Lost my beer vending job for not selling to a preggo.

[Wanescotting]

What the hell are you talking about?

Update to some questions I've seen.

1. She was 100% pregnant. I'm no doctor, but she was pregnant. Her, her husband, my vending manager, and the vendors that witnessed the altercation never once mentioned anything to the contrary.

2. I called the vending manager and am meeting with him on Thursday afternoon before the Paul McCartney concert that evening at the ballpark that they're vending for.

3. Perhaps there's a chance I can get my job back, it's a great help in saving for a house.

4. Thanks for all the comments, I never thought this thread would blow up this much.

GL, Chalmers 😉

 

[IceBergSLiM]

What the hell are you talking about?

Update to some questions I've seen.

1. She was 100% pregnant. I'm no doctor, but she was pregnant. Her, her husband, my vending manager, and the vendors that witnessed the altercation never once mentioned anything to the contrary.

2. I called the vending manager and am meeting with him on Thursday afternoon before the Paul McCartney concert that evening at the ballpark that they're vending for.

3. Perhaps there's a chance I can get my job back, it's a great help in saving for a house.

4. Thanks for all the comments, I never thought this thread would blow up this much.

its pretty clear pwnage. Even if you do get your job back.

you tried to play morality police and got pwned so hard you got fired on the spot and put at risk your plans for owning a home.

You can't be that blind to this pwnage can you?

 

[Wanescotting]

its pretty clear pwnage. Even if you do get your job back.

you tried to play morality police and got pwned so hard you got fired on the spot and put at risk your plans for owning a home.

You can't be that blind to this pwnage can you?

Read the original post. He never said he was beyond reproach, or that his view was 100% correct. He was asking for the opinions of others.

pwnage not found

 

[zinfamous]

this has been a surprisingly fascinating thread.

I find myself agreeing with both sides, essentially, because there are equally valid, and solid arguments for both cases.

:hmm:

I don't think this has ever happened on the internet, before.

 

[JS80]

its pretty clear pwnage. Even if you do get your job back.

you tried to play morality police and got pwned so hard you got fired on the spot and put at risk your plans for owning a home.

You can't be that blind to this pwnage can you?

It would have been pwnage if people were aware of pregnancy+alcohol facts and proceeded to ridicule and pwn the OP. Unfortunately most people are ignorant about it.

 

[Aharami]

If you understand the facts, the sushi example is in fact a perfect analogy.

Is there a fetal sushi syndrome as well?

 

[SunnyD]

its pretty clear pwnage. Even if you do get your job back.

you tried to play morality police and got pwned so hard you got fired on the spot and put at risk your plans for owning a home.

You can't be that blind to this pwnage can you?

Once again - plain and simple - he did not get fired because of his moral objection. He got fired because the customer threw a hissy fit and made a scene in front of his manager, who lacked the balls to back him up. Cut and dry.

 

[Soundmanred]

Is there a fetal sushi syndrome as well?

It's all a lie, unborn babies LOVE neurotoxicants!

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Once again - plain and simple - he did not get fired because of his moral objection. He got fired because the customer threw a hissy fit and made a scene in front of his manager, who lacked the balls to back him up. Cut and dry.

you do realize that plain and simple the customer through the hissy fit that got him fired because of his moral objection?

Further more his manager didn't back him up because he is a beer vending manager and not morality police. he wants to keep the house he bought when he was a just beer vendor so he continues to act as beer vending manager and not morality police.

 

[zinfamous]

Is there a fetal sushi syndrome as well?

it's just the potential for mercury in fish, but I know that isn't what you're talking about.

the reason that sushi chef is not as good of an analogy is because of the chance that fish has mercury. there is no chance with beer--it has alcohol (though there is an argument to be made with light ballpark beers :hmm🙂

I think the sushi analogy is a good one, still, just not as close as the pharmacist dispensing morning-after pills. Meaning, the debate here seems largely focused on the OP being in a position to dictate morality over service and refuse to do his job in selective situations. at least...that's where most seem to conflict, not simply in choosing whether or not to give a pregnant woman something that is commonly believed to damage her fetus.

Where JS80 is stepping off, I think, is that assuming alcohol is completely safe for a pregnant woman, and that the medical establishment not only agrees with him roundly, but would somehow recommend alcohol consumption? that's silly.

IT is accepted that the first trimester is a very dangerous time to consume any alcohol, but that later on, it is generally safe, with some studies recommending minor alcohol consumption due to benefits from certain types of beer and wine. JS80 and others make the mistake that all of this is common knowledge. it is not.

in the OP's position, one is not expected to weigh all of this information when it is certainly not common knowledge. He may have made an improper decision when it comes to choosing who to serve (well, if you conservatives who tend to always remind us that "private business = right to refuse service to anyone, for any reason" stuck to your guns, you wouldn't be turning this into a "loliberals trying to act as moral police" debate), but he made a likely consistent decision that follows his own convictions of safety and dispensing harm.


...also, we are improperly analogizing a beer vender with a pharmacist and a sushi chef. One should think, here of the bartender. When serving beverages, it is always at one's discression to cut someone off if need be, or to refuse service to someone who will be a potential problem. that is never a debate--all of us accept this rule of the business.

OP is not dispensing pills, or sushi--he is dispensing alcohol. Different rules of service apply, they have always applied, and such differences are accepted by the rest of us.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Once again - plain and simple - he did not get fired because of his moral objection. He got fired because the customer threw a hissy fit and made a scene in front of his manager, who lacked the balls to back him up. Cut and dry.

His manager shouldn't have backed him up. It is not illegal to sell beer to pregnant women. Regardless of your stance on the morality of the situation, the fact is it is not your place as a vendor to impose your morality on your customers. If the manager had refused to sell the woman beer, he too would have been fired, and he probably needs that job more than the OP.

 

[JS80]

I'm pretty sure every single fish has mercury - it's the concentration of it in different types of fish, like alcohol levels in different types of alcoholic drinks.

But good post.

 

[jaydee]

OP, did the right thing, I'd do the same.

I agree. Personally I think it should be illegal.

If you're really bitter you could make a web page or facebook account explaining how the Reds sell to pregnant women, and get them some bad PR.

Better yet, make the headline something like "Red give free beer to pregnant women", which was indeed the end result.

His manager shouldn't have backed him up. It is not illegal to sell beer to pregnant women. Regardless of your stance on the morality of the situation, the fact is it is not your place as a vendor to impose your morality on your customers. If the manager had refused to sell the woman beer, he too would have been fired, and he probably needs that job more than the OP.

The vendor can refuse service to any person as long as it's not targeted at a protected class of people. One pregnant lady is not a protected class of people.

 

[zinfamous]

I'm pretty sure every single fish has mercury - it's the concentration of it in different types of fish, like alcohol levels in different types of alcoholic drinks.

But good post.

yes, I think you are right, I just wasn't sure if it is 100% expected in all fish. I know it has gotten worse lately (or at least, our understanding of mercury concentrations), but the levels are generally unknown from fish to fish, from the customer perspective.

with alcoholic beverages, you have the percentage right there in front of you.

 

[FDF12389]

His manager shouldn't have backed him up. It is not illegal to sell beer to pregnant women. Regardless of your stance on the morality of the situation, the fact is it is not your place as a vendor to impose your morality on your customers. If the manager had refused to sell the woman beer, he too would have been fired, and he probably needs that job more than the OP.

Incorrect. They can refuse sale of alcohol to whomever they please. He should have declined the sale as he is legally allowed to do, without telling her why.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

The vendor can refuse service to any person as long as it's not targeted at a protected class of people. One pregnant lady is not a protected class of people.

Yes, and he can be fired for it as well. Unless it's that company's policy to not sell beer to pregnant women, that woman was going to be sold a beer. She would keep complaining to higher and higher levels of managers until one caved. And everyone below that would be fired. That's how business operates; the low-level vendors aren't the ones dictating policy about who is allowed to purchase their wares. OP experienced that first hand; he exercised his right to refuse service and his boss exercised his right to fire him.

 

[Wanescotting]

Vendors/Hawkers - You must be 21 to purchase all alcohol products. Sportservice IDs everyone 30 years and younger. Sales are limited to one alcoholic beverage per person with valid ID. No alcohol sales after the end of the eighth inning or 3 hours after scheduled start of game. All alcohol must remain in the ballpark: "It's the Law." Sportservice reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

 

[zinfamous]

you do realize that plain and simple the customer through the hissy fit that got him fired because of his moral objection?

Further more his manager didn't back him up because he is a beer vending manager and not morality police. he wants to keep the house he bought when he was a just beer vendor so he continues to act as beer vending manager and not morality police.

I'm a bartender. A belligerent drunk walks into the bar. Do I have the right to not serve him and kick him out of the bar?

I'm a bartender. A very pregnant woman walks into the bar. Do I have the right to refuse serving her alcohol?

 

[zinfamous]

Vendors/Hawkers - You must be 21 to purchase all alcohol products. Sportservice IDs everyone 30 years and younger. Sales are limited to one alcoholic beverage per person with valid ID. No alcohol sales after the end of the eighth inning or 3 hours after scheduled start of game. All alcohol must remain in the ballpark: "It's the Law." Sportservice reserves the right to refuse service to anyone.

indeed. I meant to include that in my post, as well--the strict rules and regulations regarding beer vending at the ballpark.

the limits per purchase, shutting down sales after the 7th inning, etc....and it seems that choosing not to serve a pregnant woman is some violation of a sacred beer service code?

:hmm:

 

[Atomic Playboy]

Incorrect. They can refuse sale of alcohol to whomever they please. He should have declined the sale as he is legally allowed to do, without telling her why.

What good would that have done? Do you honestly think that if he hadn't provided a reason she would have said, "Oh, all right, thanks anyway," and moved on? No way. She still would have gone to his manager and he still would have gotten canned. OP is too low on the totem pole to determine company policy about who to sell to.

 

[IceBergSLiM]

I'm a bartender. A belligerent drunk walks into the bar. Do I have the right to not serve him and kick him out of the bar?

I'm a bartender. A very pregnant woman walks into the bar. Do I have the right to refuse serving her alcohol?

1) depends on your states laws. Depends on the bars policies and how you are empowered by your management to enforce them.

2) Depends on the bars policies and how you are empowered by your management to enforce them.

 

[zinfamous]

Yes, and he can be fired for it as well. Unless it's that company's policy to not sell beer to pregnant women, that woman was going to be sold a beer. She would keep complaining to higher and higher levels of managers until one caved. And everyone below that would be fired. That's how business operates; the low-level vendors aren't the ones dictating policy about who is allowed to purchase their wares. OP experienced that first hand; he exercised his right to refuse service and his boss exercised his right to fire him.

if you read what OP posted (or maybe it was someone else) regarding his Union rights, then it appears the boss did not have the right to fire him in this case.

 

[Wanescotting]

What good would that have done? Do you honestly think that if he hadn't provided a reason she would have said, "Oh, all right, thanks anyway," and moved on? No way. She still would have gone to his manager and he still would have gotten canned. OP is too low on the totem pole to determine company policy about who to sell to.

nope, she was trying to order 2 beers....one beer per person only is the policy

 

[Wanescotting]

if you read what OP posted (or maybe it was someone else) regarding his Union rights, then it appears the boss did not have the right to fire him in this case.

Correct, this was a first time offense, and corrective action should have been given, not termination

 

[zinfamous]

1) depends on your states laws. Depends on the bars policies and how you are empowered by your management to enforce them.

2) Depends on the bars policies and how you are empowered by your management to enforce them.

...nice dodge.

so, perhaps grow a pair of balls and answer the questions as if you were the owner/bartender?

and point me towards some state laws that will supersede the private business's decision to refuse service in these situations?