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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To pay 16 year olds cash-in-hand to waitress

27 replies

Coffeeandgranola · 13/07/2024 22:58

We're having a BBQ in the garden in a couple of weeks. We do this every year for friends and their kids, and normally there are around 30-40 who come. DP and I always run around mad trying to make sure food and drinks are topped up etc.

I plan on offering a good friend's 16 year old daughter £30 for the afternoon to help take orders/serve BBQ food, keep drinks topped up, run around with a binbag here and there to keep on top of the mess - plus invite a sensible friend in her year of her choosing to help, too.

It seems a win-win as we get extra hands plus the 16 year olds get some 'paid experience' to help get a cafe job or whatever, which I know they are all keen to do. My pause is there will be beers and wine/prosecco, perhaps some g&t type drinks (which we would pre-mix), amongst what people will be drinking.

WIBU to think it's fine for the 16 year olds to serve these out as part of what they're doing, without us getting into any kind of bother? It's a day-time family event with food and kids games as well, so not at all a booze-up environment. DP a bit unsure though.

OP posts:
NewDay00 · 13/07/2024 23:55

CountryMumof4 · 13/07/2024 23:31

I don't see a problem with that as such, but I'd be paying them more than £30 each - more like £50. Keeping 30-40 guests topped up with food and drinks for several hours means they're on the go for a fair while and will have to be pretty on the ball. Or, lay out a table with drinks and invite guests to help themselves - leaving the teens to simply sort the food.

That's £16.67 an hour for a 16 year old. Min wage is £6.40, and for an over 21 is £11.44. Plenty of people working in hospitality for min wage keep people in food and drinks and keep the place clean.

RightOnTheEdge · 13/07/2024 23:57

BruceWillissDribble · 13/07/2024 23:22

Fair dos i never knew that. Maybe explains some of the babyfaced waitresses at Spoons!

No, you're right. I'm not sure about other pubs but under 18s can't handle alcohol at all if they work for Spoons.

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