Should Restaurants Penalize Customers For Leftover Food?
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According to the World Health Organization, over a billion people in the world are starving and the number that is underfed, is even greater. Despite these dire statistics, many of us have no qualms ordering much more than we can devour at restaurants and then, letting it all go to waste - Now, a restaurant in Saudi Arabia is trying to put a stop to the unnecessary wastage - By levying a fine!
Fahd Al Anzi, the owner of Marmar restaurant in the eastern port of Damma decided to implement this rather un-friendly rule after reading about the plight of the people of Somalia. He said that while millions of people were dying of starvation there, customers who came to his restaurant often ordered way more than they could possibly consume, largely to impress their friends and then, tossed it all away.
The fine he imposes depends on the amount of leftover food and the odd thing is, that instead of rebelling against the restaurant, his customers are lauding him for his initiative and, ordering less. In fact, they are calling him the 'Robin Hood' of Saudi Arabia because all the extra money he collects is sent to Somalia.
This is not the first restaurant to impose a fine for over ordering. A Hong Kongrestaurant charges customers per ounce of leftovers, while Sydney-based Japanese restaurant WAFU, charges customers an extra 30% for leftover food (unless, they bring their own take home container) and, requests them to never come to the restaurant again! We believe more eateries should start implementing these surcharges - What do you think? Be sure to add your comments below.
Resources: newser.com, odditycentral.com, huffingtonpost.com
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372 Comments
- graceover 12 yearsi believe that if i owned a resturant, i would do the same!
mawiover 12 yearsi would just take it home and eat it if they did that- Angelica M.almost 13 yearsIf I were those people i would take it home and dispose it
- Angelica M.almost 13 yearswell its good but bad i mean i go to buffets all the time and get more than i can devour because in my head I think I can eat it all!!!!!!!
- Oliviaalmost 13 yearsWhile I was reading I figured out that the owner of this restaunt really cares about these people in hunger becuse he is now charginjg people for leftover food that could be put to good purpose. Also while I was reading I was wondering what if these people want to bring there leftover homes, will they still be charged???
- alexisalmost 13 yearsI think that this is a good idea, but also a bad idea. It's good, because it's to help not waste food. But...... it's bad, because they are charging more for left over food.
- PJalmost 13 yearsalso most of the times you don't die because of starvation(you can)but mostly it is because when you don't eat your body becomes vulnerable to virus and bacteria.... but sometimes you can die without food just mostly not
- PJalmost 13 yearsI think it's for a good cause but...it's kind of harsh. What if the costumer couldn't eat for another reason? maybe they were annerexix (i don't think i spelled that right but its a disease when you can't eat and puke food up) and sometimes people don't realize you eyes are bigger then your stomach
- somthinalmost 13 yearsthat is just silly they overpay for food and then you make them pay more instead they should send food over. those people bought the food so they should be able to do whatever they want with it as long as it is not a crime like littering
- Catiealmost 13 yearsWoah. That is a really good idea because lots of people are starving out there but you don't know how bad it is to waste so much food we should put a stop to this. Only one meal from the menu and if you want to take home then make sure that you eat it instead of wasting it there and not getting charged for it. Do not waste food! It is not nice to the people starving every day and possibly dieng because loss of food!
