Are there really laws that you cannot be in a resteraunts barefoot? I was under the impression that it was just the choice of the store you happen to be in...is that true? I'm just asking because I was in Tim Hortons the other day picking up some tea on the go and I had no problems until I was on my way out...Some lady coming in (I think she worked there, i'm not 100%) got really condescending and started telling me to get out. She said I have to wear shoes if I want to come in again. I told her calmly I don't wear shoes and she said then I can't come in because it is a health violation and is against the rules. That sounds valid enough, but I was just wondering if it was for sure a law or not...Not that it matters too much, I'll just walk through the drive through anyway...But not everywhere has a drivethough so I'd like to know where the line is drawn for the future...
I always thought it was just the policy of the individual business, but I suppose it may also be decided by local ordinance. I'm sure it can vary from one city to the next. Personally, I always wear shoes when I go inside any business (except maybe the gas station or something). If I go in a restaurant, I just end up kicking them off under the table anyway
http://www.barefooters.org/health-dept/ i would politely inform them that you know that there is no such health code. tell them you would respect it if it was store policy, but that you would appreciate it if they were honest in admitting that it was simply their own discriminatory policy instead of spreading falsehoods about fictional health codes.
i would get a bunch of friends and have them sit barefoot outside tim hortons and sit in front of the door telling people that they should not eat here because they still discriminate even in 2004. and if you go to jail, fight it! oh i hate the law. but thats what i would do
no such "rules" or health codes. at best the codes are for the food workers. think of it this way, if you drop your food on the floor, no matter how clean it looks, will you eat it ? NO, I sure wouldn't. the floor is just as dirty with shoe wearers, coming in barefoot isn't any different.
I never wear shoes anywhere I go, but I do keep a pair in my car in case someone asks me to put them on. No one ever has, but I don't do it to offend people, I do it because I'm comfortable.....and if a guy that's trying to run his business asks me to put some shoes on, I'll do it. If he's nice about it. But I haven't worn shoes in months, and I've never had a problem. I wear my fake sandals. It's good to know that it's not really illegal, though, just in case I get into an argument.
Honestly, it doesn't really help. The kind of person who is going to confront you about being barefoot in such an establishment does not care about truth or actual law or actual policy. If the first thing they do is cite "the health code," or any "law," and you debunk that, first off, they won't believe you. And if they do actually believe you, or get spooked by your confidence that there is no such law or health code (and they'll know to themselves that they have never actually seen such a law in print), they'll simply fall back on, "Well, anyway, it's our policy: you have to have shoes on." Then when you ask this corporate clown to show you, in their store operations manual, where the "no bare feet" policy is, they won't do it, because they know they can't. They'll start to get very threatened, and then they'll threaten you with calling the police if you don't leave. It's a simple as that. Ignorant people who are prone to enforcing their own prejudices under color of false law and false authority are not going to discuss the subject rationally and fairly with you, and they are not going to grant the validity that is due you when you point out where they are wrong. You can't make an unreasonable person respond to reason. You can be as right as you want to about there being no law, but it usually makes no difference. Only one time since I became a "barefooter" have I managed to convince a store owner who objected to my being barefoot in his restaurant that it really was okay. I simply told him that I knew that the subject had been researched by this barefoot advocacy group online, and that the health departments of 50 states had confirmed that there was no law or health code against barefoot patrons. That seemed to satisfy him. He's the .001 percent. And unfortunately, his restaurant is no longer in business. (It was a great place, too! ) Blue skies, -Jeffrey
This is SO well said - it hits right on with all the problems I've had with businesses - not just because of my style of dress (in fact, it's never been an issue), but for any other grievance. Once they state their "policy", you know the argument is lost. I've considered making up my own "policy" and handing it to them when I do business with them. Then I can say... "sorry, it's against policy".
