Does anyone know if this is true? (Doggy bags)

[INeedABiggerBoat]

Just had a lovely big roast at the local pub as a treat, and I couldn't finish it - one chicken leg left over. I asked the waitress if I could get it in a doggy bag/ foil to feed my dog later, and she said that they weren't allowed to because they didn't have a takeaway licence. Does anyone know if this is an actual law or if the chef was just being snobby? I've done some googling but can't spot an actual law, although this seems to be a bone of contention in a few countries and in Michelin restaurants (!)

Now wondering whether I could have just snuck it out in a napkin and managed to not get chicken juices all over my bag on the way home. Next time I'll add 'foil' to the tonnes of things I tend to keep in my handbag 'just in case'!

[sooperdooper]

Never heard that before, I regularly take bits of leftovers home sometimes wrapped in napkins for the dog!

[acasualobserver]

I always thought that dogs shouldn't eat chicken bones. (I know I've missed the point there.)

[steff13]

You're correct, acasualobserver.

[INeedABiggerBoat]

Casualobserver - I would have flaked the chicken off the bones before feeding it to her. Think dogs are okay to eat raw chicken on the bone, but not cooked because the bones can fracture.

[SlinkyB]

My sister has dogs and regularly used to ask to take leftovers home. Pubs/restaurants stopped doing it a couple of years ago, as they said they couldn't be 100% certain you were giving it to a dog, therefore you could take it home and reheat (badly?) and eat yourself, then say the establishment was to blame when you got ill from it.

Another reason cited was dogs shouldn't eat chicken bones.

She takes zip lock bags now and does it under the table, semi-discretly so embarrassing

[LottieL]

My impression from working in catering is that a lot of places choose not to give doggy bags as people (sometimes) try and reheat what they had and get it wrong (ie not warm enough, left out at room temperature for too long therefore bacteria grows, etc), end up sick and try blame the restaurant. Or that's what I was told the policy was for. One restaurant I worked at used to make us take a plastic box out to the customer at their table so they could bag up what they wanted themselves, which apparently minimised the restaurants liability....?

[SlinkyB]

YY cooked chicken bones.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I've never had anyone turn down my request for a doggy bag. Didn't know that was a thing.

[BarbaraofSeville]

I nearly always take a doggy bag, for me to eat, because most restaurants serve portions much bigger than I can eat in one go. Has never been an issue and I'm not sure there is such a thing as a takeaway licence anyway.

[ThisIsNotARealAvo]

I just ask for the rest to take away, and I've never been refused.

[chough]

Wouldn't apply to me, DH or DS as we never leave a scrap of food.

[MatildaTheCat]

I have taken away food from unfinished meals from restaurants and pubs all over GB and never had an issue. I might give it to the dog and equally might eat it myself, I'm an day and can decide. I would take the view that I have paid for the food,therefore it is mine. All you are asking for is some foil to carry it in.

In future press this further and refuse to take no for an answer.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Utter rubbish! If they do it in the US with their compensation culture and no one is fussed about being sued there's no reason why they can't do it here.

[MatildaTheCat]

I'm an adult, not a day

[sirfredfredgeorge]

In terms of Planning Permission - A3 Restaurant or Cafe allows you to sell take away or not, there may be a specific local planning restriction preventing off-sales, but it's very, very unlikely.

Licensing restrictions I don't believe apply either as the licensing is the same.

They just didn't want you to have a doggy bag, so they're a place to avoid.

[BarbaraofSeville]

If I was refused a doggy bag, I would probably refuse to pay for the food I couldn't eat, because there is no sensible version not to allow it, most restaurants like you to take a doggy bag because it proves to them that you like the food but are full. On the odd occasion I have left food and not taken a doggy bag, usually if I am away and don't have heating facilities a disappointed chef has come to the table to find out what is wrong with the food.

[BarbaraofSeville]

Version =reason ffs

[LottieL]

I'm going to play devils advocate here Barbara but why do you think you are able to not pay for a full meal if you chose not to eat it and the restaurant (due to whatever policy they use) wouldn't give you a doggy bag? They have cooked and supplied you a full meal, they can't take it back and reuse it. If you decide you can't eat it that isn't their problem surely, unless it's inedible.
It reminds me of situations that come up where a customer will eat their meal entirely, then complain something was wrong with it and try not to pay for it. As though anyone is going to believe it was bad when they have literally scrapped the plate of every last little scrap!
(I'm saying this as someone who has worked in catering and whose DP owns and runs a restaurant so seeing it from the other side too 🙂)

[Sara107]

I frequently ask to take dD's uneaten pizza home and there's never been a problem. She can't manage a full one, and we have taught her to leave some of the slices untouched, rather than taking a bite out of all of them. I can't see how a restaurant can be held liable for you giving yourself food poisoning by not reheating properly, by this reasoning no shop, cafe, market stall etc could ever take the risk of letting customers take food off their premises. I would say as you have paid for the food it is yours to do as you wish with.

[ParanoidGynodroid]

No idea if its a thing or not, but at least this thread has given me the idea to pop a couple of sealable foodbags in my handbag for tomorrow's inevitable leftovers when we go our to lunch. ParanoidDog will be pleased.

[2kids2dogsnosense]

No eating establishment has ever refused me a doggy bag, but after reading this, I'll probably bung a plastic freezer bag into my handbag next time, so if I get stuck with some shirty tw*t I can just pack it up myself. As someone else said - if you've paid for it, it's yours. But they aren't under obligation to provide foil etc, I suppose.

[sonjadog]

Dogs shouldn´t eat cooked chicken bones, so they are definitely out. I wrap up the end of whatever red meat there is and take it home to the dog. I don´t eat red meat, so it is a rare treat for him.

[Hiphopopotamus]

Do people really give doggy bags to their dogs?? I've always eaten my take home leftovers!