Quebec moves to crack down on restaurant no-shows

Quebec is taking a stand against restaurant no-shows by introducing new regulations that would allow owners to charge clients who do not honor their reservations. The proposed changes to the Consumer Protection Act were announced by the Quebec government, with a 45-day consultation period for citizens to provide feedback on the draft regulation.

According to the Quebec Restaurant Association, no-shows can cost businesses significant amounts of money each year. To address this issue, the proposed rules would permit restaurants to charge up to $10 per person for groups of five or more individuals who fail to cancel their reservation at least three hours in advance.

In addition, restaurants would be required to inform customers of potential charges before making a reservation and send out reminders between six and 48 hours prior to the scheduled time. If only one member of a party shows up, the remaining no-shows cannot be charged. Fees cannot be applied before the reservation time, and restaurants must make it easy for clients to cancel their reservations.

Junior Economy Minister Christopher Skeete emphasized that restaurant no-shows have become increasingly common, especially since the end of the pandemic. He stated that the new measures aim to serve as a disincentive for individuals to abuse reservations by making them more accountable for their actions.

While the Quebec Restaurant Association welcomed the government’s initiative to crack down on no-shows, Vice-President Martin Vézina suggested some improvements to the proposed regulations. Specifically, the association plans to request the removal of the requirement for a minimum of five patrons to charge a penalty and an increase in the maximum penalty from $10 to $20.

However, not all restaurant owners agree with the need for these measures. Chef and owner David Ferguson of Restaurant Gus in Montreal believes that the regulations are unnecessary, as many establishments already require credit card information for reservations. Ferguson prefers a more personal approach to customer service, focusing on building relationships and trust with clients.

The new regulations are set to take effect on July 17, and details of the consultations can be found on the Office de la protection du consommateur’s website. While the industry remains divided on the issue of charging penalties for no-shows, the government is committed to implementing clear and reasonable rules that benefit both consumers and restaurant owners.