Eating (and Drinking) Good in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood

In mixup, toddler served alcohol at Applebee's restaurant, police say
By Leigh Remizowski, CNN

A 15-month-old was hospitalized after a behind-the-bar mix-up at a Michigan Applebee's restaurant that left the toddler sipping alcohol instead of apple juice.

Police were called to the Madison Heights restaurant on Friday evening after the parents of Dominic Wilson Jr. noticed their son acting strange during a family dinner.

"He was saying 'hi' and 'bye' to the walls," said Wilson's mother, Taylor Dill-Reese, 18. "He laid his head down like he was sleepy, then woke up and got really hyper."

At first, Dill-Reese blamed his odd behavior on lack of sleep. But at the end of the meal, she said Wilson's father was stunned by what he tasted after taking a sip of his son's juice.

The juice was an alcoholic concoction that was stored in a mislabeled container, according to a Madison Heights Police Department news release.

"The container was apple juice but it had margarita mix in it," Dill-Reese said.
Wilson was immediately rushed to the hospital, where his blood alcohol content was measured at 0.10, Dill-Reese said.

"They said if he had drank that whole cup he would have died," she said, adding that she and her family will never return to the eatery.

"It was unreal," she said. "You don't expect to go to a family restaurant, and your 15-month-old gets served alcohol."

Dill-Reese said she and her boyfriend -- both of whom are under 21 and not legally allowed to drink -- were both drinking smoothies during the meal.

"Obviously any situation like this is unacceptable," Applebee's officials said in a statement. "We are working with local authorities and conducting our own investigation to assess exactly what happened."

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You know the only thing that’s good about this story? Well, aside from the kid being okay. It’s that the parents of this kid are never going to have to work again. They’re probably going to sue Applebee’s (as they should) for about $50 million, settle for about 2/3 of that and probably get free smoothies, apple juice and margaritas for life. It’s obviously a chance you don’t want to be taking with your tyke but it’s a going to pay off in the long run.

Plus, I’m sure he’ll get back to normal, he’s just really hung over at the moment. Trust me little dude, I’ve been there. And if the alcohol has stunted his brain forever or he has already developed into an alcoholic his parents will have enough money to buy his way into any college where he can reconvene his drinking.

That may sound a little insensitive but I’d gladly let Applebee’s poison me to within an inch of my life if I got a good settlement.



P.S. - Saying hi and bye to customers and then laying his head on the table - that sounds like most of my friends.