Why this Italian restaurant owner gave a discount for well-behaved kids

An Italian wine bar has received worldwide attention after the owner issued a discount to a family with very well behaved children.

The Independent reports Antonio Ferrari, owner of the Antonio Ferrari Wine Bar in Padua, Italy, gave a family a 5% discount (approximately $AUD18) on their dinner bill thanks to their children’s polite behaviour.

Read more: “No, we are not child-friendly”: Aussie café owner’s comments go viral internationally

Ferrari posted a photo of the receipt showing the discount on Facebook, saying in the post “It’s just so unusual!” The children were reportedly doing maths homework and colouring in activities while the adults talked and drank wine.

According to the Corriere della Sera, an Italian newspaper that interviewed Ferrari, usual conduct for children in his restaurant involves running around tables and having water fights in the bathroom.

“It was totally wonderful to see how they interacted with each other at that table, with so much decorum,” Ferrari told the newspaper.

He also said he would make the discount again “with pleasure”.

Some social media users praised Ferrari’s decision, labelling it a “great initiative”.

@TheTodayShow I think it’s wonderful that a privately owned business can choose what discounts they give to anyone. Stay out of it.

— Exasperated5 (@Exasperated5) February 16, 2017

Transparency important for child-related policies in businesses

This is not the first time businesses have received attention for policies regarding children’s behaviour: In 2015, a Queensland restaurant taking the opposite approach and banning children under the age of seven.

At the time the restaurant’s manager said the ban was implemented as the business “respects our guests’ wishes to dine in a calm atmosphere”.

Marketing expert Michelle Gamble told SmartCompany at the time it is okay for businesses to label themselves as “not child-friendly”.

“By being honest and transparent about the environment in the café, she is probably doing the right thing by her customers,” Gamble said in regard to the Queensland restaurant’s manager.

“There are some places I wouldn’t take my children to, but do I take offence to that or blame the proprietor? No.”

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