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Charging Extra at Restaurants: Fair or Unfair?
When you go out to eat, you expect to pay for the food, beverages, and perhaps a tip for the service. However, some restaurants are introducing additional fees that are stirring up quite a bit of controversy. Let’s talk about the ‘impact fee’ and the ‘unruly children fee’ of $50.
First off, what exactly are these fees? An impact fee is an additional charge that a restaurant might add to your bill to cover various costs, such as environmental sustainability efforts or increases in minimum wage. On the other hand, an ‘unruly children fee’ is pretty self-explanatory; it’s a charge added when restaurant staff feel that a child’s behavior is disruptive to the establishment or other diners.
Now, at first glance, these fees might seem like a necessary evil. Restaurants operate on razor-thin margins, and these extra charges could help them stay afloat. Additionally, anyone who has dined out knows that a screaming child can quickly turn a pleasant meal into a headache-inducing experience. In this light, the unruly children fee could be seen as a way to ensure all customers have a good experience.
However, it’s not that simple. Critics argue that these fees are discriminatory and can be applied inconsistently. For…
