Cafe’s reply to my review - is it any wonder places are struggling?

[KatieWa]

I reviewed a lovely cafe I visited last week whilst on holiday in Devon. I was really complimentary about the breakfast and said we found the service to be friendly and efficient. My review ended by suggesting the sign above the door isn’t overly appropriate - it stated ‘nobody leaves sober’. As someone who has a family member who has had numerous alcohol issues over the years I found this poor taste, and diplomatically worded this in the review.

The owner (publicly) replied to my review and said that’s the first feedback they’ve ever had about the sign and suggested everyone else has had a sense of humour when they’ve seen it.

I don’t think it’s a situation to make light of - is it any wonder the sector is on its knees struggling currently with this sort of attitude from a business owner?

I think it’s pretty widely recognised internationally that a lot of Brits have a messed up attitude towards drinking and how ‘hilarious’ it is to get shitfaced. And I totally understand how you feel given your personal situation. But IMO yes you were BU to make an issue of it in a review, because those attitudes are so incredibly widespread beyond a single cafe. Singling out a small business isn’t the way to do it. If this is something you really feel strongly about, have a google and see if there’s a relevant charity that works with people affected by alcoholism, or lobbies the government for different laws around the sale of alcohol, or lobbies the media for a different representation of what it means to get drunk a lot, or whatever feels meaningful to you.

OP could also have "taken it on the chin and not got offended.

Works both ways.

So because you don't have an issue with the sign, despite your father in laws death to alcoholism, the sign is absolutely fine and those of us who also have lost relatives or friends to alcoholism need to get a grip? Ok, who made YOU the boss of how we all should feel?

Your being utterly ridiculous tbh
everyone is looking for reasons to be offended these days
good grief

I agree. OP, I'm clearly in the minority but I agree with you.

So because some people are alcoholics the rest of society has to stifle their humour?

You voiced your views OP, but expect the owner not to voice theirs?

Some cafes are wine bars in the evenings, and even if not, if you don't like a place you don't go back.

You gave feedback that wasn't welcome, you move on.

Doubt the sign or her reply to you is why the sector is on its knees.

Would you complain if you saw a sign saying ‘You don’t have to be mad to work here but it helps!’ Because it’s offensive to those suffering from mental health problems?

Would complain if you saw a sign in a pub that said ‘Dogs welcome but children to be kept on leads’ in case it offends any patrons who were abused as children?

OP you are being utterly utterly ridiculous.

A cafe I go to has a picture of blue tits on the wall and says ‘nice tits’. My children titter at it when we go there as it’s a bit of fun. I feel truly sorry for the owners for having to deal with reviews like this. Offensive to alcoholics! Jesus, have a day off.

Someone I know was hit by a car - I can’t get angry at every picture I see of a racing car…

Someone Is always offended about something these days. When did we all get so uptight?

The sign wouldn't bother me but the response of the cafe to your review would. I don't like places that are unnecessarily snarky

sigh ... maybe consider other people exist outside of your experience OP.

He shouldn't even have commented on this.

Your review was enough to embarrass you. You don't have to find it funny (I don't!) but you are ridiculous.

I agree with you OP.

I remember buying food from a food van at a local festival when I noticed it had a ‘humorous’ crack about people with allergies pinned over the menu.

It wasn’t amusing. At all.
It was really quite nasty.

We’d recently been in hospital with DC who’d had an anaphylactic reaction to a food a few days before.

If they’d had a similar sort of ‘joke’ about, say, people in wheelchairs being unable to access their food truck there would have been absolute outrage.

I’d absolutely no problem with the menu not being suitable btw, but anaphylaxis really isn’t funny. Neither is alcoholism.

Blimey, here we go again, the minority attempting to usurp the majority or impose their view as 'its more important'. It's a humorous sign, some people will laugh, some won't. Just as some people will speed in their cars and some wont - shall we ban cars?
This whole 'I'm offended' when it's nothing in the big picture of life, is surely why we as a country are quickly going down a creek with out the paddles - (obviously wearing the correct safety gear, and phoning the lawyers because the paddles weren't secured to us whilst we were paddling!)

Not everyone who isn’t ‘sober’ is an alcoholic. Did you not know that?

you feel whatever you want to feel. It doesn't matter. It should have no impact on other people.

Yes, you also need to get a grip.

Slightly ironic that you are allowed to give your view to the cafe but don’t think they have the right to do the same back

If I saw a reply to a comment like yours I would make a point of going to the cafe to give them support as I like that they don’t put up with ridiculous nonsense

Alcoholism has torn my family apart.

if you don’t know how that feels, then count yourself bloody lucky.

Signs like that aren’t funny and are indicative of this country’s appalling relationship with boozing.

I didn't say it did, the poster I was replying to was the one telling others to get a grip.

I can’t imagine getting upset enough about any sign, unless it was obviously racist / sexist / homophobic etc, to bother mentioning it in a review.

I wouldn’t find the sign particularly funny (one of our local cafes has various “wine o”clock” type signs which I also inwardly eye roll at), but sometimes you just need to move on and not go there again if it upsets you that much.

Running a hospitality business sucks. It’s one of the most thankless jobs in the world and the hardest job I’ve ever had. Maybe focus your review on the actual food and service because whinging about the decor makes the actual humans on the other end of the review feel like they can never win. 🤷‍♀️

But the majority of people can get drunk on occasion, and not be an alcoholic? Just because a minority can’t, doesn’t mean that we have to wipe out every sign or statement which references over indulging on alcohol.

I wouldn’t have found the sign offensive. But I don’t know why businesses bother to defend themselves against comments like this that are clearly just a difference of opinion.

If someone has posted something very damaging or that’s a downright lie in a review, yes, address it. For this? A simple “We’re sorry to hear you didn’t like the sign - hopefully it won’t put you off visiting us again!” comment would suffice.