The first reason, according to representatives of the restaurant industry, is that the previously charged service fee was not a tip or an additional charge, but served to cover significant operational costs of the establishments. With the introduction of a ban on separately charging this fee, restaurants and cafes were forced to include these expenses in the price of dishes, which led to the increase in prices.
The second factor influencing the price increase is the rise in the cost of operating catering enterprises. As the association noted, there has been an increase in prices for food products, rent, logistics, utilities, and an increase in employee salaries, which has also affected the final cost of dishes for customers.
