What A Miracle That None Of Us Died In Childhood Due To An Unlicensed Lemonade Stand
Institute for Justice's Nick Sibilla reports on the regulations for kids' lemonade stands in Austin, Texas -- and that special day, May 7, when kids can sell sugary lemon liquid without a license. Yes, really:
Ever gracious, the Austin City Council approved an ordinance to spare young lemonade sellers from parts of the city's mind-numbing bureaucracy. On Lemonade Day--and only on Lemonade Day--registered participants do not have to spend $35 to obtain a "temporary food permit," and are also exempt from spending a staggering $425 on "a license agreement and fees" to use public property.
Lemonade stands run by kids must comply with Austin's "temporary food service guidelines." Some of the rules include:"NO HOME PREPARED FOODS ALLOWED. ALL FOODS MUST BE OBTAINED FROM AN APPROVED SOURCE.""Provide potable water for cleaning and sanitizing utensils. Use three (3) containers for WASHING, RINSING & SANITIZING. Sanitizing solution must be kept between 50-100ppm chlorine. Test papers can be found at restaurant supply stores."
"Hand washing - Use a gravity-type water dispenser for hand washing. Example: drink dispenser with a spout or spigot. Do not forget hand washing soap, paper towels and catch basin. Wash hands for at least 20 seconds. Use of liquid alcohol sanitizer or single-use gloves is required for all food handling."
"Provide a ceiling or canopy above beverage preparation and service areas. Example: wood, canvas or other material that protects the interior of the establishment from the weather and other agents."
"All food, equipment, single service items shall be stored at least 6 inches above the floor."
"No eating, drinking, smoking is allowed in the food booth."Parents or legal guardians who want their kids to participate in Lemonade Day must also sign a waiver, and "agree to release, indemnify, defend and hold harmless the organizers of Lemonade Day and anyone associated with it or Lemonade Day from any and all claims for personal injuries or property damage resulting from my child/ren's participation in Lemonade Day, even if such injury is caused by the negligence of them."
Do you get the sense that we have a wee bit too much government?
via @mark_j_perry
What we need is serious tort reform which would clear up a lot of this. But it won't happen with much of govt being lawyers.
Joe j at April 2, 2016 8:14 AM
There is a multi-use trail near my home - bicycle riders, joggers, folks walking their dogs, etc. all go there on good-weather days.
One very hot summer day a few years back, a couple of kids (clearly with help from their mother) set up a lemonade stand in their backyard next to the trail.
They were charging just fifty cents for a small cup. Boy, did they do great business!
Now, considering this. They did NOT drill for that water, they did NOT freeze those ice cubes, they did NOT grow those lemons, they did NOT squeeze those lemons, they did not build that card table/stand, they did not build that trail which brought all of us to their business - so, they damn well better hand over part (if not ALL) of their gains to the government. It would be a good lesson for when they grow up.
charles at April 2, 2016 3:00 PM
What we need is serious tort reform which would clear up a lot of this.
That's really not the problem. The problem is the people demanding action, any action, to fix a perceived issue.
A restaurant or food truck makes people sick. Action is demanded. Regulations get prmulgated to mandate what should be common sense. Lemonade sellers get caught in the crossfire, because to exempt them would open the door to 'unfair' application of the regulations.
Simple lawsuits against the actual perpetrators would be better than the scorched earth, make it too difficult approach.
Ltw at April 5, 2016 5:24 AM
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