Nate Armbruster
In a viral TikTok video, an Olive Garden customer claims a server kept pushing him to order alcohol even after he told them he doesn’t drink.
TikToker Steven explains what happened while putting Olive Garden on blast for the server who was putting pressure on him to order a drink.
“If I tell the waiter who is trying to push alcoholic drinks on me that, one, I don’t drink, and two, the employee that’s with me, we’re still working, you don’t keep trying to push them,” he explains. “I am never coming back to Olive Garden again because that’s the kind of B.S. that they want to push. No. That’s not right.”
You Can View The Original Video Here:
@thecoppertrinity Hey @olivegarden never going back again. Told your #waiter I don’t drink and he was still pushing #alcohol on me and my #employee – told us our #boss won’t find out if we drink. No #tip and never coming back. I couldn’t even get the #manager to come to my table. Saw the #waiter once after the food came. But the pushing of beer and wine. That needs to fucking stop when someone says no.
Steven shares more details about the incident in a follow-up video.
“Usually when someone asks me if I want something to drink, I tell them, ‘No, I’m good. I’ve had a problem with it in the past, so I don’t drink.’ And everywhere that I’ve been, they take that for an answer and they let it go.”
Steven explains that this experience was different. In the video, he says he and his colleague ordered Dr. Peppers and while they were deciding what appetizers to order, the server suggested he “get some alcohol started” for them. Then Steven explained he’s had issues in the past so he and his colleague declined.
According to Steven, the server kept pushing him to order alcohol even though he mentioned they were on the clock.
“I finally had to put my hand down on the table, and I said, ‘Look, no. We don’t want anything. We said no. Can we just get our drinks?’” Steven says.
“As soon as you say no, that should have been the end of it,” Steven says. “I shouldn’t have to give an explanation about why I’m not drinking, and neither should the guy who was with me.”
Steven then says that he doesn’t care if his employees drink alcohol as long as it’s not while they’re working. After contacting them directly, Olive Garden responded to his complaint saying that its policy was to respect a customer’s initial refusal, but Steven alleges this server didn’t do that.
You Can View The Follow-Up Video Here
https://www.tiktok.com/@thecoppertrinity/video/7156365491475320107
Commenters responded to the original TikTok criticizing Steven’s handling of the situation.
One viewer said, “Man chill out and have a drink.”
“Jesus I hope that’s the worse thing that happened to you that day,” another said.
After Steven shared more details, some sympathized with him.
One TikToker commented, “What if someone is a recovering alcoholic? you don’t know that. if he says no it needs to be respected.”
“I don’t drink either so I understand your frustration,” another stated.
“U don’t have to feel obligated to explain why you don’t want it,” a third declared.
There were some who shared why they think the server kept pushing them to order alcohol.
One commenter said, “Olive Garden waiter is required to push items. Managers give them a hard time if they don’t hear them ask.”
Another added, “As a fellow server there, it’s not the server’s fault it’s corporate. They push us to do it.”
