# Fast food price question **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 24, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063 "2003-06-24T16:16:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/1 "2003-06-24T16:16:46Z")
So me and my friend have a bet going on, and I need to be proven right! So here it is: Do fast food restaurants charge more if you get your food for ‘here’ rather than ‘to go’. I thought I heard that they charge more to eat in because they have to clean up after you. Anyone got the answer? ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/2 "2003-06-24T16:27:23Z")
In Germany, where I live not, I guess there are legal restrictions that would prohibit this. But I’ve frequently experienced this abroad, eg in a French McDonald’s (I don’t know about the situation in America, sorry). There are many reasons why the restaurant would prefer you take your food away: You’re not taking up a precious table, they don’t have to clean, etc. Probably every restaurant has its own policy on this, since the outlets usually aren’t run by the big corporation itself but by independent sub-companies in a franchise scheme. And local legislation might play a role as well, but I’m sure you’re doing your fast food manager a favor if you take it away. ---
**Author:** ![Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rex_fenestrarum/32/7265_2.png) [@Rex\_Fenestrarum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rex_Fenestrarum)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/3 "2003-06-24T16:28:38Z")
No they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![In\_Conceivable](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/4bbf92/32.png) [@In\_Conceivable](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/In_Conceivable)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/4 "2003-06-24T16:33:35Z")
I have never heard of them doing that in America. ---
**Author:** ![FatBaldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecd19e/32.png) [@FatBaldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FatBaldGuy)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/5 "2003-06-24T16:38:39Z")
In some states there is a different tax rate for food to be eaten on premises (restaurant tax) vs. food to be eaten at home (sales tax). ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/6 "2003-06-24T16:41:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fat Bald Guy \* > \*\*In some states there is a different tax rate for food to be eaten on premises (restaurant tax) vs. food to be eaten at home (sales tax). \*\* Worked in fast food for years, Fat Bald Guy is right, depends on tax laws.😛 ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/7 "2003-06-24T16:59:10Z")
If they did charge less for takeout, what’s to stop me from getting it “to go” and then sitting down at a table with that food? ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Blink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@Slow\_Blink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Blink)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/8 "2003-06-24T17:01:13Z")
A way you and your friend can settle the bet. You both go to the same restaurant and order the same thing, one of you order “in” and the other “to go”. See who pays more. ---
**Author:** ![Viscera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/258eb7/32.png) [@Viscera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Viscera)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/9 "2003-06-24T17:09:22Z")
Worked at Mickey D’s for years when I was in school. Eat-in or drive-thru was the same (same sales tax). This was in Indiana. ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/10 "2003-06-24T17:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fat Bald Guy \* > \*\*In some states there is a different tax rate for food to be eaten on premises (restaurant tax) vs. food to be eaten at home (sales tax). \*\* Yea thats it, i knew it. Thank you fat bald guy! You have given me bragging rights for the day! ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/11 "2003-06-24T17:12:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by scr4 \* > \*\*If they did charge less for takeout, what’s to stop me from getting it “to go” and then sitting down at a table with that food? \*\* The restaraunt police…They’re out there…They’re watching!😉 ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/12 "2003-06-24T17:28:50Z")
> [@](#): > > Do fast food restaurants charge more if you get your food for ‘here’ rather than ‘to go’. When I lived in California, one restaurant (Togos) didn’t charge tax (or charged less tax) if you got it to go. It was up to the restaurant whether to not charge the tax, and most didn’t bother with the different rates, so just going to a restaurant to settle the bet won’t work in your favor, unless you’ve verified the store’s policy ahead of time. ---
**Author:** ![macabresoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e68b1a/32.png) [@macabresoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/macabresoul)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/13 "2003-06-24T17:38:50Z")
Oh btw i live in California. I have noticed this at fast food places mostly. ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/14 "2003-06-24T17:49:17Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ZenBeam \* > **When I lived in California, one restaurant (Togos) didn’t charge tax (or charged less tax) if you got it to go. It was up to the restaurant whether to not charge the tax** While I’m not doubting that you know what you’re talking about, I just don’t get what’s the point about a tax if the restaurant may choose not to charge it??? (I’ve read about all that sales tax chaos in the US regarding online stores, which seems to have resulted in the stores paying the tax more or less voluntarily, but in restaurants?) ---
**Author:** ![Eirik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b19c9b/32.png) [@Eirik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eirik)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/15 "2003-06-24T17:52:51Z")
I remember this from when I lived in California as well, McD’s would charge tax for dine in and not for take out. Never could understand it. Never noticed it in Massachusetts when I was there, nor here in Washington state. But don’t give them any ideas, they’re already looking to take everything they can… ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/16 "2003-06-24T20:32:41Z")
The “tax only for eat-in” applies in Ohio, as well. The rationale I heard is that (in Ohio) food isn’t normally taxable, but when you’re eating at a restaraunt, it’s a “luxury”, hence taxable. No, I’m not claiming this makes sense: I’m not sure where one could possibly eat a Big Mac to make it luxurious. ---
**Author:** ![Mini-Thud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/779978/32.png) [@Mini-Thud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mini-Thud)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/17 "2003-06-24T20:42:35Z")
I live in NH and no they don’t charge extra for “eat-in” here. I often get it to go and then just sit at a table anyway though, the trays are not neccesary… thats what the burger wrapper is for! ---
**Author:** ![ZenBeam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3ab097/32.png) [@ZenBeam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZenBeam)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/18 "2003-06-24T21:25:55Z")
> [@](#): > > While I’m not doubting that you know what you’re talking about, I just don’t get what’s the point about a tax if the restaurant may choose not to charge it??? From the state’s point of view, I think **Chronos** ’s post is correct. From the point of view of the restaurant, it may be easier to just charge everyone the higher tax (and turn it all over to the state), which is why not all restaurants follow the two-tiered system. ---
**Author:** ![frixxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb9ed0/32.png) [@frixxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/frixxxx)\ **Post date:** [June 24, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fast-food-price-question/184063/19 "2003-06-24T21:41:09Z")
OK, I travel consistently and will give you the scoop. I just reviewed my reciepts and will tell you what I found. These excerpts are from my reciepts: NY state - “eat in” tax when at the restaurant, basic sales tax when taking out.But when I got a few things at the supermarket by the office, no sales tax. Texas - flat sales tax regardless California - flat sales tax, except my friggin city has an alcohol consumption tax - must be serious drinkers here Utah - 6.25% sales tax + 1.00% restaurant tax So, as you can see, it really matters what each of the glorious fifty want to do. Hope this helps!