SAUDI ARABIA: Restaurant in Dammam charges customers for wasted food

Record ID: 188790

  • Title: SAUDI ARABIA: Restaurant in Dammam charges customers for wasted food
  • Date: 20th October 2011
  • Summary: CUSTOMERS LEAVING TABLE AFTER FINISHING MEAL VARIOUS OF WASTED FOOD LEFT BEHIND CASHIER SPEAKING WITH CUSTOMERS CASHIER TAKING MONEY FROM TILL CUSTOMER PAYING FINE MONEY IN TO FINE BOX (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AKKEL AL ONIAZI, CUSTOMER, SAYING: "I was a bit surprised when I came to pay the bill. The cashier told me that I have to pay a fine because we ordered extra food. He said that we did not finish our food. Therefore, he made us pay a fine. But the idea is beautiful and we will be pay willingly. I hope that all restaurants start doing this." (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) BASSAM AL ONIAZI, CUSTOMER, SAYING: "I'm not angry at all. This thing (idea) is beneficial not only for me but also for the entire society. It makes me happy (to see this idea happening). I hope that all the restaurants apply it." CLOSE OF BOX OF FINES WITH SIGN READING IN ARABIC: "MARMAR RESTAURANT, BOX OF FINES, MONEY GOES TO CHARITY" (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) FAHAD AL ANZI, OWNER OF MARMAR RESTAURANT, SAYING: "The idea actually began (the idea of fine) when the story of Somalia came (famine) nearly in the middle of the month of Ramadan. Then the idea started developing. We can see the contradiction between the amount of wasted food during banquets or in restaurants, which I can see myself as an owner, in comparison to the situation of famine in Somalia" NEWSPAPER ARTICLE ON WALL, READING IN ARABIC "SAUDI RESTAURANT FINES CUSTOMERS FOR NOT FINISHING THEIR MEALS." WAITER SERVING FOOD FOR CUSTOMER CLOSE OF FRIED CHICKEN AND FRIES ON PLATE CLOSE OF MAN EATING
  • Embargoed: 4th November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia
  • Country: Saudi Arabia
  • Topics: Business,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky,Social Services / Welfare
  • Reuters ID: LVADYTL8XS0K65CZ7VFS5NRF0ZH4
  • Story Text: Saudi restaurant charges customers for wasted food.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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