Is it Legal to Refuse to Pay Service Charge at a Restaurant?

According to guidelines issued by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), paying a "service charge" at a restaurant is entirely voluntary.

Restaurants cannot automatically add this charge to the bill or force customers to pay it as a condition of dining. It is considered an unfair trade practice to garnish a bill with hidden costs that are not part of the food price.

If a restaurant insists on a service charge, a consumer can ask for it to be removed or file a complaint with the National Consumer Helpline.

Legally, only the price of the food and applicable government taxes (like GST) are mandatory payments.