Parenting Price Tag At Restaurant

A restaurant in Georgia, USA, has sparked a debate online after implementing a "parent surcharge" policy for unruly children. The Toccoa Riverside Restaurant in Blue Ridge has added a line to its menu stating that there will be a surcharge "For adults unable to parent." This means that parents may be charged an extra fee if their children misbehave at the restaurant.

Restaurant owner Tim Richter explains that the surcharge has been in place since the COVID-19 pandemic, but it recently gained attention when a group of parents left negative reviews online after being warned about the policy.

One parent wrote that the owner came out to their table and threatened to add $50 to their bill because of their children's behavior. Richter clarified that the $50 surcharge was meant to address the issue of excessively loud children. However, he also stated that the group was never actually charged the fee and was simply given a warning.

While some have criticized the policy as discriminatory, others have expressed support for the idea. One patron even drove over an hour to visit the restaurant specifically because of the rule.

The restaurant's menu also includes other unusual fees, such as an 18% gratuity charge for groups that split their bill and a $3 fee for sharing a main course dish. These additional charges have also drawn mixed reactions from customers.

The "parent surcharge" policy has undoubtedly generated buzz and controversy, but it remains to be seen whether it will have a lasting impact on the restaurant's business.

Questions

1.

What are your thoughts on the Toccoa Riverside Restaurant's parent surcharge?

2. Do you agree that the fee is discriminatory or do you think it's fair?

3. How do you think restaurant staff should deal with badly behaved children?

4. How do you feel when you're at a restaurant and there are badly behaved children at nearby tables?

5. What would you say is the hardest thing about parenting?