Illegal. Hotel operators themselves have the obligation to provide consumers with hygienic and qualified tableware, so that customers can pay extra for safe and secure sanitary tableware, which actually violates the legitimate rights and interests of consumers in disguise. Tableware is an essential item in catering establishments, and catering service operators have the obligation to provide consumers with sterilized tableware that meets the national hygiene standards. Where disposable sterilized tableware is provided for compensation, the catering service operator shall remind consumers to choose to use disposable sterilized tableware in a prominent position in the business premises and at the prompt of the service personnel, and explain it according to the requirements of consumers.

What is the penalty for collecting tableware fees in the catering industry?

1. Whether it is explicitly told or not, it is unfounded to charge tableware disinfection fee or use fee separately, which infringes on the fair trade rights of many consumers. According to relevant regulations, it is the legal obligation of operators to provide sterilized tableware to consumers. When consumers dine in restaurants and hotels, the objects they buy include not only food, but also the services of catering enterprises. Whether catering enterprises provide safe and hygienic dining conditions is directly related to the realization of consumption purposes. Therefore, catering enterprises are not allowed to charge consumers for cleaning and disinfecting their own tableware or buying sterilized tableware from outside, otherwise it is illegal;

2. The industrial and commercial departments will intensify efforts to rectify the illegal collection of tableware fees by catering enterprises. If the violation is minor, it shall be ordered to make corrections, the illegal income shall be confiscated, and a fine of not less than 5,000 yuan but not more than 50,000 yuan may be imposed. If the circumstances are serious, a fine of more than 50,000 yuan10,000 yuan shall be imposed, and it shall be ordered to suspend business for rectification. At the same time, consumers are advised to carefully check the details of the charges after eating in the restaurant. If the business charges tableware fees in violation of regulations, it can be pointed out in time. If the merchant refuses to correct, he can keep the charging voucher and call 123 15 to make a complaint. Once verified, the industrial and commercial departments will severely punish and punish these illegal acts.

To sum up, business operators shall perform their obligations in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws and regulations when providing commodities or services to consumers. If there is an agreement between the operator and the consumer, they shall perform their obligations in accordance with the agreement, but the agreement between the two parties shall not violate the provisions of laws and regulations. When providing commodities or services to consumers, business operators shall abide by social morality, be honest and trustworthy, and protect the legitimate rights and interests of consumers; Unfair and unreasonable trading conditions shall not be set, and trading shall not be forced.

Legal basis:

Article 7 of the Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) on the Protection of Consumer Rights and Interests

The right to safety Consumers have the right to personal and property safety protection when purchasing and using commodities and receiving services.

Consumers have the right to demand that the goods and services provided by business operators meet the requirements of protecting personal and property safety.

Article 8

The right to know consumers have the right to know the real situation of the goods they buy and use or the services they receive.

Consumers have the right to require business operators to provide prices, places of origin, producers, uses, performance, specifications, grades, main ingredients, production dates, expiration dates, inspection certificates, instructions for use, after-sales services or the contents, specifications and expenses of services, etc. according to different conditions of goods or services.