The War on Brats

[MKCP 1985]

Would it be better if these restaurants just set an age limit, similar to a bar?

An age limit for scones and cookies? :lol:

An age limit for kids in the bars is a good idea to me, no matter how many Shirley Temples they order!

 

[tigsmom]

I realize I'm an old fuddy, but when did they start letting kids sit at bars?
I wouldn't even eat in a bar by myself until a short time ago... ladies just didn't do that. :lol:

I don't even like sitting in the bar to eat at TGIFriday's with my girls and they are 17 &11 unless its the only seat available. (yep, I have waited for a different table)

 

[wannab@dis]

I realize I'm an old fuddy, but when did they start letting kids sit at bars?
I wouldn't even eat in a bar by myself until a short time ago... ladies just didn't do that. :lol:

I don't even like sitting in the bar to eat at TGIFriday's with my girls and they are 17 &11 unless its the only seat available. (yep, I have waited for a different table)

Exactly! Plus, the bar area is usually the smoking area, so I don't want my little girl in that area anyway. And before anyone says something, I don't care if you smoke in the smoking section... I just don't want my family choking on it while we eat. :wave:

 

[speck76]

Isn't that kind of extreme? How will kids learn to behave well in resturants if they aren't allowed in them?

how can people learn to drink responsibly if they can not drink until 21?

 

[speck76]

An age limit for scones and cookies? :lol:

yes....if it the type of restaurant that kids have no place in....like a finer dining establishment.

 

[speck76]

Exactly! Plus, the bar area is usually the smoking area, so I don't want my little girl in that area anyway. And before anyone says something, I don't care if you smoke in the smoking section... I just don't want my family choking on it while we eat. :wave:

In Florida...there is no smoking in restaurants....bar section or not....as of 2 or so years ago

A few years before that, I was at a Fridays with a group of friends, smoking and drinking, playing trivia, having a great time. The restaurant was busy, and many patrons were waiting in the bar for a table. I asked a lady near me (there with her kids, waiting for a table) to slide down an ashtray.

She said "No, I do not want you smoking around me or my kids"

Well.....I had drank a few.....but even in a more sober state, I am sure my response would have been similar (and I am actually a nice person)

I responded with "Listen [explative], I don't care if you give me the ashtray or not....it is simply a matter of my using the ashtray, or ashing on the floor. If you don't want your kids exposed to smoke, wait outside, not in the bar or smoking section"

 

[Lil'mermaid]

how can people learn to drink responsibly if they can not drink until 21?

Even if younger people could drink (I'm not saying that we don't) some people will never drink responsibly. Its not something you can teach, its a personal choice. Behavior is something that is learned, personal limits can be ignored.

 

[speck76]

Even if younger people could drink (I'm not saying that we don't) some people will never drink responsibly. Its not something you can teach, its a personal choice. Behavior is something that is learned, personal limits can be ignored.

but is drinking irresponsibly not a behavioral trait?

people who do not drink responsibly have 1 of 2 problems:

1. They are genetically an alcoholic
2. They have low self-esteem, and drink to get attention

kids who throw tantrums also do it simply to get attention.....

I don't see a difference

 

[tigsmom]

yes....if it the type of restaurant that kids have no place in....like a finer dining establishment.

Sorry, I don't agree with you. Children will never learn to act responsibly if they are not given the chance to do so. There is no reason that children should not be brought into a finer restaurant, BUT it is the parent's responsibility to see that they behave; if they do not then the parents should be prepared to leave before the meal is over. Granted I would not take an infant or toddler into a restaraunt like this, but starting around age 6 or 7 I would and have.

We were on vacation dining in a 5 diamond restaurant at a "family dining hour" of 5 pm. There was a couple there who just let their kids run around (nobody complained that I noticed... it was not very crowded). The manager came over to them and stated (we were closeby) that their meals were being made "to go" and would be delivered to their room. He then presented them with the bill and sent the waiter over to collect.

 

[Lil'mermaid]

but is drinking irresponsibly not a behavioral trait?

people who do not drink responsibly have 1 of 2 problems:

1. They are genetically an alcoholic
2. They have low self-esteem, and drink to get attention

kids who throw tantrums also do it simply to get attention.....

I don't see a difference

Some people have no tolerence for alcohol. One drink may make them say/do something that they wouldnt normally do/say. Can you fault them that?

 

[speck76]

Sorry, I don't agree with you. Children will never learn to act responsibly if they are not given the chance to do so. There is no reason that children should not be brought into a finer restaurant, BUT it is the parent's responsibility to see that they behave; if they do not then the parents should be prepared to leave before the meal is over. Granted I would not take an infant or toddler into a restaraunt like this, but starting around age 6 or 7 I would and have.

We were on vacation dining in a 5 diamond restaurant at a "family dining hour" of 5 pm. There was a couple there who just let their kids run around (nobody complained that I noticed... it was not very crowded). The manager came over to them and stated (we were closeby) that their meals were being made "to go" and would be delivered to their room. He then presented them with the bill and sent the waiter over to collect.

I am not saying it is the best way for kids.....but why should a restaurant be concerned with how an individual's children are raised. All I am saying is that a restaurant that is geared towards adults should be able to ban, or limit the times when families with small children can eat there.

For example.....when your children were younger, even 7 or 8, would have have taken them to Victoria and Alberts.

1....you don't have a choice of what is on the menu......
2.....it is $150 per person
3....there are only a few tables, and if your kids misbehave, you will be causing issues with the other guests that also paid $150 to eat in a fine dining establishment.

 

[speck76]

Some people have no tolerence for alcohol. One drink may make them say/do something that they wouldnt normally do/say. Can you fault them that?

Then they do not "know" how to drink....and if they are "educated" in drinking, they would know their limits.

So if Susie....who is 16, has a 40 of Olde English 1800, and turns into a .....the baby/disease/whatever is not her problem?

 

[DDuckFan130]

Some people have no tolerence for alcohol. One drink may make them say/do something that they wouldnt normally do/say. Can you fault them that?

This is why I won't try too much :lookaroun

All kidding aside, I agree with the fact that some people are just alcoholics and some do it to get attention. Unfortunately, a lot of people my age love the idea of going out and "getting wasted" as if it's a pastime :veryconfu. I don't understand why. Even worse are those that find joy in their state of "drunkenness" (sp?). Sorry, but there's nothing cute or funny seeing you slur your words and tripping all over the place. But people my age find it funny.

 

[tigsmom]

I am not saying it is the best way for kids.....but why should a restaurant be concerned with how an individual's children are raised. All I am saying is that a restaurant that is geared towards adults should be able to ban, or limit the times when families with small children can eat there.

For example.....when your children were younger, even 7 or 8, would have have taken them to Victoria and Alberts.

1....you don't have a choice of what is on the menu......
2.....it is $150 per person
3....there are only a few tables, and if your kids misbehave, you will be causing issues with the other guests that also paid $150 to eat in a fine dining establishment.

I won't take my kids there now! :lol:

However... I am paying the same amount as anyone else for a meal and if thats my choice , so be it! I am sure you are well aware of the fact that it is not only children who misbehave when out in public... shouldn't those people be forced to leave? There are already dress codes set in place at WDW yet I've seen them ignored...why? Drunken conventioneers disrupted my meal at the Yachtsman Steakhouse yet they weren't asked to leave... the waiters just rolled their eyes and the manager never even went over there. I had to pay full price for 4 meal & drinks and desserts anyway even though our evening was disrupted (I won't say ruined).

Brad, this is an issue that is not going to be solved here or anywhere else for that matter. What we have is the people with kids vs those without...

Let me go on record as saying that I am AGAINST special treatment for ANY segment of society.

:wave:

 

[speck76]

I won't take my kids there now! :lol:

However... I am paying the same amount as anyone else for a meal and if thats my choice , so be it! I am sure you are well aware of the fact that it is not only children who misbehave when out in public... shouldn't those people be forced to leave? There are already dress codes set in place at WDW yet I've seen them ignored...why? Drunken conventioneers disrupted my meal at the Yachtsman Steakhouse yet they weren't asked to leave... the waiters just rolled their eyes and the manager never even went over there. I had to pay full price for 4 meal & drinks and desserts anyway even though our evening was disrupted (I won't say ruined).

Brad, this is an issue that is not going to be solved here or anywhere else for that matter. What we have is the people with kids vs those without...

Let me go on record as saying that I am AGAINST special treatment for ANY segment of society.

:wave:

You are right....it is not just kids...the rules should apply to everyone.

I just don't see why (most) parents would never consider taking their kids to casinos, bars, or strip clubs, yet they think they have the RIGHT to take their kids to an "non-taboo" establishment that does not really want the kids to be there.

 

[GenerationX]

When my wife and I dined at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse, we left the boys at the Sandcastle Club:
1. It was cheaper.
2. They ate what they wanted to eat, ditto for us.
3. We wanted one quiet dinner on the trip.
4. I would have felt uncomfortable with the kids there.
This restaurant's atmosphere is not particularly kid-friendly. It's not geared for kids. When the kids are older, the environment will be more appropriate for them. For now, it's not.

 

[Lil'mermaid]

When my wife and I dined at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse, we left the boys at the Sandcastle Club:
1. It was cheaper.
2. They ate what they wanted to eat, ditto for us.
3. We wanted one quiet dinner on the trip.
4. I would have felt uncomfortable with the kids there.
This restaurant's atmosphere is not particularly kid-friendly. It's not geared for kids. When the kids are older, the environment will be more appropriate for them. For now, it's not.

About your number 4, both of us (tigsmom's daughters) are older. I'm 17 and my sister is 11. Neither of us are exactly going to run around screaming and throwing things. I think the worst think that happened was my phone vibrated, and I checked to see who called me.

 

[tigsmom]

When my wife and I dined at the Yachtsman's Steakhouse, we left the boys at the Sandcastle Club:
1. It was cheaper.
2. They ate what they wanted to eat, ditto for us.
3. We wanted one quiet dinner on the trip.
4. I would have felt uncomfortable with the kids there.
This restaurant's atmosphere is not particularly kid-friendly. It's not geared for kids. When the kids are older, the environment will be more appropriate for them. For now, it's not.

There were many younger kids there that night...all were well behaved... it was the adults who were having problems that night.

My kids are too old for the kid's clubs in WDW (but we never used them anyway), they did pick and eat what they wanted. My hubby & I had a quiet dinner at our favorite Cuban restaurant prior to our arrival at WDW (kids stayed with the grandparents).

We started taking the girls out to eat when they were very young, working our way up from McDonald's to fancier restaurants as their age/behavior allowed; my mom did the same with us and we never acted up either.

 

[speck76]

too bad more parents are not like you

 

[diddy_mouse]

Having read through this entire post so far, this is my thoughts on the topic...

I am curious as to where the skills of some parents have gone? I was raised with the idea that manners were very important and where you go (such as a nice restaurant) dictated how you should act. I work at a mall and am constantly astounded at the lack of parenting that goes on when people come into my store. They leave their kids to play with the toys, then get mad at US when they can't find their child. I've seen too many children left behind and just left to terrorize the store, not putting things back, etc.

Now, I have seen some great examples of parenting and some very well-behanved children. A lot were actually at WDW, and I was very impressed. But it irks me so much to see kids in a nice restaurant running around and acting like they are at home. For me... its all about respect. *end of rant*