"Additional Charges for Leaving Children Unattended"... US Restaurant Guidelines Spark Attention

Debate Over Restaurant Measures
"Necessary for Comfortable Dining" vs "Excessive"

A restaurant in the United States is facing controversy for charging extra fees to adults who do not properly take care of their children.

According to USA Today and other sources on the 30th (local time), a restaurant near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Georgia recently began charging additional fees to some customers who do not supervise their children during meals.

In fact, at the bottom of the restaurant's menu, there is a phrase stating, "Additional adult fee: $$$ for adults who do not take care of their children." There is also a phrase saying, "No respect, no service."

The menu does not specify the exact additional amount. However, based on online reviews and other sources, it is estimated to be around $50 (approximately 67,000 KRW).

[Image source = Online community 'Reddit']

Some customers who visited the restaurant with young children reportedly paid the disputed fee.

One customer who left a review for the restaurant said, "The owner said they added $50 to the bill because of the children's behavior," and expressed frustration, saying, "The kids were watching tablets until the food arrived, and while I was paying, my wife took the kids outside." Another customer criticized, "If you have children, avoid this place at all costs."

One customer expressed frustration that they were charged an additional fee for rocking their 4-month-old baby to sleep. He said, "Don't go if you have kids. There were three adults, two children, and a 4-month-old baby, and from the moment we entered the store, they looked at us unfavorably." He added, "Later, when my wife was rocking the baby to sleep, the store manager said, 'You shouldn't do that in a fine dining restaurant.'"

Regarding this measure, netizens responded positively, saying it is a necessary policy for a comfortable dining experience. However, some criticized it as an "excessive measure."

In response to the controversy, the restaurant told local media Atlanta News First, "This guideline was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic but was rarely used," and added, "The additional fee is only charged in particularly bad situations."