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Thursday, March 22, 2012

It's Not My Fault you're an Idiot.

People never fail to amaze me, especially when I am at my waitressing job.  I had yet another group of people that lacked any kind of sense at all and should never be allowed to go out in public. 

It was this past Friday night and I was told I would be waiting on a large table.  Good, no problem, might make some money.  They all arrived on time and were seated by our lovely hostesses and I was rejoicing in the fact that there were no small children with them.  It is always my luck that when I get large parties it is all kids which means kid meals and constant drink refills.  Not to mention the parents rarely control them and it is just a suck fest in general.  However, by the end of the night I would have preferred the kids.

Turns out these people were here to celebrate one of the guest's 21st birthday.  That was another good sign.  Booze equals tips, generally.  I start taking drink orders and the girl whose birthday it was ordered her drink and I asked for ID, just like I had every other person that ordered.  She hands me her license and I knew I was in trouble.  Turns out that her birthday was the previous day and that her license had expired at midnight on her birthday.  It is against the law for me to accept the ID.  I informed her that it was expired and asked if she had anything else.  She told me she went and got her license renewed and handed me the piece of paper the RMV gives you until your license arrives.  Problem is I can't take that either.  It states in big black writing across it THIS IS NOT A VALID FORM OF ID.

Now I have 24 pissed off people.  I asked if she had a passport but it turns out she left it at home.  Her parents informed that they were there when she was born and could vouch for her.  Ah....ya.....the State of Massachusetts doesn't consider that a valid form of ID either.  I told them they could talk to the manager and they were happy with that as they figured they would get him to approve.

I ran over and got my manager and filled him it.  He went right over and the girl's drunk boyfriend got in his face.  Then the parents gave it to him.  He explained the policy of the restaurant and the laws in the State.  They countered him with "they accepted it at Chili's".  Well good for Chili's, let them get screwed.  They informed the manager that they were going to go to the bar next door and he said they could try but it wouldn't be accepted there.  They called the bar and were told again that they would not be let in.  So they were stuck.

They stayed and ate dinner. They were pissed at me the whole time and it was a very crappy night because of it.  I can't understand why people don't get that the law is the law.  If I had served her and been caught I would have been fined $2000.  Yes, me, not the restaurant.  Granted the restaurant would be fined as well, maybe even lose their liquor license but they wouldn't have to pay MY fine.  I don't understand why people would be willing to put a hard working waitress in that position over a drink.

So there it was, another stellar night in my life.  One of these day I will win the lottery and won't have to deal with crap like this anymore.  Someday soon I hope.

14 comments:

  1. And I quote, "This job would be great of it weren't for the fucking customers."

    She knew she was turning 21, her birthday falls on the same date every year, her license expires the same date every 5(?) years, which coincedentialy is probably her birthday. She had plenty of time to renew her license before turning 21, she was probably too wrapped up in her "school" work to remember. I'm suuuurrreee this was her first drink and she never drank before turning 21... What and assclown.

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    1. Well I am guessing that she didn't renew it sooner for the same reason so many kids don't. If they renew it before they are actually 21 it will say on it Under 21 until...... Whatever their birthday is. They don't want that for 5 more years so they wait. It is stupid and I see it all the time.

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  2. Coming from the health insurance underwriting industry, I know that people tend to think THEIR situation falls into some special grey area, when really the answers are black & white. You either are eligible or you are not. I deal with stuff/people like this all the time at work too, just in a completely different context.

    I too wish people would stop shooting the messengers in cases like this... We didn't make the rules, but our livelihoods depend on us following them. So annoying!

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    1. So true Heather. Nice to see it is in all walks of life, not just mine.

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  3. Not so long ago, I went with a friend to a restaurant. When we both ordered drinks we were asked for our ID's. (I'm well over 30, pushing 40 so I was shocked.) As I reached for my wallet I remembered that I hadn't brought my license with me. The waitress very politely told me she couldn't serve me then. I completely understood her position and would never have pushed the issue. It's the law for crying out loud and I sure as heck wasn't going to tip her enough to pay for any ticket she might get! Stand tall, you did the right thing and sounds like this group were a bunch of idiots!

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    1. Thanks Kathy!!!! The funny thing is and most people don't realize it, by law a server has the right to refuse ANYBODY without and ID, even if they are 100 years old. I wish there were more cool people out there like you.

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  4. I deal with those same types of people. I work retail and there are a ton of things we (and the state) require VALID ID for. Some people seem to take the request for valid ID as an insult. One guy stormed out insisting I should go, ummm, service myself because I wouldn't accept his failure to appear as a valid ID to cash a check....

    Retail makes me hate people more than I am naturally inclined to do.

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    1. Working as a waitress had seriously made me hate people so I hear what you are saying.

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  5. You absolutely did the right thing and kudos to you! My kids have worked in the service industry and 4 times they prevailed "stings" and got bonuses for it. And now my daughter owns a pub of her own and she's the ID nazi! The fines for everyone are so steep and sadly servers rarely make enough to cover their own living expenses let alone fines on top of it! Good for you. Made for a shitty night but at least you weren't fined. Did they tip you??? I ALWAYS tip well. My kids gave me the low down on tipping years ago and every time I see a server I think of my own kids and I know the importance of a that extra few bucks in your wallet.

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    1. Love you Mimi. ANd large parties have a tip automatically added on.

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  6. You crack me up, chick - just read this a second time. I was a server, once upon a time, in the restaurant of a home for the aged.... I could tell you stories that would make you beg for tables of 10 + kids, lol.... Well, maybe not :)

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    1. OH goodness I think I would shoot myself if I had that job.

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  7. HAHA it is never a better night next time I work.

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  8. Good job standing tall! As a legal professional, I deal with people all the time who cave in thinking the laws don't apply to them or they won't be caught...wrong! Then, in addition to fines and/or probation and jail time, they have to pay attorney fees.

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