It's been a long week and now that it's Friday night you're headed out to your favorite restaurant, meeting up with friends, and plan on enjoying a nice, relaxing dinner. Sounds like just what the doctor ordered, right? Now what if I told you that to go along with your Filet Mignon and Chardonnay would be the musical accompaniment of (1) an off-key baby crying, (2) a four-year-old screaming at the top of their lungs, and (3) a five-year-old whining and banging silverware? Sounds like the doctor needs to order you some sort of pain reliever. All of a sudden the word 'take-out' has a nice ring to it.
For most, screaming and whining kids only add a bit of irritation to the general ambience, but for those who are in close proximity to an unended onslaught of squawking, a relaxing evening can instantly morph into aggravation.
Experiences like the one I just described have prompted several businesses to enact a 'Brat-ban', or no-children policy. For example, at McDain's Restaurant in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, owner Mike Vuick has just announced a ban on children under six at his casual dining establishment. After receiving noise complaints from customers about crying kids at neighboring tables, Vuick decided to institute the policy which went into effect July 16, 2011.
In an e-mail to customers, Vuick explained: "We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers." The owner of the "upscale, casual, quiet" restaurant, explains he's got nothing against kids in general, but their endless screams at public dinner tables are "the height of being impolite and selfish."
Last year, Olde Salty's Restaurant made a similar decision. Owner Brenda Armes posted a sign that read "Screaming children will not be tolerated", making it clear to parents when their kids scream, they'll be asked to take it outside. Armes said the move has boosted business, and Vuick is confident his ban will benefit his business as well.
Eateries are not the only business to take such action. Airlines such as Ryanair and Malaysia Air have banned babies from their First Class flights. The Alamo Drafthouse Theatres franchise has banned children under the age of six from entering their establishments. Certain travel websites offer child free hotels and vacation spots. A townhome complex in central Florida even wants to ban children from playing outside!
Understandably, not everyone is on board. Some Monroeville, PA locals are offended by McDain Restaurant's actions feeling that they are being singled out for having young kids, and are now pointing fingers at noisy adults. "If they're so concerned about noise, what do they plan to do about the loud people at the bar?" asks one local resident. In addition, some parents consider the move discriminatory, and potentially a violation of rights for certain special needs kids.
This leads to some better questions: Have we gone too far? Are we being a bit unreasonable here? Do we forget that at one time we were a screaming child too? Well let's keep a few facts in mind:
(1) There is a demand for such provisions: In a recent survey conducted by airline Ryanair 50 percent of its fliers said they would pay more money to not listen to children crying during their flight. Statistics also reveal that there are 27 million married but childless couples in the US alone. Just keep in mind that doesn't include all of the unmarried consumers out there.
(2) It isn't illegal for businesses to enact such policies: Remember no race or religion is being violated here.
(3) Such actions are taken for the purpose of profit: A business enacts such policies because they hate children and feel that they are a curse to society and we should all castrate ourselves....I'm just kidding of course. It's so that they can build a stronger customer base and increase profits for the year.
(4) Consider the genre of the restaurant making these changes: If you're taking your kids to the local TGI Friday's, no problemo. But a steak and ale house? Really? Needless to say, the majority of restaurants are kid friendly and have special menus that will leave your tiny tot cooing with joy. However, should we really expect all eateries to be set up in such a manner? McDain's in Monroeville? I checked out their Web site and it turns out their restaurant is an add-on to a golf course. So unless your four-year-old can hit like Tiger Woods (and please let me know if they can) McDain's has no reason to cater to parents with children.
Furthermore, keep in mind that our society as a whole is set up for parents and their children. The vast majority of businesses are parent/kid friendly. The examples listed earlier are exceptions, not the norm.
With that in mind try to look at it from a small business' perspective. Here they are trying to stay alive during these tough economic times, always looking for ways to improve their product and appeal. Places like McDain's are trying to cater to their main clientle, golfers. Are we really so quick then to persecute a business for trying to strengthen their customer base and make more money? Also, doesn't it come down to the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children behave while they eat, even doing things like taking them outside if they start misbehaving?
Being an individual who has no children I appreciate the efforts of businesses to make dining (or whatever it may be) more pleasurable for me. And let's face it, after taking a flight from Dallas to Newark with a child screaming, crying, and kicking my seat the entire flight I am more inclined to take a first class flight in the future. Parents would do well to remember that childless people have just as many rights as they do. Some parents might be convinced that their rights are being violated by businesses like McDain's and Olde Salty's. Yet if they feel so strongly, wouldn't their best recourse be to never set foot in those establishments again? Alternately, for the more reasonable, have you ever heard of a baby-sitter? You might surprise yourself with how pleasant dinner at a nice restaurant can be without the 'whine and dine' service you've built up a tolerance for.
In the end, a nice middle ground for diners, parents, and restaurant owners alike is to leave the kids at home when going to an 'upscale' restaurant. Sound's like a win-win situation for everyone.
-Inceptor
Experiences like the one I just described have prompted several businesses to enact a 'Brat-ban', or no-children policy. For example, at McDain's Restaurant in Monroeville, Pennsylvania, owner Mike Vuick has just announced a ban on children under six at his casual dining establishment. After receiving noise complaints from customers about crying kids at neighboring tables, Vuick decided to institute the policy which went into effect July 16, 2011.
In an e-mail to customers, Vuick explained: "We feel that McDain's is not a place for young children. Their volume can't be controlled and many, many times, they have disturbed other customers." The owner of the "upscale, casual, quiet" restaurant, explains he's got nothing against kids in general, but their endless screams at public dinner tables are "the height of being impolite and selfish."
Last year, Olde Salty's Restaurant made a similar decision. Owner Brenda Armes posted a sign that read "Screaming children will not be tolerated", making it clear to parents when their kids scream, they'll be asked to take it outside. Armes said the move has boosted business, and Vuick is confident his ban will benefit his business as well.
Eateries are not the only business to take such action. Airlines such as Ryanair and Malaysia Air have banned babies from their First Class flights. The Alamo Drafthouse Theatres franchise has banned children under the age of six from entering their establishments. Certain travel websites offer child free hotels and vacation spots. A townhome complex in central Florida even wants to ban children from playing outside!
Understandably, not everyone is on board. Some Monroeville, PA locals are offended by McDain Restaurant's actions feeling that they are being singled out for having young kids, and are now pointing fingers at noisy adults. "If they're so concerned about noise, what do they plan to do about the loud people at the bar?" asks one local resident. In addition, some parents consider the move discriminatory, and potentially a violation of rights for certain special needs kids.
This leads to some better questions: Have we gone too far? Are we being a bit unreasonable here? Do we forget that at one time we were a screaming child too? Well let's keep a few facts in mind:
(1) There is a demand for such provisions: In a recent survey conducted by airline Ryanair 50 percent of its fliers said they would pay more money to not listen to children crying during their flight. Statistics also reveal that there are 27 million married but childless couples in the US alone. Just keep in mind that doesn't include all of the unmarried consumers out there.
(2) It isn't illegal for businesses to enact such policies: Remember no race or religion is being violated here.
(3) Such actions are taken for the purpose of profit: A business enacts such policies because they hate children and feel that they are a curse to society and we should all castrate ourselves....I'm just kidding of course. It's so that they can build a stronger customer base and increase profits for the year.
(4) Consider the genre of the restaurant making these changes: If you're taking your kids to the local TGI Friday's, no problemo. But a steak and ale house? Really? Needless to say, the majority of restaurants are kid friendly and have special menus that will leave your tiny tot cooing with joy. However, should we really expect all eateries to be set up in such a manner? McDain's in Monroeville? I checked out their Web site and it turns out their restaurant is an add-on to a golf course. So unless your four-year-old can hit like Tiger Woods (and please let me know if they can) McDain's has no reason to cater to parents with children.
(I know all the parents reading this are ready to strangle me)
Furthermore, keep in mind that our society as a whole is set up for parents and their children. The vast majority of businesses are parent/kid friendly. The examples listed earlier are exceptions, not the norm.
With that in mind try to look at it from a small business' perspective. Here they are trying to stay alive during these tough economic times, always looking for ways to improve their product and appeal. Places like McDain's are trying to cater to their main clientle, golfers. Are we really so quick then to persecute a business for trying to strengthen their customer base and make more money? Also, doesn't it come down to the responsibility of the parents to make sure their children behave while they eat, even doing things like taking them outside if they start misbehaving?
Being an individual who has no children I appreciate the efforts of businesses to make dining (or whatever it may be) more pleasurable for me. And let's face it, after taking a flight from Dallas to Newark with a child screaming, crying, and kicking my seat the entire flight I am more inclined to take a first class flight in the future. Parents would do well to remember that childless people have just as many rights as they do. Some parents might be convinced that their rights are being violated by businesses like McDain's and Olde Salty's. Yet if they feel so strongly, wouldn't their best recourse be to never set foot in those establishments again? Alternately, for the more reasonable, have you ever heard of a baby-sitter? You might surprise yourself with how pleasant dinner at a nice restaurant can be without the 'whine and dine' service you've built up a tolerance for.
In the end, a nice middle ground for diners, parents, and restaurant owners alike is to leave the kids at home when going to an 'upscale' restaurant. Sound's like a win-win situation for everyone.
-Inceptor
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