GEORGE TOWN: The Consumers' Association of Penang (CAP) has urged consumers to boycott coffeeshops which impose charges if diners do not order drinks.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said, in the first place, the coffeeshop owners have no right to put up such notices.
He said they should only put up notices on their menu and their prices.
"It is an extremely bad move. Customers have the right of what to order and what to consume. Owners have no right to impose anything on customers.
"As such, we urge the authorities, particularly the Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry, to look into this issue very seriously and take the necessary action against such eateries.
"Meanwhile, consumers should boycott this kind of eateries and inform other consumers not to patronise (them)," he told the New Straits Times.
The NST had reported that a kopitiam in Penang had gone viral for the wrong reasons.
This kopitiam allegedly has a sign on its wall which reads: "Each table will be charged RM2 if no single drink is ordered."
The picture was posted on the Puchong News Group, describing the act as "outrageous".
Mohideen reiterated that consumers had the right to eat what they wanted and must demand for a receipt for what they were being charged.
He said it was irrespective of whether one is a dine-in or take-away customer.
"If we allow such practices (of charging if drinks are not ordered), then more and more eateries will follow this style (of doing business). The ministry should not allowed this. The only way is for consumers to boycott," he added.
Meanwhile, the ministry's Penang director S. Jegan said consumers could reach out to them for any complaints.
"We will try to act intermediate. We will seek an explanation from the owners," he said.
Jegan, however, said there were some eatery operators who had complained about some customers to the authorities.
"Some owners said there are customers who hoard the place during take-away.
"This will deprive the real customers who walked into their outlets a place to sit.
"The owners said they had put up notices to alert customers," he said.