Northern Georgia restaurant sparks debate with "bad parenting" fee for unruly kids

For those working in the hospitality sector, it is universally acknowledged that Sundays are typically the busiest and most challenging day of the week. An uncontrollable influx of customers — namely, families with children who are sometimes notorious, noisy and troublesome — can make the day extra stressful. While it's true that not all customers should be tarred with the same brush, the reality isn't always as forgiving. This issue has led a restaurant in Georgia to take a stand.

It's a well-known fact in the hospitality world, and evident from numerous instances on the internet: not all children behave well in restaurants. This issue has been broached several times, and the consensus often leans towards an agreement that it's not the children who should be held accountable in these scenarios, but rather the adults who are responsible for their offspring, especially when they take them to a restaurant.

Those who neglect their duty to manage their underage wards could face a nasty surprise at the mountain restaurant, Toccoa Riverside, which imposes a "bad parenting" fee. As deduced from Reddit and Google reports, this fine is far from negligible, even though its precise determination is undefined.

Delish.com reports that Toccoa Riverside Restaurant has been upfront about this policy by listing an unruly children fee on their menu. It's not concealed, rather, it's noticeably emphasized. The ambiguity is in the unspecified amount of the penalty. A Google review gives an idea of its enforcement:

"The owner informed me that he was adding an extra $50 to my bill due to my children's behavior. My children were using a tablet until the meal arrived and after eating, my wife took them outside while I waited and paid the bill."

The unusual practice of this American restaurant sparked an emotional debate among Reddit users. Judging by the comments highlighted by Delish, most users seem to agree that although such penalties hold weight, the restaurant may have overstepped with the amount.