can a restaurant deny you service based on your age alone?

Question

a friend of my mine's son was eating in a fast food restaurant and had purchased food but did not purchase a drink because he did not have enough money. he is 17 and in highschool. He was with one other friend who had also purchased food. Once my friends son had finished his food he went to the counter and asked if he could have a cup for water. they told him no, they said their restaurant policy is that they do not serve water cups to highshool students between the hours of 2 and 4. my friends son then asked if they could just fill up the cup of water and he would drink it in front of them and he would hand it back to them when he was finished, they still denied him. A few minutes later a family walked in with small children and asked for cups of water and they cashier handed them cups without a problem.

Answer 1

A restaraunt has the ability to deny service to any one for any reason. If they have had a problem with high school kids stopping in after school looking for freebies, I could see why they would institute such a policy. They are in the business of making money, not giving things to people for free. Considering that he did purchase food, they should have, in the interest of customer service, allowed him to drink water, but it was not illegal.

Answer 2

They don't have to give anything away for free if they don't want to. Cups cost money too, why do you think they charge so much for sodas? It's not to pay for the carbonated water and syrup. You probably didn't get the full story as to why they were denied a cup, because the reason you say they got sounds like a bogus thing a high schooler would make up.

Answer 3

Wrong. It sounds like to me that wait person had an attitude towards kids his age. Maybe they have had a problem in the past with teen kids but that treatment to your son was inappropriate and wrong. I dine at several restaurants and I drink a lot of water and I have never been denied or seen friends kids denied. What you need to do is find out who the manager is and talk to them about the treatment. If the manager blows you off then find out who is above him. I recently had a problem at a restaurant and I found out where the corporate headquarters were and I emailed them my complaint. They then called to apologize and sent me 7 $3 certificates to use in their rest. I suggest when you talk to them that you let them know that your friend's son was discriminated against. I wish you well. I would also explain to them that if you are not happy then your friends and neighbors will hear about it and people at work will hear about it and that could damage his future profits.

Answer 4

confident- they could legally deny you service with the aid of being under age. that's not to declare the will - merely that that's available. till you're 18 you're actually not legally answerable for any legally binding settlement. it is the reason you may not take out a private loan or purchase issues on credit, whether you had the money - it ought to be offered for you by making use of an grownup or by making use of a have faith. If a eating place denies you service for being under age 18 that's with the aid of fact in case you do not pay - they gained't have the potential to get the money from you. they could call the police, and the police will probable take you lower back on your dad and mom and inspire them to pay - yet legally there is not any settlement shaped between a minor and the eating place like there is with adults. maximum places will enable it, despite the fact that - yet they're nicely interior their rights to refuse.

Answer 5

He should have ordered water when he ordered his food, I do it all the time. If they refuse him, then he should tell them that they are discriminating against him because of his age and that his parenting will be contacting an attorney because it is illegal to discriminate against a person because of age, race, relgion, sex or sexual orientation. Also, if that is the restaurant's policy it should be posted in a promintent place so that the kids know that before hand. I bet it isn't posted because the managers know that it is against the law. Your friend should write to the manager or owner and inform them that their policy is against federal law and then send their son back in about a week later to order a cup for water. If they still deny him, talk to an attorney.

Answer 6

Well, really, a restaurant reserves the right to refuse service to anyone... for whatever reason.

What they did is lame and I would probably find other ways to let them know that. Was it a chain restaurant? If so, write the main office. If I were you, I would also just talk to them directly and let them know how disappointed you are in their service. And heck, why not write a letter to the editor of your local paper exposing what they did.

Usually if a place thinks they will lose business, they are quick to apologize and remedy the situation.

Answer 7

I would suspect that this could be discrimination. I advise you to contact the corporation directly.Explain to them what transpired and give them the address and name of the person who told you this. Then document, all this each time you go into the restaurant.See if it changes after you make the complaint.. if it doesn't there is probable cause for a discrimination suit

Answer 8

if i was you i wouldn't go back there and tell your friends to do the same!! if you and enuff of your friends do that i bet you can get that policey change..hurt them in the pocketbook

Answer 9

Absolutly not unless he sat at the bar.

Answer 10

yes they can deny u service for any reason becase your on there property