Dining out can be a stressful experience for parents. A lot of times, parents cannot control their kids in public, which makes dining out an unpleasant experience for everyone present. This couple struggled similarly, and they claim to have been ‘fined’ for it. Keep reading to know more.
A customer on Reddit recently shared their experience at a restaurant in North Georgia. To their surprise, they were charged an extra $50 for ‘poor parenting’. This incident has sparked a debate online: is it fair to charge parents for badly behaved children?
The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant, located outside of Blue Ridge, made waves with their unconventional approach. The owner, Tim Richter, explained that while the restaurant added a surcharge during COVID-19 to cover costs, they had never actually charged anyone extra for their children’s behavior.
According to Richter, the tipping point came when a family with nine children visited the restaurant a few weeks ago. The children were running around, causing chaos. While Richter did give the parents a warning, he chose not to impose the surcharge.
“We want parents to be parents,” he simply said. The restaurant, nestled in the serene mountains along the Toccoa River, is known for its peaceful ambiance. During meal times, cars line the roadside as people flock to this popular joint.
The news of the alleged fine has sparked mixed reactions among patrons. Laura Spillman, a customer visiting from Florida, couldn’t believe such a policy existed. “For real? I don’t think you should do it because kids are cute,” she exclaimed incredulously.
On the other hand, Anne Cox, who was having lunch with her family, argued that such a fee might encourage parents to teach their children proper etiquette and behavior. “They need to teach kids to behave. There are other people in the world, so they should have fun in the right place,” Cox added.
While some customers, like Federico Gambineri, were taken aback by the idea of a parenting fine, others, like regular customer Jack Schneider, had mixed emotions. Schneider acknowledged that it can be frustrating to dine near unruly children but maintained that the responsibility lies with the parents.
The debate continues, and opinions are divided. What do you think about this issue? Should parents be fined for their children’s behavior in restaurants? Let us know in the comments below, and share your thoughts with others to gather more perspectives on this matter.
