An investigation was launched into a Joe's Crab Shack restaurant in Colorado after several children, including one toddler, downed alcoholic drinks, KKTV reported.
A family of six children, ranging from ages 2 to 8, almost finished their "Shark Nibble" drinks ordered from the kids menu during a visit to Joe's Crab Shack in Colorado Springs last Wednesday. A waitress suddenly showed up at the table and took the drinks away when staff realized a grave mistake was made.
"Then the managers actually came back with the tray of drinks and then let us know that they had accidentally poured alcohol into our kids' beverages," Omar Montoya, who was there with his family, told the station.
The Montoyas began to panic. One of the children, age 2, had finished her drink completely. Staff at the popular seafood restaurant said they 'mislabeled' the orders. The kids were reportedly served a drink named "Shark Bite," the alcoholic version of the "Shark Nibble" drink they ordered.
"You order these drinks, and you order them off the kids menu with the intent that you're providing your child with something safe and that the restaurant is doing their job," Omar told KKTV.
The family called Colorado Springs paramedics when one of the children said they did not feel well. The kids were examined and did not appear to have been harmed by the accidental drinking.
Local police are probing the incident and Joe's Crab Shack is also investigating how the booze ended up in the kiddie beverages.
"Joe's Crab Shack is aware of this incident at the Colorado Springs Location, and we are investigating this matter internally," the restaurant's corporate office said, KKTV reported.
"We do not condone underage service of any kind. Our guests can rest assured that our processes are continuously examined so that incidents like this are avoided."
