it first opened its doors in 2022, Alibi, a karaoke bar in Greater Manchester, has had a strict ban on single patrons after 9 p.m. According to the bar's owner, Carl Peters, who recently spoke with the BBC after his policy stirred up controversy online, the reason for the ban is simple: "for the safety of all guests."

Peters said that since Alibi opened, the policy has helped them "mitigate risk," "protect customers," and keep the "mithering" by solo drinkers away. Beyond avoiding chatty and miserable drunks shouting their sorrows into his karaoke mics or bothering his patrons, he added that it is “an absolute nightmare” to deal with solo drinkers in the event one of them needs medical attention.

Amazing how within a generation the entire concept of going out to socialise and meet new people has been effectively turned from completely normal to borderline creep behaviour. No wonder there is a loneliness epidemic. https://t.co/bY4GXPWy2Apic.twitter.com/rahsmAcUjY

Advertisement

— cosmic jester (@cosmicjester) November 20, 2025

I get where he’s coming from; it’s a policy that makes his life and, ideally, his patron’s lives easier.

But come on, what’s the point of opening a karaoke bar if not to let sad, drunk singles sing into a mic?