What seemed to be just another dinner among friends eventually became a story that is going to talk, which may well arrive in Portugal. A group was surprised by the obligation to spend more money before you can leave the restaurant. The guilt? A new minimum consumption policy that is already spreading through some European Union countries (EU).
A night that started normal
The case was counted by the French newspaper La Dépêche, and quoted by the Spanish newspaper As. Yarno and friends set a table at a restaurant at Hotel Yalo in Gante, Belgium. The plan was simple: relaxed dinner, some shares at the table and wine to accompany.
They arrived, sat down and asked for several dishes to share. To drink, they chose two bottles of rosé wine. The atmosphere was excited, between gifts and conversation. It made nothing to predict what would come next. When they asked for the bill, they were already thinking about leaving. But the employee returned not with a simple bead, but with a warning.
Moment of surprise
The value they had consumed was below the minimum required by the restaurant: 65 euros.
It was not a suggestion, it was a rule. They would have to ask for more food or drink until it reaches this amount. The shock was evident. None of them remembered having seen such information in the room. But the hotel ensures that the policy is explained on the site.
The justification: combat the “no-show”
According to management, this practice serves to compensate for the losses caused by customers they reserve and then do not appear. A growing problem that worsened after the pandemic.
No-show leaves empty tables, paid staff and purchased food: all without return. And for some entrepreneurs, the solution is to ensure minimum consumption by reserve, according to the same source.
A trend that grows in Europe
In Belgium, this system is increasingly used, especially in hotel restaurants or high demand places. The goal is simple: to ensure profitability and avoid damage. Other European Union countries already apply similar measures. In France and Italy, the minimum value can range from 20 to 100 euros, depending on the type of restaurant.
Not everyone agrees
If for some restorers it is a fair strategy, for others it is risky. The fear is that this requirement works like a brake, driving customers away who prefer lighter meals. After all, no one likes to feel that they are obliged to spend more than I just wanted to be able to leave.
Policy that divides opinions
Some accept these conditions when in very crowded tourist areas, where the space is worth ‘gold’. But in more informal contexts, this rule can cause indignation. In the case of Yarno and friends, there was no other option: they asked for more until reaching the value. They paid, and went out with the feeling that dinner became more expensive than they had imagined, according to the newspaper.
And so, what started as a quiet meal ended as a clear example of a trend that, for good or evil, may be about to cross borders.
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