Kids eat free discrimination

[BigBaoBun]

Some restaurants offer a kids eat free/ kids eat for £1 offer during the half term but this is usually (not always) when one adult buys a main meal the restaurant allows one free kids meal. I have noticed a lot of parents with multiple children complaining that certain restaurants are being unfair as they only get one free kids meal. Particularly single parents saying it's discrimination against them. One woman was complaining that she has 3 kids and it isn't fair because only one can eat free and the restaurant should be giving them all a free meal. Aibu to think that this isn't discrimination and you can't expect all kids to eat for free?

Of course it's not discrimination.
But, I had a full buffet breakfast at a chain pub/restaurant a couple of years ago. It was pay for one adult (about £9) and two kids under 16 can eat free. I took two kids, they were 14 and 15. We ate an absolute mountain . I was embarrassed by how cheap it was when I came to pay.

£26 for 5 people in a restaurant is an absolute bargain! Having more than one child is always going to be more expensive?

Earlier it was multiple "adds" for multiple restaurants. So you commented on all of them?

Of course its not discrimination. One adult eating =1free child.

That's something I have noticed too. Although it is probably great for parents who want to treat their children but the budget is tight. About 6 or 7 years ago this was me - so a free meal would have made the odd treat easier.

I do agree it isn't discrimination though.

Having 4 kids costs more than 2. Shocker.

Well it isn't fair on single parents if you have 2 children.

Single parent, 2 kids would (if a full price meal costs £5 ) cost that parent £11 - so £3.66 a person - that single parent would only get one kids meal.

Two parents 2 kids would cost £12. so £3 a person. The couple parents get 2 kids meals.

So it does discriminate against single parents particularly since they generally are coping on one income.

Discrimination is a legal term. It easier to buy and prepare your own food. Lots of family make packed lunches.

Last time I checked, eating out was neither cost-free nor compulsory.

That i know, i became a single mum.

I've also seen this and it's ridiculous.

Restaurants and cafes aren't trying to end world hunger, they are trying to make money and the "kids eat free" deal is intended to encourage families to eat there. They aren't going to make any money if people turn up with their 7 kids and pay for one meal.

It isn't just a legal term at all. And in the example I gave, the pricing does discriminate against single parents. And given that everything costs much more as a single parent (because you only have one salary, or even if you have two, it is funding two homes), and the job market is also tougher for a single parent, then a child's meal becomes even more unaffordable for a single parent. I do think that a restaurant in this case, or a soft play company, or an attraction, could introduce a pricing structure which does not disadvantage the children of single parents.

But yes, they could just have a packed lunch

Exactly. I can imagine people taking out their kids and all their mates and expecting them to all be free, ive even seen people complaining that the kids menu stops at 12 and their 16 year old is still a kid 🙄

People are so judgemental aren’t they x

No your argument is stupid.
Its like saying a BOGOF offer on crisps discriminate me by only giving me one free packet because I only thought one whereas someone who bought 2 gets 2 free!

I thought this was a lovely initiative when it started but as usual, a small but vocal minority ruin it for everyone. These things end up being more trouble than they're worth.

The woman with three kids is nuts. How is a restaurant going to make any money at all if they have to feed any number of kids free or for £1, when there is only one adult buying a meal? What if she had six kids with her? Honestly some people are so unbelievably stupid and entitled.

Surely it's just marketing. You don't have to go out to eat, there's no law! Go out after/before a mealtime.

It's just sheer entitlement on part of the woman with three kids to expect the world to feed her children for free. Unbelievable. Grabby and entitled little so and so

I never really get the logic of the kids eat free thing as being something that helps poor families. I'm in my thirties and when I was a child we never ate in cafes/restaurants. It's expensive!

Anyone who's hard up can buy far more & probably better quality food with the same money just buying food in the supermarket to cook/eat at home. Most of the cost of eating out is paying staff to cook & serve.
It's not feeding hungry kids who would otherwise not get a meal, those kids parents can't afford to eat out at all even if a child's meal is free.

These incentives are not designed to 'help poor people'. They're a marketing ploy to get people to eat there where they might not have done so otherwise.

Eg Asda cafe.

Because people like to feel they're getting something for nothing even when they have to pay to get that.

Not true.

Some discrimination is perfectly legal, even when it is against someone with a protected characteristic. I'm quite happy about that, I don't want to be on a plane with a blind pilot.

Lots of discrimination is not based on a protected characteristic. You don't get 5ft basketball players.

Plenty of ungrateful, greedy people existed in the past too.

The definition of discrimination is treating people unfairly or unfavorably because of their race, gender, age, disability, or other characteristics. It can also involve denying people opportunities or privileges.

I guess the example you gave could be indirect sex discrimination of the basis that mother are more likely to be single parents. However, the example you made doesn't make much sense to me because to get a free meal you need to have an adult to buy a meal. So if there are two parents they both would be paying adult prices.

They know that most people have more than one child so you'll have to spend a decent amount even if you get the 1 free meal.