① U.S. Restaurant Fines Adults for Poor Child Supervision
Recently, a restaurant in the United States sparked controversy by imposing an extra charge on adults who fail to supervise their children. The incident came to light after a disgruntled customer visited a restaurant in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia and complained about the additional fee.
The customer posted a picture of the restaurant’s menu on the popular U.S. online community Reddit and a message stating, “I was fined for poor child supervision.”
The menu read, “Adult surcharge: $$$ for adults who do not supervise their children,” accompanied by the phrase, “No respect, no service.”
Although a specific amount is not listed, various reviews show that the additional charge is roughly 50 dollars.
While some customers have responded positively to this measure, considering it a fair step towards ensuring a comfortable dining experience for all, others have expressed dissatisfaction, deeming the charge unfair.
One customer who visited the restaurant wrote in a Google review, “Avoid this place if you have kids. They charged us an extra 50 dollars because our children were running around the restaurant.”
Another user warned, “Don’t go if you have a child. We were three adults, two kids, and a 4-month-old baby, and they gave us dirty looks from the moment we walked in.”
The user further revealed, “My wife was rocking our baby (to keep her from crying and put her to sleep), and the manager told us that it’s inappropriate in a fine-dining restaurant.”
In response to the controversy, the restaurant defended its position, stating, “Our restaurant is not a fast-food joint” and “We have nothing further to say about this matter as it has been our policy for years.”
However, the restaurant told local media outlet Atlanta News that “this guideline was implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic but was rarely used” and that “an extra charge would only be applied in horrible situations.”
Regardless of the necessity of this guideline, many uncertainties remain, such as whether it is still being enforced at the restaurant, what criteria are used to impose the charge, and exactly how much customers are expected to pay.
② The Spread of ‘No Kids Zone’ in South Korea
Some netizens who came across this issue commented, “Why not just make it a ‘No Kids Zone’ instead of going to such lengths?” criticizing the measure as excessive.
South Korea is a country that cannot be overlooked when discussing the ‘No Kids Zone’ controversy. Recently, the Washington Post (WP) drew attention to the spread of the ‘No Kids Zone’ in South Korea.
In an article titled ‘Is it discrimination if children cannot be taken to a restaurant?’ WP discussed the controversy over the ‘No Kids Zone.’ The article introduced the case of lawmaker Yong Hye-in, who was prevented from entering a café with her child after giving birth due to the café being a ‘No Kids Zone.’
WP reported that in South Korea, there are about 500 ‘No Kids Zones,’ where children are not allowed to enter, besides areas like bars and nightclubs.
‘No Kids Zone’ emerged in South Korea about ten years ago. It was triggered by the inappropriate behavior of parents who left used diapers in restaurants or ignored their children’s disturbances indoors, which caused social outrage when it was shared on social media.
Of course, the controversy over ‘No Kids Zone’ is not unique to South Korea. Similar debates are taking place in the United States, as well as in the United Kingdom, Canada, and Germany.
Etihad Airways, an international airline, offers an option to choose seats away from child passengers. Some museums and libraries also restrict the minimum age of visitors.
However, Heike Schänzel, a professor of tourism at Auckland University of Technology, pointed out that this issue needs to be handled carefully.
This is because children are regarded not as members of a healthy society but as a lifestyle choice. She expressed concern that ‘No Kids Zone’ policies could further narrow the space for families who choose to have children.
③ Jeju Island’s ‘No Kids Zone Ban Ordinance’
South Korea has the lowest birth rate in the world. In such a country, the increase in spaces that restrict child entry can make child-rearing more complex, which could discourage childbirth even further.
Despite much controversy and concern over banning child entry, ‘No Kids Zone’ is spreading nationwide in South Korea. Jeju Island has about 80 ‘No Kids Zone’ businesses, the second-highest number in the country.
The number of businesses declaring ‘No Kids Zone’ is increasing due to conflicts between owners and customers over children’s property damage and parents’ neglect.
Amid this, earlier this year, the so-called ‘No Kids Zone Ban Ordinance’ was first proposed in the Jeju Provincial Council. As the name suggests, the ordinance prohibits businesses in Jeju from setting up ‘No Kids Zones’ that prevent customers with infants or children from entering.
The proposal sparked a renewed debate over the ‘No Kids Zone.’ Shin Kyung-geun, head of Jeju Comprehensive Social Welfare, pointed out that “excessive sanctions against children can have a significant impact on their growth into adulthood.”
He also argued that “Jeju should eliminate ‘No Kids Zone’ as it could lead to a negative image of Jeju.”
On the other hand, Kang Ha-young, a lawmaker from the People Power Party, who identified herself as a mother, argued that “the starting point of ‘No Kids Zone’ is not with the child.”
She also said, “Primary responsibility lies with the parents who neglect their child’s reckless and dangerous behavior.” She pointed out that “due to court rulings that the business owner must compensate for accidents caused by this, business owners have no choice but to choose ‘No Kids Zone.'”
The ‘No Kids Zone Ban Ordinance,’ once tabled, was discussed again at the 420th session of the Jeju Provincial Council in September.
The Health and Welfare Committee first changed the name of the ordinance from ‘No Kids Zone Designation Prohibition’ to ‘No Kids Zone Spread Prevention.’ Then, the committee drastically revised the ordinance’s content, including activating child-friendly businesses (Yes Kids Zone), and passed the ordinance.
As a result, any content punishing or disadvantaging businesses operating ‘No Kids Zone’ was removed from the ordinance. This could render the ordinance effectively dead, becoming a nominal ordinance with no real impact.
The ordinance includes content aimed at improving perceptions of children, which have become negative due to the spread of the ‘No Kids Zone.’ It includes support measures such as conducting ‘campaigns’ targeting parents and children.
A restaurant in the United States imposes an additional charge on adults who do not supervise their children. South Korea’s ‘No Kids Zone’ restricts children’s entry to prevent accidents caused by children’s dangerous behavior and parental neglect.
While the U.S. and South Korea take different approaches, they face similar situations. Both cases underscore the need for moral education for children and their guardians and the need to improve perceptions of children.
By. Seo Sung Min
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