Ban on Service and Cover Charges: What Venues in Türkiye Must Comply With Since 30 January 2026
With the amendment to the Fiyat Etiketi Yönetmeliği (Price Tag Regulation) published in the Resmî Gazete (Official Gazette) No. 33153 dated 30 January 2026, businesses serving food and drink are prohibited from charging consumers any additional fee under names such as service charge, cover charge, table charge or similar. The rule took effect on the date of publication; no transition period was granted.
This guide explains, step by step, the scope of the rule, the single legal exception and how to bring your price list into compliance without penalties.
What does the ban cover?
The rule covers all premises serving food and drink, such as eateries, restaurants, cafes and patisseries. Every charge passed on to the consumer must be clearly shown in the tariff and price list; no fee that is not on the list may be requested separately.
- No service charge may be collected (whether as a percentage of the food bill or as a fixed amount).
- No cover charge may be collected (for tablecloths, bread, cutlery, etc.).
- No fee may be requested under derivative names such as table charge, seating fee or "venue contribution".
- No item that is not on the menu may be added to the bill.
Common mistake
Interpreting the ban as "we can charge a service fee if we write it on the menu in small print". The purpose of the rule is that no additional charge is collected beyond the product price; you need to build your costs into product prices and cannot show them as a separate item.
The single exception: the percentage (tip-share) system
The regulation preserves the "percentage method" of pay under Article 51 of İş Kanunu No. 4857 (Labour Law). In other words, a system in which the entire percentage added to the bill is distributed to employees, documented in line with the Labour Law, may continue. No "service fee" retained as the venue's own profit falls under this exception.
Venues that apply the percentage method must show this charge clearly in the tariff and keep records of the distribution. In practice, inspections most often ask for documentation of this distinction.
What awaits venues that do not comply?
Breaches of the Price Tag Regulation are sanctioned with administrative fines under Law No. 6502 on Consumer Protection. Inspections are carried out by the provincial directorates of trade; consumers can file a complaint, together with their receipt, via CİMER (Presidential Communication Center), the Ministry of Trade (ALO 175, the Ministry of Trade consumer hotline) or the provincial directorates.
Fine amounts are updated every year by the revaluation rate; follow the official announcements of the Ministry of Trade for current amounts. Regardless of the amount, a "hidden cover charge" complaint that reaches social media costs a venue's reputation more than the fine.
To-do list for your venue
- 1Remove "service", "cover" and "table charge" items from your bill and POS system.
- 2Build the income from these items into your product prices — run a per-product cost/profit analysis for price engineering.
- 3Update all your printed and digital price lists on the same day; leaving an old list posted is a breach in itself.
- 4If you apply the percentage method, document compliance with Article 51 of the Labour Law (payroll and distribution records).
- 5Brief your staff: even explaining a charge to a customer with the words "service charge" can become grounds for a complaint.
Frequently asked questions
When did the service charge ban take effect?
It took effect on the same day as the amendment to the Price Tag Regulation published in the Official Gazette No. 33153 dated 30 January 2026. No transition period was granted.
Can we charge a cover fee if we write it on the menu?
No. The rule prohibits collecting additional charges such as service, cover or table fees beyond the product price under any circumstances. Costs can only be included within product prices.
Is the percentage distributed to waiters also banned?
No. The percentage method under Article 51 of Labour Law No. 4857 was preserved. A percentage system that is distributed in full to employees and kept on record may continue; a service fee retained as venue profit may not be collected.
What can a customer do if they still pay a service charge?
They can file a complaint, with the receipt and bill, via CİMER, ALO 175 or the provincial directorate of trade. The venue faces an administrative fine under Law No. 6502.
Official sources
- Ministry of Trade — Announcement of the amendment to the Price Tag Regulation (in Turkish)
- BloombergHT — Service and cover charges banned at restaurants (in Turkish)
- Memurlar.net — New rule on service charges at restaurants (in Turkish)
This guide is for information purposes and does not replace legal advice. Published: August 18, 2026 · Last updated: August 18, 2026
Update your price list in minutes
In Genu, a price change is instantly reflected in the QR menu on every table — no risk of being caught in an inspection with an old printed list. Removing service/cover items and updating product prices in bulk takes a few minutes.