These Bottomless Brunch Restaurants Have Started Charging 'Vomit Fees' For People Who Can't Hold Down Their Alcohol

Ancient Romans were once believed to have enjoyed eating so much that they had dedicated spaces in their homes to throw up their meals and continue gorging themselves on food and wine. Vomiting in this myth was viewed as a sign of satisfaction and a cause for celebration rather than a disgusting act as we think of it today.

It goes without saying that if you start blowing chunks at a restaurant, you won't be exactly be making the restaurant staff or your fellow diners happy. Now, restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area are making customers pay up if they can't keep their alcohol down.

Kitchen Story restaurant in Oakland, CA is one of these places. According to local news station KRON, the Asian fusion spot has a sign posted in the restaurant warning mimosa drinkers that they will be assessed a $50 cleaning fee if they vomit in the restaurant.

Across the bay in San Francisco, Home Plate restaurant has a notice for customers printed directly on the menu underneath the bottomless mimosa option. "Please drink responsibly," it reads, warning that "any incident [incurred] as a result from intoxication" will lead to a $50 cleaning fee.

So far, the deterrent seems to be working. Kitchen Story co-owner Chaiporn Kitsadaviseksak told SFGate that it hasn't had to charge a cleaning fee since the sign was posted. "It was really tough cleaning. People were scared with COVID. And this was happening a lot. My workers don't want to do that," he said. "It got better. Now [customers] know they have to pay. They understand."

Things can easily get out of hand when bottomless drinks are involved, so the trend might be a good way to keep things from getting too messy. Vomiting at brunch is already embarrassing enough, and tacking on a $50 charge just adds insult to injury.