White Castle is selling beer and wine in Indiana, as a test. Burker King opened a restaurant in Miami that sells beer, and Starbucks has also been selling beer and wine at a few places, according to the story.
I’m curious what public opinion (well, at least Doper opinion) is on this.
Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea? Why?
I should clarify a bit: it’s not a White Castle that is currently selling beer; it’s a White Castle Blaze restaurant, that mainly serves BBQ.
A few of them already do - Taco Cabana (a mexican chain in Texas) sells beer and margaritas.
No. I don’t think places renowned for being mostly staffed by teenagers should sell alcohol. Way too likely that they’ll covertly get beer into their friends’ hands.
No.
Lots of Chipotle locations sell beer and margies as well.
Oh noes! Teenagers drinking! (You know 18-year-olds can be liquor-slinging bartenders in most states, right?)
yeah, like that’s any different than convenience stores staffed by teenagers. I don’t see the big deal. It’s like a few years ago, people raised a stink because a few area gas stations got a license to sell beer and wine. These people were all up in arms about how we were facing an epidemic of drunk driving.
I was like, “don’t people usually drive to the liquor store to buy beer anyway?”
No way. What do people do after getting fast food? They drive. Not a good idea.
I’d probably try a McBeer for a dollar if I was desperate enough.
what do people do after they go to a bar, or Buffalo Wild Wings, or dinner with cocktails? They drive.
what’s the fucking difference?
[quote=“friedo, post:6, topic:607024”]
Oh noes! Teenagers drinking! **(You know 18-year-olds can be liquor-slinging bartenders in most states, right?)[/**QUOTE]
Well, Indiana was mentioned. You have to be 21 to even touch the glasses that alcohol (including beer and wine) was served in until they’ve been washed, IIRC. When I worked in the restaurant biz up there, we had to have enough over 21 bus staff to clean tables where folks had been imbibing. Under 21 couldn’t even go into the bar room. Things may have changed a bit, but they’re still pretty uptight about liquor there.
The time factor. Fast food, you’re in and out in 15-20 min. tops. Regular restaurant, an hour or two.
The fact that a bar is specifically designed to keep people in for a period of time. You hang out at a bar, you don’t just get a drink to go. The entire point of fast food is that they want you out as quick as possible. It’s even in the decor.
I’m against selling open alcohol in any to-go type circumstance. It’s basically an invitation to drink and drive. The only alcohol that can be purchased quickly should be closed until you get to your drinking destination.
As for teenagers: remember, fast food workers are often 15 (with special license) or 16. It’s not my favorite argument against, but don’t pretend like we’re dealing with 18 year olds. The maturity gap between 15-18 is extremely large.
Thanks guys for answering the question. There are plenty of places where folks can grab a quick bite and a pint. IMHO, we don’t need more.
When I think of a psychoactive accompaniment to White Castle sliders, alcohol ain’t it. In fact, alcohol just makes them slide back up, doesn’t it?
I don’t have any strong feelings one way or another, but I don’t think it would fly here in flyover land since it would disqualify a large portion of the fast-food employment pool from working in those locations. It would also mean fast-food chains would have to take on the responsibility of checking IDs and the liability involved if they screw that up, and I doubt they’d be willing to take those risks.
yes, and? You (the general “you”) stay in a bar longer and drink more.
show me that it’s actually a problem before you insist on banning it.
Uh-huh, sure.
you need to show how it’s a problem before you try to ban it. “It’s OMG scary” isn’t good enough.
Fast food places are often the first job of many teens. Teens have big problems finding work, and fast food is often the only place willing to hire with no experience.
With the present laws separating underage people from alcohol service, the job market for teens would shrink down to damned near nothing.
Fast food places are often teen hangouts.
There are enough places dispensing alcohol already. IMHO, let the fast food places continue to serve unhealthy foods in vast quantities at low prices. Leave the brain pickling to other venues.
~VOW
you need to actually show how it’s a problem before you ban it. “VOW doesn’t like it” is not sufficient.
I don’t think it’s a good idea. There really aren’t enough places that do it currently to point out a “problem”, but there are potential downsides that have already been mentioned. Cutting job opportinuities for teens, more potential for drinking and driving, worries about enforcement of age restrictions, etc.
I don’t have to worry about it. I live in Georgia. It won’t happen here in my lifetime.