MINNEAPOLIS — So-called junk fees are set to be a thing of the past in Minnesota starting Jan. 1.
Those extra costs often show up as health and wellness fees on bills at some restaurants.
Advocates say the law ensures price transparency, meaning the price you see on the menu is the price you will pay.
“Service fees are not junk. These are dedicated funds that go directly to employees,” said Angie Whitcomb, president and CEO for Hospitality Minnesota.
Whitcomb argues the service fees are transparent to begin with, and said simply raising prices hurts business.
“As consumers, we are price conscious, so while the fix may seem simple, ‘oh, just roll it up into the fee,’ at some point, as a consumer, we’re going to decide that $20 for a meal that was $15 last year is no longer part of our budget,” said Whitcomb.
“I’d like to think that our employees healthcare and their mental well-being is not junk,” said Brent Frederick, owner of Jester Concepts.