Why This Restaurant Has a Strict One-Drink Policy For Parents Dining With Children

A restaurant in Clifton Park, New York is enforcing a one-drink rule for parents who are enjoying meals with their children. While some might assume that Peddlers Bar & Bistro rule that reads “one drink policy while dining with children” is to ensure that parents are capable of keeping rowdy children in line, the policy is actually to keep families safe on the road after the meal is finished.

According to WNEP 16, the policy was instated in 2010 but has been getting attention recently due to an influx interest on social media. Peddlers’ general manager, Melissa Gravelle, says that the rule was created to protect children.

“We love children,” she said. “Everybody loves children and children don’t have a voice. I could never live with myself knowing that I killed somebody driving,” Gravelle said.

While most patrons are respectful of the policy, Gravelle said that there have been times when the waitstaff have been heavily criticized for the rule.

“They do get berated at the tables and some come back very, very upset,” she said said, “but the managers go to the table and they explain, we’re not picking on parents, it’s just something that we feel in our hearts is something that we can do in order to help.”