California Governor Gavin Newsom, who owns multiple restaurants, has signed SB 1524 into law, allowing restaurants to continue adding those pesky surcharges to your bill. Now, the idea is that these fees need to be “clearly and conspicuously” displayed on menus, but let’s break down what this really means for you, the consumer.
Here’s the deal. The restaurant industry claims these surcharges are essential for their survival. They say it helps maintain pay parity between the wait staff and the kitchen staff, cover city health mandate fees, and even include corkage fees for bringing your own wine. Sounds fair, right? Well, maybe not so much.
In reality, what this means is that restaurants now have the green light to slap on extra charges, shifting their business expenses onto you. Sure, they need to display these fees clearly, but how often do we, in the rush of choosing our meals, scrutinize every line on the menu? These charges can quickly add up, making your dining experience more expensive than you anticipated.