More and more bars in Barcelona launch measures to prevent some customers from abusing the time they occupy the tables without consuming. The most recent case: “Coffee price: 1.60 euros. If you are more than thirty minutes: 2.50 euros.” This poster, attached to the tables of the terrace of a place in the Plaza de la Barceloneta, has unleashed the controversy in the networks in recent days, since several users have labeled the measure of “illegal and arbitrary”. Massimo, owner of the premises, the Caffè Perfetto, remains importance to the matter: “In a month we have charged this supplement three times, it is just a way of raising awareness among customers so that three hours do not pass in the express while there is a tail to sit.”
Massimo made this decision a month ago following a confrontation between some customers who had been consuming for several hours and a group that had been waiting for a long time to sit down, in the absence of free tables: “I had to intervene to calm the spirits, and as I prefer to avoid conflicts, I opted for the measure of the poster,” he says. At that same moment he points out one of the tables on his terrace: “That girl has been sitting on the terrace for more than an hour, but as there are other free tables, I will not charge you more.” The measure, clarifies, is purely “orientative.”
In his opinion, the notice has been well received by most of his clientele. Mari, neighbor of the Marinero neighborhood of the Catalan and usual capital of the bar, observes the measure with good eyes: “We are accustomed to drinking here and sometimes we throw ourselves more than an hour. But of course, if we see that there are people waiting and we have been occupying the space without consuming, we yield the table.” Also, criticize the stir generated in the networks: “Before commenting, it is better to come here and see how this acts actually.” Andreas Abraham, who goes to Barceloneta very often, adds that the measure must always be used “with common sense.” On the other hand, Marina, a neighbor of the area, believes that putting a poster “is not necessary”, and believes that the best thing in these cases is the “face to face” communication between waiters and customers.
Marcelo Rocha, Fit Bar worker – who is another of the premises in the square where the perfetto is located – empathizes with Massimo’s decision: “I see natural to charge a terrace supplement to someone who is sitting for many hours without consuming. In the end, we need to make benefit to pay the fees, rent and suppliers.” The unwanted statements about this type of limitations. The City Council, meanwhile, has assured that it does not have a record of this situation.
Tables only for meals and dinners
There are other premises in Barcelona that also choose to put limitations on the terraces, such as the Sun Nit and Café del Sol bars, in the Plaza del Sol, in Gràcia. At the entrance of them you can read: “The terrace tables are for him (from 1:00 p.m. to 16:30) and dinners (from 20:00 to 23:30).” In Café del Sol, on the other hand, you can see small posters at the tables with a similar message. Axel Batista, a worker of this establishment, explains that they also report customers previously about this schedule.
On the other hand, the tendency practically converts the bars and coffee shops “in office” to work with computer, has caused some premises, despite not having terrace, put restrictions on the use of laptops inside.
In the La Camila bar, also in Gràcia, it is only allowed to work with a computer in the bar, but not at the tables: “We do not want this space to be a,” says a waitress. Along these lines, the SlowMov cafeteria has prohibited the use of laptops inside. This can be read in a couple of posters in the bar, written in Catalan and English: “Do not bring your computer, thank you.” Alberto, in charge of the premises, states that with this measure they pretend that the space is a place to relax and not to be working: “We do not make exceptions, but we offer customers the possibility of reimbursement of money if they do not want to stay in the cafeteria when they see that they will not be able to use the computer.”
The debate focuses on these measures. The city’s terraces ordinance does not establish restrictions on the use of terrace, it only limits its number and determines the schedule.
From the (ACC) they clarify that there is no specific regulations that regulate these types of situations. That is why, as a general rule and as established in the Law of the Cattle Code of Catalonia – which regulates everything related to the rights of consumer persons – “establishments have to inform consumers previously and clearly and accessible on the conditions (full price of products or services, possible limitations in the time of stay, etc.).
The informed conditions, in addition, cannot be abusive or contravene any of the rights that consumers have recognized. ”Nor are complaints by consumers in relation to this practice, concludes the information provided to this newspaper by ACC.
