Is it acceptable to order a kids meal as an adult ?

[ThePunnyPeachDuck]

DH went out for lunch with his father to a pub his mate runs
He proudly came home and told me he ordered a junior pork meal and only drank tap water—because, you know, it was free.
I just stared at him and asked if he was being serious, because that is some next-level CF energy right there. He shrugged and said the kids meal was massive and why pay adult prices when you can get a solid meal for half the cost?
And to top it off, he actually phoned his friend afterwards to check if it was okay. As if the guy running the pub is going to say, "Actually mate, could you not fleece me next time?"
This isn’t about money—they’re both doing fine. So AIBU to think DH was being a proper cheeky f*?

A lot don't, though, that's the problem.

Might be?! I'd be expected to leave a pub if I was drinking tap water and not eating as I am not, in any way, a paying customer.

In answer to OP's question... I think doing this at all is embarrassingly tight. Doing it in an independent business owned by your friend is absolutely, toe-curlingly mortifying.

I remember that scene and thought it was supposed to demonstrate that Ricky Gervais's character was (in his grief) an absolute, antisocial dick, not that you were supposed to watch it and think 'ah yes, good point'!

Hmmm. I think in that scene it's more of a "I can't be bothered with other peoples crap any more and I no longer care what they think of me" thing.

It was a good point. He was paying less for less food. The woman couldn't even come up with a good reason why he wasn't allowed. It's not a concession, they're not doing him a favour because he's an OAP or he's unemployed. It's less money, less food. He even said he'd just have a coffee for himself and that was apparently fine, which makes no sense as then he'd be ordering even less than if he had a kids meal?
And I think that if the DH went into his friends pub and just had a drink, that would have been more acceptable than having a kids meal, which is weird because it would probably cost more.

It's bad manners. Pubs can't survive if adults do this. It's like going into a cafe by yourself only ordering a coffee and taking up a whole 4 person table. Yes you can do it, yes it's cheaper for you, you might only want a coffee - but that cafe can't survive if lots of people do this.

Do you really think that most of the cost of a meal out is the ingredients? It's not - it's the cost of the people to serve you and cook it, which is clearly not diminished by you eating less.

That's also why just having a drink is much more acceptable - because you haven't got the staff to do all the work of a full meal for you without paying for a full meal.

You wouldn't be allowed to serve alcohol though if you did that.
All licensed premises have to provide free tap water.
It must have been a long time ago you owned your restaurant.

Anyone can have a child's meal where I work. Elderly women often do.
A lot of people just drink tap water as well.

I think it's the fact that your Dh seemed to be gloating about doing it at a mates pub makes him a cf and very unattractive.

Of course the cost of the ingredients is factored into the cost of the meal. That's why beluga caviar is much more than a bowl of chips. That's why a big meal costs more than a small meal. A restaurant offers a variety of meals, with different ingredients and at different sizes and you are entitled to buy and pay for whatever they are offering to you. They are also entitled to set their prices as they wish.

I think it’s absolutely fine for an adult to order a child’s meal, there have been many times where I havent fancied eating a huge adult meal…….however I wouldnt do it just because it was cheaper and a most bragging about it

If youre not that hungry then why pay full price, he makes more sense than paying more just trying to save face.

I’m surprised they let you do this, it’s priced that way for children as they will presumably eat less from the salad bar I think it’s mega cheeky to expect to pay kids prices at anything that is a buffet

It was actually four years ago and I’m fully informed on the law. Customer asks for water, I get them water straight from the tap ( it’s vile and like warm) customer asks for ice and lemon, customer is explained to that there will be a charge for this. Having a restaurant full of people and getting asked for jugs of water is a pain in the arse.

Yes it is fine

Usually kids meals are crap, so for that reason I'd never order them. If I'm not that hungry then I'll get an entree instead

But then again you have a 500% markup on coke and 1000% markup on bottled water.

No self-respecting man I know would behave like this.
It is also very unmanly and unattractive.

Actually embarrassing and beyond tight.

I wish. You also can’t claim any VAT back, you have to buy a product then add 20% VAT, 20% corporation tax and then 20% for profit wages etc, if it doesn’t sell for that price then you don’t buy it.

You can claim back VAT for products you paid VAT.

To my way of thinking, if a significant number of people are doing this, it's very often a sign that the adult portions are too large, rather than people being cheapskates. The portion sizes in many places I've eaten at are just ridiculous. Just to be clear, I'm far from being a competitive MN teeny tiny undereater 😄and I like my food, but the kind of overflowing platefuls you get at some pubs/restaurants are far more than most people would eat at home. I genuinely don't know how people manage to clear their plates at some establishments. Restaurants just shoot themselves in the foot when they provide more food than people can manage, and in that scenario it's their own fault imho if people gravitate towards smaller/cheaper dishes.

Which is usually only alcohol so if you are not licensed then nothing.

It wouldn't even occur to me to be even the slightest bit embarrassed. And I'm still not.

They are offering me a meal I want, at a portion size I want, so I'm buying it without a second thought.

You pay VAT on all bottled drinks.

I did say ‘usually’