The reason I mention those "what ifs" is to point out that the potential for something bad to happen existed. Luckily everything turned out just fine. However, the particular outcome (i.e. the kid having a few sips and being barely intoxicated) should have no bearing on how "bad" the actions were (unknowingly serving an alcoholic drink instead of apple juice).
View the event independent of the fact that a 15 month old kid received the drink, and that he had a few sips and was ok, etc.
Instead look only at the fact that somebody ordered apple juice and instead got an alcoholic drink -- and the server didn't even know that what he was serving had alcohol in it. That simply shouldn't happen. Like I said, restaurant workers are a dime a dozen and I'd instantly replace whoever fucked up.
It's only an issue because the alcohol was served to a baby. If I had ordered apple juice and got liquor instead, fuck yeah.
But hey at least the company is taking responsibility for the fuck up. I'm sure it was a simple fuck up. Shit happens. I'm sure you fuck up all the time. That's fucking life. You live, you fuck up, and hopefully you learn from it.
And lol at the parents now suing Applebee's. Fucking dicks.