Mother of the year

[customersruinmylife]

I forgot to add this into my previous post, but heres what happened.

A lady came up to the bar to order an adults meal and a kids meal. I assumed she was ordering for herself and the child. I should also point out that childrens meals in my bar come with a free drink.

Me: OK, so I've got your order ready. What drink would you like with the kids meal?
SC: A large glass of red wine.
Me: Ah, well you see, the only drinks that come free with the childrens meals are non-alcoholic.
SC: That's ridiculous! I want a large glass of red wine!
Me: I'm sorry but only non-alcoholic ones are available.
SC: Oh..haha! I see what you mean! The kids meal is for me you see! The adults meal is for my friend!

She points over to a table, where an adult is sat waving at her.

Me: Ah, OK, but I'm afraid I still can't give you a red wine with your meal. The only options are non-alcoholic, and there is no way I can override the register.
SC: Can't you? Please?
Me: I can't, I'm sorry.
SC: But it's for me! Not a child! The reason I'm having a childs meal is because I'm not feeling up to an adults one, I'm pregnant you see so I'm feeling a little under the weather.

OK, she's pregnant and wants a large glass of red wine?? I know it can't have been for her friend because she ordered another alcoholic drink for her.

SC: This is absolutely ridiculous! I'm pregant you know!
Me: And you want a large glass of red wine?
SC: Yes!
Me: Well you will have to pay for it seperately. I can give you a non-alcoholic drink for free.
SC: Fine!

Seriously, she expected an alcholic drink free with a kids meal?? And she was preganant?? I know you can drink a certain amount when pregnant, but to make such a big deal about it was terrible.

I'm sure she'll be a great mother.

[MoonChild2007]

Why would a grown adult want a kids meal? Can't she just order small portions?

oh and i love the special circumstance plea!

[rerant]

A glass of red wine every now and again is not bad for a pregnant mother.
This is assuming she's not drinking all the time, of course.

[LadyAndreca]

Why would a grown adult want a kids meal? Can't she just order small portions?

My grandmother used to get kids' meals at fast food places because she couldn't eat a whole meal. She saved up all the toys she got all year and would pass them out at Halloween.

That being said...how on earth do you not know that you can't get an alcoholic drink with a kids' meal??

[Marxfan]

A glass of red wine every now and again is not bad for a pregnant mother.
This is assuming she's not drinking all the time, of course.

But I'm sure she is. I'm sure she is.

[air914]

I don't think I'd serve a pregnant woman a drink - if she wants to endanger her child, she can drink at home - I'm not serving her......(although I wish she wouldn't)

I worked at a coffee place and we knew the woman was pregnant - we changed her drinks to decaf.... she wasn't happy, but we felt we were participating in endangering the child if we didn't.... she lost the baby btw.... but at least we tried to keep it from being harmed.... (btw she came in like 2-3 times a day - this was not a "one cup every now and then type of person")

[Lil Bunny]

I always wondered about this but didn't know how to handle it. I know Odoules (how ever you spell that) is technically non alcoholic but I always felt odd serving it to pregnant women. There is some alcohol in there and yeah I know some alcohol is okies, I just had that inner gut thingy going on. I just got my co-worker to serve them because I just couldn't handle the guilt. I'm lame, I know. *sigh*

[Jadedcarguy]

OK, she's pregnant and wants a large glass of red wine??

That's why she wants a large. Drinking for two, you know.......

[Soulstealer]

Why would a grown adult want a kids meal? Can't she just order small portions?

Or get a doggy bag.

[strawbabies]

Why would a grown adult want a kids meal? Can't she just order small portions?

I'm 25, 4 foot 11, and weigh just under 100 lbs. I order happy meals when I go to McDonalds because I just can't eat very much. Plus I like the toys.

[reformedwaitress]

Why would a grown adult want a kids meal? Can't she just order small portions?

Probably because she's like me and just doesn't eat enough to warrant getting a full meal. Restaurant portions (at least in the US) are INSANE. They give you like three or four times the suggested portion amount at some places and they won't let you do "small portions" or half meals or anything. I simply cannot eat that much food, I don't like throwing food away and I don't really do leftovers. So generally, I'll order from the kids menu if it exists and I see nothing wrong with that or sucky about it.

I do agree that arguing about the fact that the OP couldn't give her wine is sucky. That's a pretty standard rule -- kids meal drinks are water, tea, soda or juice. MAYBE a virgin daquari if you're lucky. But no alcohol. Alcohol is more expensive and the restaurant would take a major hit. Sides, kids meals are technically for, you know, kids.

[auntiem]

They can't sue - there was a huge study done and it basicly proves that every reasonable adult in the US knows it is bad to drink while pregnant - I think it was commissioned by Jack Daniels when some nitwit tried suing them because she didn't realize that drinking a pint of Jack a day would hurt her baby.
That said - my sis - who was very careful during her pregnancies was told by her doctor that after the second trimester it was ok to have a glass of wine once and awhile, in fact if she was really stressed it was a good thing to have a few sips.

[April]

Ok, some of the things in this thread annoy me.

It is not unhealthy, for the woman nor the baby to have red wine, or even a beer every now and again. I believe it's up to 3 a week or something. I didn't do it, but as long as the woman isn't drunk or drinking alot, it's not going to hurt her to have A glass of wine.

As for the caffiene thing, I'd be pissed off if I went to a coffee shop and had my order changed to decaf. Again, some caffiene is not going to hurt the baby. it will hurt the mother, most likely, first. And if she IS over doing it, her doctor should be the one to tell her to cut down, not a coffee shop employee. I dropped almost all caffiene when I was pregnant, but every now and again, I'd order a coffee, or a Dr. pepper.

[/end rant]

[kibbles]

ITA April, I don't think it's anyone's place to change someone's order without the consumer's consent.

[Andara Bledin]

Red wine, in moderation, is actually quite good for you. Not only is it a digestive aid, but as a minor depressant, it can help reduce stress and tension. There are a huge list of things a pregnant woman can take in that are much worse than a little wine, and that's without adding anything illegal.

Honestly, though, I can't figure out why the woman would have such a hissy over not getting an alcholic drink with a kids meal. It's not like she was getting the kids meal because it was cheaper. She just wanted smaller portions.

Speaking of smaller portions, I've been known to purchase an appetizer as opposed to a full meal because I knew I couldn't possibly eat a full meal. And Nekojin and I have, on occasion, purchased a single meal and asked for a second plate. Sometimes, the portions served at restaurants are just absurd.

^-.-^