Sharing is caring, right? Wrong if you’re a diner at a certain Australian restaurant that is now asking patrons who are part of large parties order their own drinks, meals and desserts, because taking up space and not ordering doesn’t exactly help the restaurant’s bottom-line.

The restaurant owner is receiving mixed reviews after making a post on Facebook asking each individual guest to purchase a meal or dessert and a beverage other than free tap water, Mashable reports.

According to a post on the restaurant’s facebook page:

During peak times, we would really really appreciate each individual guest purchasing a meal or dessert and a beverage.
We would like to reserve table space for paying customers.
Sorry to put it plainly but large groups not eating or drinking does not pay our rent or the wages of our fabulous staff
If you must share please purchase a drink.
We hope you understand and look forward to seeing you soon..

While making a post on social media blasting large groups of people for being cheap isn’t exactly the nicest (or brightest) thing a small business owner can do, the statement does include some truths.

I mean, restaurants do need to sell things in order to make money to pay their staff and remain open for business, right?

For his part, the owner defended the post, telling a local newspaper that some inconsiderate customers just cost too much to please.

“I don’t want to offend anyone by it, but at the end of the day I have to pay rent, a huge power bill and wages,” he said. “We can’t survive with people using us as a meeting place. It doesn’t sustain my business if they just drink tap water.”

After receiving backlash, and some backers, the owner further clarified his remarks, saying that the stance is directed only at large groups of eight or more people who share drinks and desserts while other, paying, customers wait in line.

To help set the record straight there are no ‘rules’ regarding dining at [restaurant]. We are in the business of hospitality and as such, everyone is welcome whether you are part of a large group, a solo diner or a small party of two.

Having said that, we are also a business with staff wages and rent to pay.

There is no issue with people sharing meals, after all, the sharing of food is one of life’s great joys.

The issue I am speaking out about is when large groups of say, 8 or 20 people share for instance, 2 meals/desserts, or share 4 coffees or even worse,trying to bring in their own food from home, especially when there are customers waiting for a seat. This is an issue not just limited to our business, many of my fellow restaurateurs have shared similar stories with me.

Many people are watching their pennies in this economy and this is understandable. Our meals start at $8.90 and that’s why we try and make dining out an affordable experience for all.

Restaurant Demands Customers Stop Sharing Meals, Drinking Tap Water [Mashable]

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