In Gansu, a separate meal system is adopted. Lanzhou requires the size of male chopsticks to be refined, but the traditional dining habits are still “genetically powerful”——
How far are the “public chopsticks and public spoons” entering the local legislation from consumers?
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From June 1, local legislation on "public chopsticks and public spoons" was formally implemented in Gansu. However, in many restaurants and hotels, public chopsticks and public spoons are still in the embarrassing situation of walking on the road, stopping on the mouth, and difficult to implement on the dining table.
From June 1, local legislation on "public chopsticks and public spoons" was formally implemented in Gansu. However, a reporter from Workers Daily found in an interview that in many restaurants and hotels, public chopsticks and public spoons are still in the embarrassing situation of walking on the road, stopping on the mouth, and difficult to implement on the dining table.
"Specification" refined to the color of male chopsticks
Recently, the "Regulations on Promoting Civilized Behavior in Gansu Province" was adopted by the 15th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 13th Gansu Provincial People's Congress. The "Regulations" clearly stipulates the use of public chopsticks and spoons to take meals, and the implementation of a divided meal system. Earlier, Lanzhou formulated and implemented the "Code for the Use of Meal-Public Chopsticks and Meal-Pan Spreader Clips" in early April, and plans to publish it as a provincial standard.
"Worker Daily" reporter noticed that the "Lanzhou Edition Specification" is extremely detailed and operable: the shape of male chopsticks should be clearly distinguished from other spare chopsticks. Its length is 3 cm to 4 cm longer than ordinary chopsticks, which is convenient for eating and avoiding Mixed use; the logo or prompt of "public chopsticks (spoons)" should be printed on the public chopsticks and public spoons; the public chopsticks and private chopsticks should be distinguished by their shapes, materials and colors; It is red or white, which is obviously different from other spare chopsticks.
In the promotion and use, Lanzhou City also made it clear that consumers and catering operators have the same responsibility and obligation to use "public chopsticks and public spoons" and "separate meal clips", and consumers should "actively cooperate" with "conscious use".
According to Cui Fengwei, director of the Civilization Office of Lanzhou City, Lanzhou’s policy is to implement the classification step by step, starting with large and medium-sized restaurants, and gradually expanding to collective dining venues and small restaurants. "The Municipal Civilization Office, the Market Supervision Bureau, and the Bureau of Commerce continue to increase the intensity of inspection and guidance on the distribution of chopsticks and public spoons for all catering units. Those that are not set up according to the requirements should be rectified immediately."
It is reported that the introduction of the "Lanzhou Version Norms" coincided with the "key node" of epidemic prevention and control and resumption of production, which immediately received social attention. According to relevant statistics, in the first month of implementation, public chopsticks and public spoons were promoted and implemented in more than 3,600 large and medium-sized catering service units in the city, becoming a new trend in urban dining.
Traditional dining habits are “genetically powerful”
But recently, this newly-fashioned new catering trend has shown signs of fading. The reporter visited a number of catering companies in Lanzhou and found that some shops had hanged, posted or placed signs or table cards that had “darkly faded” and even disappeared. In some dining companies, the public chopsticks, public spoons, and meal sharing system are in a random state of "no objection", "not reminding", "dare not to say". In many cases, if consumers do not propose to use public chopsticks and public spoons, the restaurant will not pay attention.
Ms. Yu, a restaurant operator, said: "At the beginning of the resumption of work, we will place a pair of male chopsticks on the table. Although there is no bronzing word "male chopsticks", these chopsticks will grow longer than ordinary chopsticks. Guests It is also easy to distinguish. But recently, we found that most of the public chopsticks are gone when they are used. For cost reasons, we no longer buy new public chopsticks, only put more when setting the table. A pair of ordinary chopsticks, but the usage rate of customers is not very high."
When talking about the effect of using public chopsticks, a restaurant waiter said: "Guests will pay more attention when they start eating, but they will be confused when eating. Public chopsticks will be taken once, and private chopsticks will be taken once. We found It’s not a good reminder, I’m afraid it will cause customer dissatisfaction."
Mr. Li, who dine in the store, explained: "Even if the colors and lengths are distinguished, they are all chopsticks. After putting two pairs of chopsticks in front of each person, sometimes they get confused."
It is understood that the traditional "combined meal" dining habits also hinder the promotion of public chopsticks and spoons. Many consumers have told reporters that they may pay more attention to eating with people they are not familiar with; while eating out with family members or friends, they will not deliberately use public chopsticks.
Can "market + public welfare" bless "new civilization"
It is understood that Gansu was the first place in China to promote public chopsticks and spoons. Many years ago, Jinchang, Gansu began to implement the “Dividing Meal Folders”, advocating a civilized dining table action, which was generally recognized by the society. But the "Dining Meal Folder" also has the embarrassment of not getting out of Jin Chang. Not only in Lanzhou, but also in cities such as Zhangye and Wuwei, which are close to Jinchang, many catering companies still don't know what the "division folder" is.
Analysts pointed out that the promotion of new catering styles such as "split meal clips", "public chopsticks and spoons" and "split meal system" not only requires legislation, but also requires multi-faceted blessings from the "market" and "public welfare".
At present, the tableware that can be purchased and used in the catering industry is relatively simple, and the product styles of chopsticks and spoons are "one-sided" and "unchanged for many years." In the context of "public chopsticks and public spoons" has been written into the local legislation, tableware manufacturers should "supply side reform", design and produce a batch of tableware that can distinguish ordinary chopsticks in style, color, and experience.
At the same time, catering enterprises should establish a "civilized table volunteer" system, just like "tobacco control volunteers", to promptly persuade and encourage consumers to use "public chopsticks and spoons" and "separate meal clips."
As an industry supervision department, it should also consider the cost of purchasing public chopsticks and corresponding equipment for catering companies, and help reduce the cost of corporate purchases. For catering companies that actively implement public chopsticks and public spoons, incentive policies can also be implemented.
Although "public chopsticks and public spoons" still face many difficulties in getting through the "last mile", Gansu Province's action plan to promote the "Civilization Act Promotion Regulations" and civilized dining table is still very determined. Gansu requires that provincial civilized cities and food safety demonstration cities take the lead in fully implementing civilized dining tables by the end of June; before the end of September, large and medium-sized catering service units fully implement "public chopsticks and public spoons"; by the end of December, various catering service units across the province cover.
Kang Jin