Coronavirus: US bars and restaurants apply Covid-19 surcharges

Fee raises the price of a bottle of Corona beer to over £7

Corona beer (Getty)

Travellers aiming to visit the US later in the summer may find a “Covid-19 surcharge” on the bill at bars and restaurants.

A Las Vegas bistro has started applying a 4 per cent charge.

At Mon Ami Gabi, part of Paris Las Vegas, customers are told: “To help offset restrictions on our business resulting from the coronavirus crisis, a 4 percent surcharge has been added to all guest checks.”

Together with local sales tax, the price of a $7.95 bottle of Corona beer increases by more than a dollar, making the sterling price over £7.

But the bistro emphasises the charge is optional: “If you would like this removed please let us know.”

The hospitality industry is facing limits on capacity – at Mon Ami Gabi, the maximum number of diners has been halved.

It is one of several restaurants in the city owned by Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, which has applied the same surcharge at El Segundo Sol and Joe’s Seafood in Las Vegas.

In addition, the cost of ingredients has soared, according to some restaurants,.

The Kiko Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Lounge in West Plains, Missouri, was heavily criticised on social media for adding a 5 per cent surcharge.

But the management of the restaurant posted on Facebook: “We are doing this hoping we can adjust the surcharge weekly rather than just raise all of our prices on our menu due to increase prices from our supplier on meat, poultry, seafood and produce.”

The proprietor of the Kiko, whose slogan is “Big-city quality with small-town hospitality,” said: “Stop calling names to my employees! They are just working there.

“Go ask the meat packer, not us.”