The Vortex Changing Age Restriction in 2015

One of Atlanta’s most popular restaurants plans to increase the minimum age for customers patronizing its two locations when the new year dawns, CBS Atlanta reports.

The Vortex, which has a Midtown location at 878 Peachtree St. and a much more well-known location in Little Five Points, says it’s changing the minimum age for entry into the restaurants from 18 to 21 years old on Jan. 1, 2015. The Vortex says that the move is designed to improve efficiency and reduce hassles.

Despite increasing the minimum age to match the national drinking age, the restaurant is no fan of the United States’ laws on consumption of alcohol. A statement on their website reads, in part:

“We believe that if a citizen is considered responsible enough to vote, serve in the military, enter into legally binding contracts, serve on a jury, and be held legally liable as an adult by the court system, then they should also be able to legally drink a beer.”

The Vortex chose to forbid minors from entering its establishments following the passage of the Georgia Smokefree Air Act in 2005. The act forced restaurateurs to choose between allowing smoking but forbidding minors or forbidding smoking and allowing minors.