Why does Rembayung refuse age-based exceptions for children dining?

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Rembayung refuses age-based exceptions because its layout and safety rules require every baby and child to be counted in the total headcount for each reservation.

Khairul Aming said Rembayung counts every baby and child in the total pax number to avoid creating safety hazards in a restaurant setup where staff need to move through walkways on all sides while carrying piping hot food and drinks in glass cups. He added that if a stroller blocks those routes, it can endanger both diners and employees, and counting babies as pax allows the restaurant to remove an adult chair to make room for a stroller or baby chair without cramping the dining area.
The restaurant’s layout depends on counting all children in the pax total
Khairul Aming explained that each table is arranged with walkways on all sides so staff can safely pass through the restaurant with piping hot items and glass cups. He said a stroller can block those routes, creating a safety hazard, which is why the total headcount must include every baby and child.

He also described how counting babies as pax helps the restaurant adjust seating by removing an adult chair to fit a stroller or baby chair. Without that approach, the dining space can become cramped even when families bring children of different ages.
Past attempts at exempting only “babies in arms” failed during meals
Khairul Aming said Rembayung previously tried exempting only babies carried by parents. However, customers later brought children up to around six years old during their meals while still expecting the exemption, which undermined the age-based rule.

He further argued that children can be unpredictable and may accidentally knock over hot dishes or shatter glassware, making it difficult to apply different rules strictly by age. As a result, the restaurant treats all children the same within the booking and headcount system.
Seating constraints also involve other diners on special-occasion tables
He said squeezing a baby chair onto the side of a fully occupied table is not always workable. While food spills may be expected with young children, Rembayung also has to account for neighbouring diners who may be celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, or other special occasions.
A prior viral incident led to a uniform rule for all ages
Khairul Aming said the policy was shaped by an earlier viral incident after Hari Raya Aidilfitri. He recalled a family where one parent stayed outside with their baby while the rest dined inside, and later online accusations claimed the restaurant left the baby outside in the heat.

After that episode, Rembayung updated booking rules so that all babies and children, regardless of age, must be counted in every reservation. Khairul Aming also said granting exceptions to one family would prompt others to demand the same treatment, and that interactions at Rembayung can be filmed and uploaded to social media within minutes. He noted the restaurant serves around 1,000 diners a day and is often fully booked more than two weeks in advance.

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Why does Rembayung refuse age-based exceptions for children dining?

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