"My daughter, who is just a few months shy of turning 17, requested an alcoholic drink with her meal. As someone with a personal license who has completed all the necessary training, I knew this was perfectly legal and was fine with her request. She rarely drinks alcohol, but being on holiday, she was curious to try something new. Unfortunately, when she went to order, she was refused service. The staff explained that, despite the legality, Bella Italia has chosen not to allow this under their licensing policy. That’s fair enough; it’s their choice. She was perfectly content to order a soft drink instead.
Later, my mum ordered a cocktail and mentioned that my daughter could have a sip. She tried a small taste, and I didn’t think much of it—it was just a little bit, and everyone was happy. We were enjoying the evening with good food and great company when the waitress came back to see if we wanted another drink. My mum requested another cocktail, but the waitress informed us that the manager had been watching and knew my daughter had taken a sip, so they might refuse the order.
I explained that it was legal for her to have a small amount with a meal, but the waitress insisted it wasn't their policy. I reassured her that we were responsible adults who wouldn't allow my daughter to drink excessively. Despite this, no drink ever arrived for my mum, and no one returned to our table to clarify or kindly ask us to refrain from allowing my daughter any more sips if we were to order again. This left us feeling as if we had done something very wrong, almost like we were being reprimanded.
In our opinion, the situation could have been managed much better. The manager, Adam, never came over to discuss his decision or clarify the policy; if he had, we would have gladly acknowledged our oversight and moved on. Instead, we felt quite poorly treated, almost with a sense of contempt. If my daughter had been consuming a significant amount of alcohol, I would understand the concern, but the small taste she had was hardly an issue.
Overall, I felt their reaction was excessive and it ultimately spoiled our night. It was unnecessary for the manager to stand there monitoring us in such a way, which made us uncomfortable. We experienced very poor customer service, and the restrictive policy seemed unwarranted. A little communication could have resolved the matter without making us feel so terrible. Sadly, we will not be choosing to dine here again during our time at Center Parcs."
