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?

Hmmm yeah, maybe the word WARN made it sound a bit OTT. 'Just to give people a heads-up, there's no alcohol served here, and you can't bring your own,' would have been better to say probably.

I wouldn't automatically expect an arabic restaurant to serve wine (or pork for that matter) although I know of some who do. It would have been nicer if she would have said that it was nice and the menu looks like they observe islamic rules regarding which food and drink they serve. That way it doesn't sound negative, but more like a choice they made.

Oh well, no harm done. They'll now receive customers that respect their choice.

The word warn is so negative- it could have been framed so much nicer!

‘Food was amazing, a good selection of non alcoholic drinks, as alcohol isn’t on the menu’ or something.

Our local arabic restaurant doesn’t sell alcohol so not sure I would have expected it tbh!

It’s not a non issue, though, as you can see by the voting.

and it really isn’t ‘racist’ to like a drink with your dinner….

Sounds negative tbh.

If she'd said something like "The food here is great, totally recommend (FYI they don't serve alcohol for anyone who is looking for a place to drink))" then fine.

But her tone wasn't great.

I didn't the first time.

If someone posts encouraging people to support a local business then it's not going to go down well if you try and put people off going.

It's weird that on local pages you can't even state facts about a restaurant for fear of 'damaging business'. Your friends post is not damaging their business anyhow. It's like saying ' they don't have any vegan options'- it's just stating fact.

So she's whiny and complaining as she didn;t know, but shes ALSO a terrible person for letting other people know?

That's idiotic.

This. Just to warn you, it's not open on Monday. Or just to warn you, there is no children's menu. It's a perfectly normal way to phrase something that could impact your decision to do something.

This whole thread is full of tone police. She might find the lack of alcohol a negative, lots would. You're allowed to make negative things sound negative, that's how words work.

Seems like veiled #bekind bullshit, to me. Women; know your place, you're not allowed your own opinion and to state it honestly. Be nicer!

@MrsMarzetti FB posters are all so batshit, every post should probably be caveated with a trigger warning 😅

Because you already know you have the option to decide before you go if you want to take a bottle of wine/lager etc with you.

I dont take it as the poster telling people don't go folks its disappointingly got no alcohol, rather giving people the heads up - you can buy your own (which is fair and cheaper ime).

If it's an Arabic restaurant there's a fair chance it's going to be dry. The restaurant info should have their drinks policy posted.

The warning's probably a good idea though.

I don’t know where you live but in many areas the general Islamophobia is so widespread that it might have sounded like a bit of a racist dog whistle, tbh.

I think your friend was knobby and I do despair somewhat at those who can't fathom a meal without booze, to the point that they need an advance trigger warning.

She positioned it as a negative. Did she bother saying she liked the food? If not, then why did she feel the need to mention the lack of alcohol? If you're gonna comment on one then it's logical to comment on the otherr, seeing as you've actually had a meal there.

You cannot take your own booze to a dry restaurant.

Everyone is just trying to earn a living so it would have been nicer if she worded it a little better with more balance.

Ate here recently....food was fantastic, great atmosphere and very good service. A little bit disappointed that there was no BYOB option or wine available but overall a very enjoyable meal.

A) No

and

B) Its pretty racist of you to assume Arabic means Islamic. There are 15 million Arabic Christians in the Middle East and millions more around the world.

Tone police

ffs, of course people are ‘allowed’ to be negative, just looks a bit ridiculous then when there’s bafflement at getting negative back.

No need for #bekind, just owning what you say/imply and the reactions that creates.

If they don’t ‘get’ it, and ask if/why something hasn’t been received they way they expected then tone will come up.

’No’, there is no widespread Islamophobia in parts of the UK? Give over.

I am making no assumptions. It’s a reasonable inference that a dry Arabic restaurant is quite likely to be run by observant Muslims.

*edited for typo

YANBU, I would appreciate the warning and it would make me reconsider going tbh which I suppose is why the restaurant is twisting.

Racist? Give over 🤣🤣🤣

WTAF?

Agree. I think the posters who pointed out that it was unnecessary to warn people were right.

Anyone looking online or passing by would have noted that there was no alcohol on the menu.

Nothing wrong with people liking a drink with their meal, but the need to go as far as posting on a restaurant’s public page to warn others about not being able to have alcohol is a bit OTT especially when you didn’t even mention the food.

@SisterMichaelsHabit · Today 16:26

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

Also WTAF?!!!