Is it legal to charge for tableware in restaurants?

It is illegal for restaurants to charge for tableware.

As an operator, hotels have the right to provide consumers with safe and clean tableware. Providing tableware is their unshirkable legal obligation and responsibility, so the hotel has no right to charge tableware fees for disposable tableware.

Tableware fee refers to the extra consumption fee charged when dining in a restaurant, which is mainly used to make up for the cost of providing tableware, cleaning tableware and keeping it clean and hygienic. Some restaurants will include the tableware fee in the total price of all dishes, while others will list the tableware fee separately. According to relevant regulations, enterprises are not allowed to bundle sales or raise the price of goods or services in disguise. If the restaurant lists the tableware fee as consumption, it will be regarded as raising the price of goods or services in disguise.

Therefore, some consumers think that tableware charges are illegal and refuse to pay. However, in practice, some restaurants are allowed to charge for tableware. For example, some high-end restaurants or luxurious royal restaurants use exquisite tableware when the price of dishes is relatively high. In order to improve the dining experience and taste, it is feasible to charge for tableware.

Penalties for collecting tableware fees in catering industry:

1. Whether it is explicitly told or not, it is unfounded to charge tableware disinfection fee or use fee separately, which infringes on the fair trade rights of many consumers. According to relevant regulations, it is the legal obligation of operators to provide sterilized tableware to consumers. When consumers dine in restaurants and hotels, the objects they buy include both food and the services of catering enterprises. Whether catering enterprises provide safe and hygienic dining conditions is directly related to the realization of consumption purposes.

2. The industrial and commercial departments will intensify efforts to rectify the illegal collection of tableware fees by catering enterprises. If the illegal act is minor, it shall be ordered to make corrections, the illegal income shall be confiscated and a fine may be imposed; If the circumstances are serious, it shall be ordered to suspend business for rectification. At the same time, consumers are advised to carefully check the details of the charges after eating in the restaurant. If the business charges tableware fees in violation of regulations, it can be pointed out in time. If the merchant refuses to correct, he can keep the charging voucher and call 123 15 to make a complaint.