At an Outback Steakhouse in Livonia, Michigan, a 12-year-old boy named Mekyle Cureton was mistakenly given an alcoholic daiquiri that he didn’t want. Mekyle, who visited the chain frequently with his family, ordered his usual virgin strawberry daiquiri, but the drink he was served tasted different. He later realized that it contained alcohol, which led to an unpleasant experience for him. Mekyle shared his experience with the local news channel, WJBK.
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Mekyle started feeling unwell after consuming a few sips of a poorly prepared drink. He experienced symptoms such as a racing heart and a headache, which mainly occurred when he left the restaurant. Mekyle informed his grandmother, Yolanda Collins, who also tasted the drink and realized that it had been mixed with alcohol by mistake. They immediately told their server, who then informed the bartender. It was later confirmed that rum was the unexpected ingredient in the drink that altered its flavor and caused Mekyle’s symptoms.
In response to the incident, the restaurant management decided not to charge the family for their meal and issued an apology. Prioritizing Mekyle’s well-being, his grandmother took him to the hospital, where he was diagnosed with ‘accidental exposure to alcohol and accidental ingestion.’ “I didn’t want him to have to have an alcoholic experience this way,” Collins expressed her dismay over the situation.
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To manage the aftereffects of the accidental alcohol consumption, Mekyle was prescribed Tylenol and advised to rest. The following day, he faced the discomfort of his first hangover, a startling experience for someone his age.
An Outback Steakhouse spokesperson conveyed to WJBK the seriousness with which they view the incident, expressing relief that Mekyle did not suffer severe harm. The restaurant has since taken “appropriate disciplinary action” against those involved and has retrained its bar and serving staff to prevent such an error from occurring again. This incident serves as a cautionary tale about the importance of vigilance in preparing and serving non-alcoholic beverages to minors.
