In Denmark’s Capital, "Penalty" Yellow Cards to be Issued to Rude Restaurant Patrons

A campaign has begun in Copenhagen's restaurant industry to promote more polite behaviour among restaurant patrons, ensuring better treatment of hospitality staff. Local franchise fOOeels has introduced special yellow cards, similar to those used in football, to warn customers for breaking the rules or being rude, writes The Mayor.

Patrons of fOOeels can receive a penalty card if they behave inappropriately or rudely, disturb others, insult staff, or sexually harass them. In such cases, the waiter informs the restaurant administration and places a yellow card on the table of the unruly customers as a signal that they need to change their behaviour. If the patrons do not calm down, the administration will ask them to leave.

Another common practice among Copenhagen restaurants is asking patrons to promise to behave well. When booking a table online, customers must tick a box agreeing to behave appropriately; otherwise, they cannot reserve a table.

“We introduced this safety policy on our website at the beginning of the year. For us, it's a way to convey to our guests that they need to treat us properly and respect our staff. Unfortunately, this was necessary,” says Anna Bro Alker, HR manager at the Madklubben franchise chain, which operates 30 restaurants in Copenhagen.

Additionally, The Gaze reported that the Michelin Guide released its first guide dedicated to Lithuania and awarded Michelin stars to several of the country’s restaurants for the first time. Restaurants Džiaugsmas, Nineteen18, Pas Mus, and Demo received Michelin stars for the quality of their food and service, while Red Brick earned a green star for sustainable gastronomy.