Popular Restaurants Serve Alcohol to Children

Well known restaurants Applebee's, The Olive Garden, and more recently Chili's have reportedly served alcoholic beverages to minor children. The restaurant chains involved will likely offer monetary settlements with the accusers in lieu of court proceedings, and rightly so. The retraining of restaurant staff is warranted and truly a matter of life and death. Customer service in today's food and dining establishments is in the toilet and has turned a lot of people off from eating out.

However, the parents of children have a responsibility too. What if some of these parents and their lawyers turn down monetary offers and force court proceedings? Here is a mock cross examination of a victimized parent:

Attorney: "Hello, please state your name."

Parent: "My name is Sally Causely."

Attorney: "You are the mother of little Lindsay?"

Parent: "Yes."

Attorney: "How old is Lindsay?"

Parent: "She is 6."

Attorney: " Six. Such an innocent little girl. Ms. Causely, how often do you dine out?"

Parent: "Sometimes once or twice per month."

Attorney: "If you're like me I'm sure you probably don't eat out as much as you would like to. Money is sure tight these days."

Parent: "That's true."

Attorney: "Ms. Causely, how often do you eat out with your children?"

Parent: "Maybe several times per month."

Attorney: "Do you dine at a variety of establishments like, fast food joints, pizza parlors, and more traditional restaurants?"

Parent: "Sometimes at a hamburger fast food chain, pizza place and restaurants...yes."

Attorney: "That's a nice treat for kids. It kind of helps reinforce some of the things you probably teach them at home like etiquette, ordering for themselves, how to behave while out in public...you know what I mean?"

Parent: "Yes."

Attorney: "Ms. Causely, do you usually have a drink while out at restaurants?"

Other Attorney: "Objection! That question has no relevance!"

Judge: "Over ruled. Answer the question."

Parent: "I may have a drink or two. Nothing too strong and not too much."

Attorney: "And the kids will have a soft drink, water, milk?"

Parent: "Of course."

Attorney: Ms. Causely, does another adult usually accompany you? Husband, friend?"

Parent: "My husband sometimes. Other times with a girlfriend of mine with her kids, and sometimes just me and the kids alone."

Attorney: "And you usually have a drink."

Parent: "Most of the time. It's usually on a Friday after a hard week at work. Just something to unwind."

Attorney: "You drive home with the kids?"

Parent: "Yes."

Attorney: "Is drinking and driving unlawful? You know, against the law?"

Parent: "Yes."

Attorney: "Isn't it also unlawful for any individual to endanger children, especially while under the influence of an intoxicant?"

Parent: "Its not like I get irresponsibly drunk. I don't drink excessively out or at home."

Do you see where this is going? How was my Alan Shore (Boston Legal) impersonation? Don't crucify me please. Why would she endanger her children after drinking? Maybe parents should refrain from drinking in front of their minor children anyway. Or better yet, maybe restaurants should create new policies where they refuse to serve alcohol to patrons with accompanying minor children.

Since people don't think for themselves, that's why laws and policies are developed and implemented. The enforcement of such will do the thinking for you. I'm merely offering a few things for you and establishments to think about.