A waiter set down drinks in front of the group of children just before 10 p.m. Tuesday at Home Run Inn Pizza, located at 31st Street and Kildare. The drinks were served in plastic kids cups that had lids, parents said. Parents said many of the 18 kids in the group took a drink and then said they put their heads down and said they felt sick. It was supposed to be fruit punch.
"I sipped it. It's alcohol. There's nothing but alcohol in there," Briana Berry said. She was throwing a birthday party for her 4-year-old daughter, Malia.
The family then called paramedics and police. Twelve of the kids went to hospitals to be checked out. Tests revealed none of the children had alcohol in their systems, according to Chicago police.
The children were all treated and released from local hospitals.
Home Run Inn Pizza released a statement, "We are currently working with staff to conduct an internal investigation to discern the facts of what occurred."
The waitress has said it was her mistake, and police say no criminal charges will be filed.
"How can you fill a kids' cup with alcohol? How can you miss that?" Berry said.
