Toddler gets margarita at Applebee's

DETROIT, April 11 (UPI) -- Applebee's restaurant says it is investigating how a toddler was given an alcoholic beverage at a restaurant in Madison Heights, a Detroit suburb.

The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m. Friday when Taylor Dill-Reese ordered a kids meal for 15-month-old Dominic Dill-Reese, asking for apple juice as his beverage.

The child's mother told WDIV-TV, Detroit, she became suspicious shortly after the drink was served.

"We took it from him and he kind of laid his head on the table," Dill-Reese said. "He dozed off a little bit and woke up and got real happy."

She said she tasted the drink and that instead of apple juice it allegedly contained an alcoholic margarita mix.

"The manager came up to me and he smelled it and he was like, 'I am so sorry ma'am. I just don't know what to do,'" said Dill-Reese.

The Madison Heights police were called to investigate the incident and the toddler was taken to a hospital. Doctors reportedly told the mother the child could have died if he consumed the entire drink.

"He's so innocent, so sweet," Dill-Reese said. "I don't know what I would have done if something had happened to him."

Applebee's corporate office e-mailed a statement, saying: "Obviously, any situation like this is unacceptable and we take it very seriously. We are working with local authorities and conducting our own investigation so we can assess exactly what happened."