Xi'an Shangdao Coffee is ordered to rectify the "minimum consumption" industrial and commercial fine.

A piece of paper used by a coffee shop to collect orders.

The measures for the Operation and Administration of the Catering Industry issued by the Ministry of Commerce and the National Development and Reform Commission clearly stipulates that catering operators are prohibited from setting minimum consumption, and violators can be fined up to 30,000 yuan. But recently, some citizens reported to this newspaper that he had encountered the minimum consumption set by the shop owner. As far as he knows, this kind of phenomenon is common in many Shangdao coffee in Xi'an.

On the evening of March 15, according to the response of consumers, the reporter came to this Shangdao coffee on Vermilion Bird Street to learn about the situation. After entering the store, two reporters ordered a 38-yuan latte, but when the reporter checked out, they were told to charge 50 yuan. "A cup of coffee is clearly priced at 38 yuan. Why does the checkout become 50 yuan?" When the reporter asked the waiter, he explained that there was a rule in the store that the minimum consumption per person was 25 yuan.

What is the basis for stipulating the minimum consumption? The waiter said that the Shangdao Coffee Vermilion Bird Street shop has been in normal operation for five or six years, and it has always been so stipulated that the minimum consumption for guests here is 25 yuan per person.

Subsequently, the reporter asked the waiter to type a consumption list, and the content on the consumption list is even more confusing. In addition to a cup of coffee that has indeed been consumed, there are two items on the list that are not consumed-"the service charge of 2 yuan and 10 yuan to draw paper." For inexplicable consumption items, the waiter's explanation is: "We can't let consumers lose money, so we put together 50 yuan for you." At the same time, the waiter handed over one big, two small, three packets of paper to the reporter.

In the face of this kind of bill-making behavior, the reporter asked the waiter: "this is compulsory consumption. If you pay according to 50 yuan, can you issue an invoice?" The waiter rejected the reporter's request because there was something wrong with the system. Wait until the system is ready to open it next time, or I'll send you something. "

Subsequently, the reporter reflected the experience in the store to the Changan South Road Industry and Commerce Office of the Yanta Branch of Xi'an Industry and Commerce Bureau. Yesterday afternoon, through the inspection of the coffee shop by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, it was found that the cafe did set minimum consumption and compulsory consumption.

"it is illegal to impose these things on consumers and it is compulsory consumption." The staff told reporters that they had imposed a fine of 1000 yuan and ordered rectification in view of the problem of compulsory consumption in the store. At the same time, the staff said that they would report to the tax authorities on the problem that the shopkeeper did not provide invoices to consumers.

Yesterday morning, the reporter opened the mobile phone APP software and located dozens of chain stores called Shangdao Coffee in Xi'an. In order to confirm the widespread existence of "minimum consumption" in Shangdao coffee shops as reflected by the public, the reporter once again came to the western section of Longshou North Road in the northern suburbs to spend money in Shangdao coffee shop. Similarly, when the reporter asked if there was a minimum consumption, the waiter said that "the minimum consumption per person is 25 yuan." Law enforcement officials remind that when consumers encounter this kind of "compulsory consumption", they can lodge a complaint with the consumer association or the department for industry and commerce with their consumer vouchers. Article / photo by our reporter Glenn