Customer Says He Will "Never Return" To Olive Garden After Server Wouldn't Stop Pushing Him To Order Alcohol

If you've made a conscious decision not to drink alcohol, you would expect others to respect that choice, or at the very least, not to pass judgment on it. After all, it's your body, your life, and your well-being, so why should anyone else be bothered by it?

Well, in a recent TikTok video, an Olive Garden customer shared an experience he had with a very pushy server. The TikToker, Steven, explained that when he went to Olive Garden for dinner with his colleague, the pair ordered Dr. Peppers to drink.

While Steven and his friend were deciding on their appetizers, their server returned and suggested that he "get some alcohol started" for them. Steven stated that he has had issues with alcohol in the past, so he declined, and his colleague did the same.

However, the TikToker said the server wouldn't take no for an answer and kept pushing the pair to order alcohol. They explained that they were still working and would not be drinking, but their server continued to insist.

"As soon as you say no, that should have been the end of it," Steven said. "I shouldn't have to give an explanation about why I'm not drinking, and neither should the guy who was with me."

When Steven complained to Olive Garden, they responded by stating that it is their company policy to respect a customer's first refusal. Unfortunately, the TikTok user says that this was not his experience.

As always, other TikTok users had plenty to say about Steven's video. Many commenters criticized him for the way he handled the situation.

"Man, chill out and have a drink," one person said. "I hope that’s the worst thing that happened to you that day," another person quipped.

However, some TikTokers seemed to be more understanding. "If he says no, it needs to be respected," someone commented.

An Olive Garden waiter also shared their perspective, saying, "As a fellow server there, it’s not the server’s fault; it’s corporate. They push us to do it."

So, who's wrong here, and who's right? Well, it seems that it depends on your perspective.

The TikToker says he is "never coming back to the Olive Garden again" because of this incident.

Ruin My Week

"I've had a problem with it in the past, so I don't drink."

Ruin My Week

Steven says he had to get stern with the waiter to make him stop.

Ruin My Week

You can watch Steven's TikTok in full below.

What's your take on this situation? Do you think Steven overreacted by making such a public complaint about the server, or do you think he was perfectly justified in doing so?

The truth is, we go out to eat so that we can relax and enjoy ourselves. Therefore, we certainly don't expect to be badgered and bullied over our food and drink choices.

A server's job is to show hospitality and make the experience enjoyable, not to cause a customer distress or make them feel uncomfortable.

We always love to hear from you and would appreciate your opinions on this. You can share your thoughts with us in the comment section below.