Global cafés revert to use of paper cups but local cafés use sterilized glass cups

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‘Takeaway’ meals preferred fearing ‘corona’ infection

KUWAIT CITY, March 9: International café and restaurant companies in Kuwait have announced their temporary suspension of the use of glass or ceramic cups and tumblers as part of the precautionary measures to counter the coronavirus outbreak.

On the other hand, local coffee companies choose to use and sterilize glass cups instead of resorting to paper and cardboard cups due to increase in the costs, reports Al-Rai daily. The outbreak of coronavirus has pushed global cafés to return to the use of paper, cardboard and plastic cups for cold drinks.

For years, they adopted the principle of preserving the environment by limiting the use of non-recyclable materials but the current situation has prompted them to return to their use.

However, local restaurants and cafés continue with the sterilization approach as a result of the intensive campaigns by municipal inspectors who, when monitoring them, highlight the need to ensure sterilization materials are on continuous use.

The officials will issue citations against everyone who does not adhere to these procedures. The daily monitored the work mechanism, and the effects caused by the coronavirus outbreak on both global and local cafes.

It turned out that all parties are affected by the poison of the virus without getting infected. The percentage of losses increased because majority of their customers chose to stay home.

This is in addition to increasing the burden of costs to buy one-time cleaning, disinfecting and kitchen tools. Even though majority of the people in Kuwait drink coffee daily which led to the flourishing trade in making and selling coffee, many employees in international cafés affirmed the low demand for coffee recently, compared to the days prior to the spread of the virus.

This situation has resulted in low profits and high losses as a result of their commitment to using only recycled cups, in addition to the commitment of all international fast food restaurants to the instructions issued by Ministry of Health and Kuwait Municipality to wear masks and gloves continuously.

Some of them prevent provision of meals using trays, as the latter are used by everyone who prefers to eat in the restaurant.

They opt for “takeaway” by placing the meals inside paper bags. On the other hand, a number of owners of local cafes and restaurants, in separate conversations with the daily, said the losses that were generated as a result of prohibiting shisha in their cafés and restaurants reached at least 70 percent. This does not help their businesses due to their commitment to paying the high rents and employees’ salaries even though there has been no work.

They cannot buy and use plastic plates, cups, and spoons, so they resort to sterilization using boiling water.

They affirmed their commitment to the ministry’s instructions to maintain health of the customers who continue to visit them.

The owners went on to explain that Kuwait Municipality inspects their cafés and restaurants almost daily to ensure that all instructions related to hygiene and sterilization of materials are applied. They have been mandated not to provide shisha.

The inspectors also verify the validity of the health card of all workers, and citations are issued to all those who default. In addition, an employees of an international fast food restaurant in Da’iya area affirmed that the restau-

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