In a restaurant, the consumer must be informed of a certain amount of information that is the subject of mandatory displays. There are clear rules to follow, as defined by law. So here is a summary of the regulations in force concerning mandatory displays.
Mandatory price displays in the hotel and catering industry
THEOrder of 27 March 1987 amended by the decree of 29 June 1990, sets out the rules applicable to the display of prices in establishments serving meals, foodstuffs or drinks to be consumed on site. Some information must therefore be displayed outside the establishment. Others also require a display inside the café or restaurant.
Mandatory displays outside the catering establishment
The displays must be present in a visible and legible manner outside the establishment. The font for awards and denominations must have letters and numbers with a minimum height of 1.5 cm.
So what should be displayed? The prices of the most commonly served foods should be displayed, namely:
- the cup of black coffee;
- a half of beer on tap;
- a bottle of beer (capacity served);
- fruit juice (capacity served);
- a soda (capacity served);
- still or sparkling mineral water (capacity served);
- an aniseed aperitif (capacity served);
- a dish of the day;
- a sandwich.
For establishments that offer entertainment and music installations or services, the following are also displayed:
- admission ticket and, if the price includes a drink, the nature and contents of the drink;
- non-alcoholic drink (nature and capacity served);
- champagne bottle (brand and capacity);
- alcoholic drink served by the glass (nature and capacity served);
- whiskey bottle (brand and capacity);
- vodka or gin bottle (brand and capacity).
In addition, the prices of five wines must be displayed (or, failing that, the price of wines) at least from 11:30 for lunch service and from 18:00 for dinner service. However, a restaurant that does not serve wine must indicate the price of 5 drinks. If a menu is only served at one time of the day, then this information should be clearly specified.
Mandatory displays inside the café or restaurant
Inside, it is mandatory to set up a document that is exposed to the public. It is mandatory to display the price list of the various foodstuffs served.
tip : The provision of the restaurant menu outside and inside the restaurant makes it possible to fulfill this regulatory information obligation.
Maps and menus : For each service, must specify “drink included” or “drink not included”, specifying where applicable the drink in question and the capacity offered.
Sanction : Violations of posting obligations are punishable by a fine of 1,500 euros (7,500 euros for legal entities).
The obligation to display the origin of the meat served in a Hotel-Café-Restaurant
Decree No. 2002-1465 of 17 December 2002 requires restaurant owners to bring to the attention of customers theOrigin of pieces of meat beef or minced meat. Origin is indicated by one or other of the following statements:
- Origin: (country name) ” when the bovine from which the meat comes from was born, raised and slaughtered took place in the same country.
- Born and raised: (name of country of birth and name of country or countries of breeding) and shot: (name of the country of slaughter) ” when birth, breeding and slaughter took place in different countries.
The information must be given in a legible and visible manner, by display, indication on maps and menus or on any other medium.
Penalties: Violations of the above provisions are punishable by a fine of 450 euros (2,250 euros for legal persons).
Smoking ban displays
The article R 3511-6 of the Public Health Code states that “visible signs remind us of the ban on smoking”. In the event of a smoking area, a health warning containing a preventive message must be displayed recalling, among other things, the ban on smoking at least 18 years of age.
Posters for the protection of minors and the repression of public intoxication
The articles P. 3342-1 and following provisions of the Public Health Code require the posting of a poster recalling the provisions relating to the protection of minors.
In all establishments, you must show the Sign concerning” the protection of minors and the repression of public intoxication ”, which must be immediately visible to customers either near the entrance or near the counter (poster downloadable on the police headquarters website).
License display
Restaurant owners must indicate outside their establishment what type of license they have.
Presence of allergens
The presence of allergens in products must be clearly specified.
