Is This a Case of Discrimination?

[NeedleCast]

Story on another blog site. I am summarizing.

Group of people go to a bar-n-grill type restaurant. The tables in the bar area are all "high-stool" type seating (you've probably seen this type of seating at a chili's or Ruby Tuesday's type bar area). One of the members of the party is an elderly person who can't sit on the the high stool bar seats. The party sits and eats in the main dining area.

At the end of the meal, the table presents a coupon of some type. On the coupon it clearly indicates that it is only valid in the bar area of the restaurant. Party argues that because they have a person with a physical disability, they can't sit in the bar area but should be able to use the coupon anyway.

Are coupons of this type discriminatory?

If the restaurant refuses the coupon, is it discriminatory?

[Captain Hilts]

1. Not if they offer to validate it at the table. nt

[Turbineguy]

2. Maybe they just didn't think

too deeply about it. To me the implication is that you get to eat something free, but they want you to buy drinks. Or, they want more people to eat in the bar area.

[NeedleCast]

5. This is probably the case as far as the coupon is concerned

It's a local bar and grill that doesn't do a lot of paper advertising. The coupon was for a free appetizer in the bar area and is, as you said, an attempt to bring up their alcohol sales.

[Stevenmarc]

3. They should have brought it to managements attention before they sat down.

Waiting till after they finished eating has the appearance that they are trying to get over on the restaurant.

[Ikonoklast]

4. Yes.

It would have been easy to do so before being seated.

[slackmaster]

7. Yes

Exactly right. Coupons should always be presented before you place your order.

[GinaMaria]

6. It probably never came up when they were planning

the coupon special. It's important to alert management and even Corp HQ about situations like this, so they can expand their thinking in all areas of customer service. Businesses are always looking for ways to engage customers and understand their needs better. Businesses appreciate the feedback and if the coupon was not accepted, they may send you a check for your trouble.

[ColbertWatcher]

8. If this really happened ...

... perhaps this "restaurant" could use some internet attention, which could assist them in figuring out if they have to be such hard-asses when it comes to their "policy."

[ZombieHorde]

9. Sounds like non malicious discrimination.

An improved coupon would read; "Free appetizer with purchase of one of these fine drinks."