07.02.2026 12:41
The Ministry of Trade made a statement regarding allegations that some restaurants are trying to charge the same amount by reflecting prices on the menu or through different methods following the ban on cover and service fees. The ministry reported that as a result of the initiated investigations, it was determined that a business had unfairly increased prices by including the service fee in the menu price, and announced that an administrative fine exceeding 1.8 million TL would be imposed on the business.
Discussions continue regarding the shift of some restaurants towards new practices following the removal of table and service fees, particularly the emergence of "voluntary tip" options on receipts.
In the new tactic of restaurants, it has been determined that tip options are offered at the bottom of the bills in percentages such as 8%, 10%, and 15%, and if customers choose one of these percentages, the amount is collected through the POS device. While some businesses argue that this method is optional and that tips are recorded and taxed, some customers claim that this practice effectively means the service fee is returning under a different name.
1.8 MILLION FINE FROM THE MINISTRY OF TRADE
While discussions are ongoing, the Ministry of Trade has made a statement regarding the issue. The ministry reported that during the investigation initiated due to the news that emerged, it was found that a business reflected the service fee in the menu prices. It was stated that during inspections, the business claimed that it continued to indirectly collect the cost of the service it previously provided along with the service fee by updating prices after the practice was removed.
The statement noted that this practice of adding the service fee to the prices is considered an unfair commercial practice, and the information and documents obtained will be forwarded to the Unfair Price Assessment Board. It was recorded that if the board decides on an unfair price increase, an administrative fine exceeding 1 million 860 thousand lira could be imposed on the relevant business.
The ministry also announced that administrative action was taken during inspections due to the absence of the TL label next to prices on the alcoholic beverage menu and the lack of a price change date. The statement emphasized that additional fees from consumers under the names of table, service fee, or similar are prevented, and that practices attempting to circumvent the law through various methods will not be allowed.
The statement from the Ministry of Trade is as follows:
"Those who wish to collect the Service Fee by Raising Menu Prices Will Not Be Allowed! Following a post titled 'After the Removal of Mandatory Tips and Table Fees, a Price Increase on the Menu' on some social media platforms on 05.02.2026, our ministry immediately initiated an investigation, and the issue has been meticulously researched in detail. In this context, when asked whether a service fee was charged at the mentioned business, which did not have a price list at the table and restaurant entrance; it was observed that they stated, 'After the termination of the service fee application, while we were providing service for a total of 16,800 TL including 15,000 TL + 12% service, we updated our prices to 16,500 TL in order not to disadvantage our employees and paid this difference to them.' In this context, it is evident that this business, which caused an example of unfair commercial practices by adding the service fee to the prices, has made an unfair price increase by including the service fee in the menu price despite the removal of the service fee application. Accordingly, based on the information and documents obtained through the business's own confession, the issue will be forwarded to the Ministry of Trade's Unfair Price Assessment Board, and if a board decision is made that this action falls under Law No. 6585 and causes an unfair price increase, an administrative fine of 1,860,170 TL will be imposed on the relevant company. Additionally, it was determined that the absence of the TL label on the alcoholic beverage menu constitutes a violation of Article 9, Paragraph 4 of the Price Tag Regulation of Law No. 6502, and the absence of a price change date constitutes a violation of Article 5, Paragraph 2 of the mentioned regulation, and administrative action has been taken by our ministry. There is no doubt! As the Ministry of Trade, we will not allow any fees to be collected under any name such as service fee, table fee, etc., and we will not permit those who attempt to bypass the mandatory provisions of the law through various methods."