This is a practice that has been emerging for several weeks in Belgium: financial support from customers to help cafes and restaurants meet the high energy costs. Establishments where the gas and electricity bill has been multiplied by 4 or 5.
Concretely, customers decide to voluntarily inflate their bill: 50 cents, 1 or 2 €. The idea often comes from customers themselves who want to help establishments hold on and not have to close. Suddenly, it works and 95% of customers agree to give a supplement. Some even leave envelopes.
The surcharge keeps the restaurant or cafeteria afloat and remains legal, as long as it is clearly announced to the consumer before the meal begins.
The measure is intended to be temporary. If the energy situation improves, the establishment will lower its supplement or eliminate it altogether.
A practice also accepted by the Horeca sector, which hopes that this will alert the authorities to the enormous difficulties encountered by the sector.
This practice, Lionel Vanrode, restaurateur in the Brussels region, had never thought of putting it in place. Except that his energy bill went from 950 to 3,800€ per month. So he asks 2€ for participation from customers who want it and it works.
“A client asked me why I don’t ask for support from clients, something I don’t ask for. After 2-3 days, I said to myself let’s try but I didn’t want to impose it on people”, he confides. “I’m still embarrassed. Some give 2 euros, others more. Some drop me an envelope without even coming to see me at the restaurant.”
This practice seemed unthinkable for Nicolas Beldars, manager of Barbuston in Ottignies. But customers insisted on helping him with his energy bills, which have increased fivefold. “The 24,000 euros, I don’t have them. The first idea was to turn around and see following a year what was going to happen”, he said. If the energy situation improves, the establishment will lower its supplement or eliminate it altogether.
This practice is legal from the moment it is clearly announced and the Horeca Wallonia Federation authorizes it.
