To think my friend’s “warning” was fine?

[WomanStanleyWoman2]

A new Arabic restaurant has opened in our area. A friend of mine went and said she liked the food, but was disappointed there was no alcohol licence. She and I both enjoy wine with a meal, so it did put me off a bit TBH, although I might try it for lunch.

Anyway, someone had posted about this restaurant on our local Facebook page, with all the usual “please support a new local business” comments. My friend had replied on the post saying “Just to warn people, this place doesn’t have an alcohol licence or offer BYOB”.

Honestly, from some of the reactions you’d think she’d confessed to suffocating puppies. People telling her she was pathetic; why on earth should people have to be “warned” about the lack of alcohol; can’t people enjoy even one meal without alcohol; it sums up everything that’s wrong with this country (🙄) and so on. One person (who I assume is connected to the restaurant or its owners) even tried to suggest she was damaging the business!

AIBU to think there was nothing wrong with what she posted? Maybe the word “warn” made it sound a bit overdramatic, but realistically there are a fair few people who wouldn’t want to go to a dry restaurant. As for saying she was damaging the business, that’s just ridiculous in my eyes. It was entirely factual to say they don’t serve alcohol. It’s unlicensed, but they want to keep it a secret? If they’re that worried the lack of a licence will put people off, why not just apply for one?

If they think they can sustain a dry restaurant, they must believe they’ll still get customers who aren’t bothered by the lack of alcohol. So why is it a problem to point out that they don’t sell it?

‘Just to note’ would better than ‘to warn’ as it sounds more advisory than negative. Maybe she could edit the wording to say that. But it’s a fair enough heads up.

Take it you and your friend have never heard of the concept of a shit sandwich? Positive, negative, positive.

What makes it a twatty thing to do is post that without even commenting on the food, atmosphere, service etc.

Agree with this though. I’d have definitely complimented the food first.

Yes I'd have mentioned nice food first.

I have to resist posting don't forget to take cash for a local restaurant who has been open 7/8 years but still waiting to get its credit card machine (cough tax evasion)

As it would just be a bit dickish to say on a public local group -I may say it to a more private group (it's not right next to a cash machine either so no drink when I have gone as needed cash for the food part)

Pointing out they don't sell alcohol is fine, but the language she used and where she posted it have led it to it being badly received.

A note that alcohol isn't served on a Google/TripAdvisor review would have been taken completely differently.

People do get het up on Facebook etc. though so I wouldn't worry about it.

I agree with most.
It was the wording she got wrong. Using "warn" is quite negative.
She could have shared the same information without sounding negative, and said how nice the food was.

I would think your friend was totally ignorant and possibly racist to feel the need to "warn" people about this non-issue.

I would have also appreciated the heads up

You “warn” people about something wrong. So is your friend implying that it’s wrong that the restaurant doesn’t serve alcohol? That’s where the offence has been caused as you get into the territory of judging other cultures or thinking your culture is more important. They feel they need to defend against a “warning”

Lots of people don’t eat in establishments where alcohol is served, many Arabic restaurant visitors might be Muslim.

I wouldn’t have posted a “warning” about this. Frankly don’t feel it’s something that needs to be pointed out when you’re aware of cultural differences

@SisterMichaelsHabit
Oh grow up

If I were going to visit a new restaurant, I would look at the menu online first so would have found out the beverage situation. There was absolutely no need for your friend to post that.

I don’t think I have went somewhere without having a look at the menu online first so would have seen it was alcohol free before going to avoid being disappointed (not to check the alcohol status of course, more to look at the food choices before agreeing to go or book it)

Unless it was just a “let’s pop in here” if we were already out and then I would choose not to go in there if I was that bothered about alcohol

Bizarre comment.

Nothing wrong with your friend's post; YANBU.

Just stating a fact - they don't serve liquor. No different than saying "no vegan options offered" or "they don't have a children's menu".

The Facebook responses are silly.

I would assume that the person posting the warning was a bit thick to not realise that they are unlikely to get alcohol in an Arabic restaurant.

Oh for Christs sake...go on, tell us how you imagine this to be racist.

This should be good.

This. I don't think making people who might not have even considered that you wouldn't be able to have a glass of wine there is a bad thing but saying "WARN" comes across with a bad tone. I love Arabic food, have travelled for work a lot in Arabic countries and I would think to check for an evening meal if I wanted a glass of wine. But I also totally understand that in the UK it's not the norm to have a restaurant without an alcohol license and they would be better to make that explicit rather than have upset customers.

I know several and they all do BYOB, so no, she's not at all "thick".

I don't think it warrants a warning either.
We have an amazing alcohol free restaurant near us. It's been doing very well for many years.

I don't see the point of making a negative I MUST WARN YOU post.

Surely, IF she had to post it on their FB promotional post she could have made a positive comment about the food/good time then mentioned as an aside that there was no alcohol, it would have been better received.

Even if this was on their reviews, or on Google, her comment would have made more sense. But it comes across as whiny and complaining that she didn't do her research before going and has to tell everyone immediately.

Nothing whatsover wrong with what she posted. Some people just love to have a go @WomanStanleyWoman2 People need to know there is no booze. Why should she not say so?

Nothing wrong with what your friend said. Just to warn you is just another way of saying just to let you know. It's not as if she posted a "trigger warning"

It's just the word warn I think

I expect you know that's alcohol free though. ??? 🙄

I think it's the wording of the message rather than the actual message itself iyswIm. Rather than "warn" people, maybe something along the lines of "the meal was delicious, wonderful atmosphere but be advised the restaurant does not serve alcohol", would have been better IMO.