China News Service, September 18th. According to the US "Qiao Bao" report, on September 16, local time, the New York City Council approved the permission of catering businesses to charge a 10% surcharge to dine-in customers.
Chinatown catering industry said that although the starting point of the bill is to help restaurant operators tide over the epidemic, they may lose part of their passenger flow as a result. Calling on municipal or state governments to reduce or exempt land tax is to fundamentally help small businesses such as restaurants to reduce the economy. pressure.
The New York City catering industry will resume indoor dine-in operations on the 30th in accordance with the 25% passenger capacity standard.
According to the law, restaurant operators are allowed to charge an additional 10% to customers who consume indoor and outdoor dine-in meals on the premise that they are clearly indicated on their menus, but does not include take-out and meal collection.
Liao Shiquan, owner of the Chinatown red pepper restaurant, said that although the new bill is well-intentioned and wants to help catering businesses increase revenue with limited operating space, New York State’s consumption tax is as high as 8.875%, and consumers also need to pay 15%. If you add a 10% surcharge to a tip of 20% or higher, the customer will have to pay as much as 40% of the extra fee for a meal in the restaurant.
"Not only small businesses are affected, but customers are also under economic pressure due to the epidemic. The extra cost is too high, how to bear it?" Liao Shiquan said. For example, if a customer eats a meal of 20 yuan, then the tip, surcharge, and consumption tax that need to be paid are up to 8 yuan, 28 yuan per meal.
If things go on like this, customers who originally came to dine once a week may only come once a month, causing the restaurant to lose passenger flow.
Mrs. Zhu, the owner of Chinatown Shanghai Laozhengxing Restaurant, said that after the reopening of the epidemic, the prices of labor, vegetables and meat have risen, causing his restaurants to increase the prices of vegetables by 10%.
Even if the new bill allows restaurant owners to add a 10% surcharge to dine-in customers, she is reluctant to increase revenue in this way.
No matter how difficult the operation is, I still try to stick to the current pricing.
"I didn't want to bring my own meals. I had a meal outside during the lunch break and gave me some tips, which is considered to support the restaurant. But if there are additional charges, I am afraid that I can only buy a takeaway or go to the office to eat. "Customer Chen Minzhi said that with the gradual resumption of New York City, her law firm has resumed office work three days a week.
During the lunch break, she is used to eating nearby restaurants. With a tip, it is usually 6 or 7 yuan, which is economical. She is also willing to pay a tip to support the restaurant, but if a 10% surcharge is added, I am afraid I can only give less Tip or simply take the meal back to the office to eat.
(Liu Yiling)