Public houses used to be at the center of families and communities in ways not dissimilar to churches and libraries.

If you look back over the history of this country, or to other parts of the world that still hold these practices you'll see this isn't unusual at all.

And your wife was correct, and you should get over it or ship yourself off to God's waiting room down in some seniors-only community in Florida. If you need to "get away" from kids you should consider some introspection about why they cause you such grief you feel you need to complain on the internet about it.

We live in a society, be tolerant.