Saga holidaymakers face the prospect of sharing Mediterranean cruises with the
18 to 30s crowd, under changes to discrimination law.
The company has been offering sedate overseas cruises and foreign coach tours
exclusively to the over50s for years. But legislation banning all
discrimination in the provision of goods and services – including on
ground of age – means that it may have to open its doors to all comers.
Ministers will publish their plans for the Single Equality Act, a manifesto
commitment designed to end discrimination in all its forms, next month.
Saga has been told that the law would require it to offer all cruises, resort
and touring holidays and numerous financial products to everyone
irrespective of age, unless ministers make some services exempt.
The Government’s push to outlaw all discrimination has already caused friction
with the Roman Catholic Church, which said that it was not prepared to allow
its adoption agencies to enrol gay couples. The Government responded by
giving the Church more time to prepare for the change.
Saga has warned ministers that the company will go under unless it can
restrict its services to the over50s. Company insiders said that ministers
seemed not to have considered the effect of the law until it was pointed out
to them.
Ministers said that they were prepared to consider Saga’s request for special
treatment.
In a memo sent to them, and seen by The Times, Saga states: “We fear
the unintended consequences of such legislation might be to subvert our
cruise and holiday business, and our financial services business, whilst
causing great collateral damage to our brand.
“One must also question whether Saga as a business could survive if it is
forced to abandon its ethos, its branding so painstakingly built up, and to
suffer the inevitable perturbation of its local customer base.”
Cruise holidays would suffer most if no exemption was granted, with the
over50s unlikely to pay to travel on cruise with young people.
The vast majority of Saga’s revenue comes from insurance policies and other
financial products, rather than holidays. Paul Green, Saga’s communications
chief, said: “There is a danger from blunderbuss legislation. It could bring
to an end older people enjoying discounts on their fish and chips, or
cheaper care insurance.”
Saga has already felt the force of age discrimination legislation. Last year
it was forced to scrap a new employment agency for the over50s when
prospective employers said that they would not be able to use it for fear of
breaking age discrimination laws. The Department for Communities and Local
Government, which is drawing up the Single Equality Green Paper, said that a
“common sense” approach was being taken.
Ending discrimination in employment I can understand, but all provision of services? What about a nightclub which does a "pop and crisps" night, aimed at 13-17 year olds - do we want potential predators in there? Or more realistically, would ladies in their early twenties want to go to a speed dating session that was not only for people in their 20s, but by law had to admit the older people?
If we are not careful, this will head towards communism. Will the state tell me where I must live, what job I must do, and what partner I may choose? One could argue that the very fact that two schoolmates may grow up, one as a lawyer, one as a dustman could be argued to be discriminatory, but it isn't - it is what happens!
James D Fairchild, Leeds, UK
Will this mean the end of so called 'retirement villages' in which all newly built affordable housing is set aside for the over 55s? I am 23 and trying to get onto the property ladder. I am a considerate neighbour who never creates too much noise and I tend to think it my duty to look after old people in my street as part of being a decent human being, yet I am not allowed to live in these houses due to my age. I would peronally love to see the end of this discriminatory policy which forces young people into renting, whilst rich retirees get to reap the benefit of rising house prices and can afford to spend their profits on... lets say cruises?
George, Reading, UK
Club 18-30 will have to rename itself Club 0-120. 'Seventeen' magazine will become 'Not Necessarily Any Particular Age'. Eighties retro clubs must re-brand themselves as 'Unspecified Decade' discos. Toddlers' playgroups will have to admit middle-aged chaps in suits. Miss Selfrdige can simply become Ms/Miss/Mrs Selfridge. Chidlren's menus in restaurants will have to be abolished.
Frank Upton, Solihull,
The only positive aspect that might come out of a "Single Equality Act" would be if it signalled an end to the dire, sexist advertising that plagues commercial television. In particular I'm thinking of an insurance company with a strong antipodean theme "for ladies who insure their cars".... argh the very thought of it brings on an intennse earache!
Steve E, Manchester, Lancashire
Under the new law, would I be entitled to claim a government pension and a free bus pass, even though I'm not yet 30?
Nick, London, UK
Surely we should be more concerned about pensioners going on Club 18-30 cruises. The wet T-shirt competitions don't bear thinking about.
K Davis, Heathfield, E Sussex
Here we go again, when is the Government going to start dealing with real issues such as immigration and crime instead of wasting time on all this rubbish.
Christine ter Meulen, Hayes, Middlesex, England
Since when do 18-30 year olds go on cruises? And why would they be interested in sharing a cruise ship with mostly older people? It'd be boring as heck.
starling, Lancaster,
Leave Saga alone, they have been getting it right for years.
This government hasn`t.
JJ Powell, Manchester, Lancashire
This just shows the ridiculous laws that are being made by Europe and im in sometime soon they will rule that toilets must be unisex because there must be no discrimination at all. Can you imagine a 70 year old pensioner going on a cruise with 18-30's ??.
alan, London, UK
Ministers said a **common sense approach** was being taken.
Well, thats a farce, when have Ministers under the present Prime Minister EVER taken a common sense approach to any law? They make policy, then spend the next 5 years trying to cover their ill concieved legislation with a coat of **spin varnish**.
Joshua, Buckeye/Oxford, Arizona, USA/ UK
I agree with Maggie Howell below. I am 21 and think this is an awful idea. 18 to 30 year olds have hundreds of things available to them in England and abroad, the older generation however, don't. Saga is there for the over 50's for anything from holidays to insurances and I think it should stay that way.
Tricia, Boston, Lincolnshire, UK
We have got a very silly government.
Alan Rudd, Dover, England
Yes, but think of the upside. Club 18-30 and the like may become packed with octogenerians wildly swinging to the Scissor Sisters!
Smith, Birmingham, England
I recently saw an advert for a "ten days of Bach" tour around the churches of Germany. It seems safe to assume that no ravers would want to go on that. Why should Saga similarly be able to produce cruises that only appeal to over 50's?
If Saga are able to tailor their product range sufficiently closely to the desires of their target market, the age discrimination law will not be a problem and they will continue to flourish. If they are unable to do so, they will go under - just as any business that can't reach its target market goes under.
Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK
All this is so sad and highly unnecessary. When will lawmakers learn that genuine equity in service provision does not come from sameness in delivery or imposing the same actions on everyone. Equality actually comes through the acknowledgment and celebration of difference, otherwise it makes nonsense of the whole concept, validity and acceptance of diversity! Worse still, it negates the very value and de facto existence of a diverse nation! Preferring our own age groups is a natural part of human life. One cannot legislate to impose non-discriminatory practice where there was no discrimination in the first place! (Equality expert)
Elaine Sihera, Maidenhead, United Kingdom
I don't believe what I am reading.
Who are these idiots that think of these ridiculous laws? You really couldn't make it up.
Who are the Dept. for Communitiesand Local Government? Sounds like a complete waste of taxpayers money to me.
If it is "Descrimination Law" then surely the law is the law and a "common sense approach" does not come into it.
They make it up to suit themselves.
Either way if a section of the community wish to express their personal choice by going on an over 50's holiday then that is their decision and a company that provides that facility should be commended and not penalised.
Human Rights?? What human rights??
Dek Crossingham, Birmingham, Great? Britain
The government is perfectly happy to allow sex discrimination in Car Insurance. Perhaps the government should find something useful to do and stop poking its nose into every crevice of our affairs
John Ledbury, Kings Lynn, England
What about my human rights. I do not want to even think about holidays with a crowd of young people and I am sure they do not want to holiday with me. For heavens sake, has this country gone completely mad. This shows the ridiculous position that results in trying to legislate for everything.
Maggi Howell MBE, Westcliff on Sea, England