How would you have handled this?

adviceseeker22 · 2023-07-09T14:14:48+00:00

We went out to eat some lunch. Long story short, the server gave the cocktail to the 15yo, but we really didn't notice until he had drunk half of it. It was for me BTW, and it didn't even cross my mind that I was drinking a mocktail! Manager realised, panics and then takes the half drunk cocktail away, and brings in another mocktail (but not cocktail). Service she as very slow and after the incident we felt like we were actively ignored. 3yo had to leave as service was so slow (his meal included an ice cream), but when they cleared the table they didn't ask if we wanted either more drinks or dessert. When it came to pay, she expected for me to pay the who.amount which I thought was unacceptable, then offered a 10% (that didn't even cover the cocktail). Eventually we vmwe to an agreed but I was mega annoyed by then .

IknowYouButIdontLikeYou · 09/07/2023 15:18

Did you get your food? Was it decent? The mistake with the drinks was just that - a mistake. The service was slow (busy? Not enough staff?) I think you should have been charged the full amount - just put a review on TripAdvisor and don't go again.

User5653218 · 09/07/2023 15:19

I would say that the cocktail was an honest mistake. They apologised, they replaced the drink. That's all they could do. They should probably have taken the cost of the cocktail off the bill.

Depending on how poor the service was I wouldn't have left a tip.

I wouldn't do or expect anything else.

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:21

I think if they had replaced my cocktail I would have been happy but they never offered to do that. She just took it away and there was half of it left.

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Sissynova · 09/07/2023 15:24

I don’t see why you wouldn’t pay the whole amount? Your food or drinks didn’t go to another table, it’s not the restaurants fault the teenager drank the cocktail! I imagine a 15 year old knew fine rightly they were drinking alcohol.

honeyytoast · 09/07/2023 15:25

I work in hospitality and serving alcohol to an under 18 is serious shit, even though it’s obviously an honest mistake and most of us wouldn’t be too bothered, but to then charge you for it I think is bad practice when they’ve been pretty negligent

Nordicrain · 09/07/2023 15:26

You had to pay for the cocktail that was removed? And you didn’t get a replacement? I wouldn’t have been happy with that. Otherwise I can’t really see why you’d be offered a bigger discount than 10%

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 09/07/2023 15:28

They should have replaced both drinks (the cocktail and the mocktail) though I'd be asking your 15yo why they didn't speak up and tell you they had an alcoholic drink...

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:29

Nordicrain · 09/07/2023 15:26

You had to pay for the cocktail that was removed? And you didn’t get a replacement? I wouldn’t have been happy with that. Otherwise I can’t really see why you’d be offered a bigger discount than 10%

Yes exactly!! They replaced the lemonade but not the cocktail. If they had left the cocktail at the table then that would have been fine too (albeit borderline).

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Nordicrain · 09/07/2023 15:30

Did you not say “I am not paying for the cocktail I didn’t drink”? That’s what I would have done.

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:32

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 09/07/2023 15:28

They should have replaced both drinks (the cocktail and the mocktail) though I'd be asking your 15yo why they didn't speak up and tell you they had an alcoholic drink...

He actually did tell us, but as I had never had seen the drinks before, it was impossible to tell by the looks. So we thought it was just a really well made mocktail. We actually had figured it out like 90 secs before the drink got taken away, otherwise we would just have swapped them and laughed it off...

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Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:34

Nordicrain · 09/07/2023 15:30

Did you not say “I am not paying for the cocktail I didn’t drink”? That’s what I would have done.

That was my whole argument, I even told her there were multiple ways it could had been resolved.

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Sissynova · 09/07/2023 15:40

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:32

He actually did tell us, but as I had never had seen the drinks before, it was impossible to tell by the looks. So we thought it was just a really well made mocktail. We actually had figured it out like 90 secs before the drink got taken away, otherwise we would just have swapped them and laughed it off...

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So the 15 year old told you their drink was alcoholic right at the start, you either didn’t check or couldn’t taste the difference and rather than clarify with the staff you both just continued to drink from them?

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 09/07/2023 15:43

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:32

He actually did tell us, but as I had never had seen the drinks before, it was impossible to tell by the looks. So we thought it was just a really well made mocktail. We actually had figured it out like 90 secs before the drink got taken away, otherwise we would just have swapped them and laughed it off...

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Did you not think to try his drink and swap them?

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:45

cinnamonfrenchtoast · 09/07/2023 15:43

Did you not think to try his drink and swap them?

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We did try it, and really couldn't taste it, it was after a few tries , that yes, we figured out it was in fact alcoholic.

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Stickybackplasticbear · 09/07/2023 15:47

I can't believe people are surprised you wanted money off. At lears I'd not want to pay for the cocktail.

Thebigblueballoon · 09/07/2023 15:55

I don’t understand some of the above replies. If I ordered a cocktail and the server fucked up, gave it to my teenager, then whipped it away and I was still expected to pay for it I’d be raging. The cocktail should have been removed from the bill and a discount given.
I think I’d be OK with the mistake - they’re 15 not four, after all - but if I was a manager and my server had done that I’d take it a lot more seriously. I certainly wouldn’t be so blasé and dismissive.

unlikelychump · 09/07/2023 16:03

But if you tried it then you did know. Why did you let them remove it? Or not raise that immediately?

If I order a mojito my tummy is ready to drink a mojito. I don't leave it until the bill and then complain. I'd have resolved it there and then

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 16:05

unlikelychump · 09/07/2023 16:03

But if you tried it then you did know. Why did you let them remove it? Or not raise that immediately?

If I order a mojito my tummy is ready to drink a mojito. I don't leave it until the bill and then complain. I'd have resolved it there and then

She just grabbed it off the table. It's not like a conversation happened. Regardless, I think any decent service would have replaced BOTH drinks. Or at least actively ask what do we want to do with the remainder.

It all happened very suddenly.

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HundredMilesAnHour · 09/07/2023 16:08

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 15:21

I think if they had replaced my cocktail I would have been happy but they never offered to do that. She just took it away and there was half of it left.

So did you ask for your cocktail to be replaced? Or did you say nothing and moan when the bill came? Same with ordering dessert. If they start clearing your table and they haven't asked if you want dessert but you want one, you say "we want to order dessert".

None of this is complicated. Just (politely) order what you want.

unlikelychump · 09/07/2023 16:11

But that is my point. Id have asked for it to be replaced - and expected just one on the bill

You didn't ask for it so they assumed you didn't want it. They probably took is by mistake to whip it away from the child.

Was it a very upmarket restaurant? Because if it was more fun of the mill I do expect to have to ask for what I want, waitservice is not that attentive these days

Waterfallgirl · 09/07/2023 16:14

Very similar happened to me recently. I ordered a lager in a chain restaurant, it was the 3rd round of drinks. I drank half of it before I saw the label - 0% lager - I couldn’t tell the difference.
When the server came I mentioned it, got an immediate apology and she said I will take it off the bill. No hesitation, no checking with the manager, which I thought was efficient and fair.

Prob on MN I’d be chastised for not reading the label!

BiscuitsandPuffin · 09/07/2023 16:14

Surely when you realised you would just swap drinks with each other? I mean it was your own child not some grotty randomer. Why did it need to be taken away at all?

Waterfallgirl · 09/07/2023 16:15

I should say that a new drink was also brought to the table straight away.

OP - you should have had at the very least a replacement cocktail and ideally both drinks replaced.

Original poster

adviceseeker22 · 09/07/2023 16:16

It was a local chain. I couldn't call it fine dining but it wasn't Spoons either.

It was the manager who took action on the drink (the dessert I find it a grey area to be fair).

The truth is, if they had been more attentive, none of this would have happened and we would have spent extra £££

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Justcallmebebes · 09/07/2023 16:17

I wouldn't pay for a cocktail I hadn't been given either. She should have taken both drinks away and replaced them with the correct order.

Or knocked a couple of quid off the bill. Crap service and I wouldn't have tipped either