The fine print

The signs have hung for ten years without a complaint, that is, until now. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation has ordered McGuires Irish Pub in Destin FL to remove it's restroom signs.

"We're not trying to be malicious, it's an Irish joke kind of thing." said General Manager Billy Martin.

McGuire's was faced with closure from the agency with the violation - "Lack of signage porperly designating bathrooms." At the center of the recent complaint are two signs that require some careful reading of the smaller print on them, both have "Ladies" and "Men" in larger print and in smaller, humorous text it is explained that they shouldn't use that restroom as it is designated for the opposite sex.
The complaint was filed by the father of a 15 year old girl who said that a college age man walked in on his daughter, embarressing her and forcing her to leave the restaurant crying.
We may never know why that young man used the wrong restroom, as Martin states that there is a second large sign directly inside, directing patrons to use the correct room. It may have been too much "pub cheer", lack of definative reading skills or simple desperation at the moment. I am sorry this young girl was embarressed and quite possibly the young man was as well, although he did not lodge a complaint but 3,000 names on a petition to restore the signs and 10 years with no complaints seem to support the "Irish joke" meant by them.
Sadly though, I personally know individuals who have made the same "desperate" mistake with clearly marked restrooms.... it would seem that when nature calls, reading skills are ignored at times.