FAYETTEVILLE, NC (WNCN/CNN) – A North Carolina family says their meal at Applebee’s ended with a trip to the hospital after they ordered virgin daiquiris but ended up with alcoholic drinks instead.
Cheryl Kirkman says her Mother’s Day started out wonderful but ended horribly. After church, the family went to an Applebee’s in Fayetteville, NC.
Kirkman says her husband ordered a virgin daiquiri and their 13-year-old son K.J. requested one as well. Instead, they received drinks with alcohol.
"As soon as my son drank it, he told my husband, ‘Dad, this don't taste right. This tastes funny. This tastes sour to me,'” Kirkman said.
Before the family realized the beverages contained alcohol, 3-year-old Bailey drank nearly half of one of the daiquiris.
"It was very scary. I was frightened… because, like I said, she began to gasp for a little air. I thought she was going to throw up because she grabbed her stomach,” Kirkman said.
An Applebee’s manager explained there was miscommunication between their waitress and the bartender, Kirkman says.
The woman’s husband is a minister, their family is very involved in church and they say they never drink alcohol.
"If it was a lesson, from now on if I ever order, I'll stay away from daiquiris. We'll just get lemonade. I'll stay away from daiquiris,” Kirkman said.
The Kirkman family says they have dined at the Applebee’s quite regularly and have never had a problem before, but they’re unsure now if they’ll ever return.
Both children were taken to the hospital for examination. They are now back home, doing well.
According to public records, the Fayetteville Applebee’s was fined in 2015 after serving a 5-year-old a mixed beverage. Reports say a virgin drink was ordered.
Applebee’s has apologized for the incident and says they will make changes to avoid future situations like this one.
Copyright 2017 WNCN, Kirkman Family via CNN. All rights reserved.
