A restaurant has sparked a debate on social media after asking customers to present their ID if they want to order food.
A video shared on TikTok, under the handle @gypsytravellerleague.org, reveals a front-of-house manager of the Steakhouse chain Miller & Carter telling a diner that they needed to show their identification.
"For what?" the customer, who was recording the interaction, questioned, to which the manager responded: "Just need some ID."
"For why, what's the reason? ID if I wanna get food?" the person continued. After being told "yes," the customer asked: "Are you serious."
Watch the TikTok below:The man behind the desk says to the cameraman that they if they disagree with the move then can "phone the head office and they'll tell you".
'So [at] Miller & Carter, you have to have ID to serve you food,' the customer continued to ask. "That's correct, yeah? What's your name?"
After giving the name Damien and confirming he was the manager, the man walked away to avoid being filmed any further.
The original poster said in the overlay text that the incident occurred in Harlow, England but has clarified in the caption that it actually took place at the chain's Epping branch.
"Miller & Carter- Epping not Harlow my mistake," he said, adding, "It's getting [worse] everyday 2024 Discrimination."
The clip has since amassed more than 2.5 million views on the social media platform and has sparked thousands of comments.
Many people have suggested that the restaurant is not discriminating against diners, but are instead trying to prevent people from leaving without paying for their meals.
One user speculated: "I reckon this because a family didn’t pay £359 bill." (Referring to a recent story that has seen a single family accused of 'dine-and-dashing' for over $1000 worth of food.)
Another said: "Probably because they’ve had some many people do runners," while a third interjected: "Currently there are a bunch of travelers in my area doing runners after running up like £400 bills."
A fourth added: "As a businesswoman in my experience people only refuse to hand over identification if they’ve got something to hide. Wise decision."
Meanwhile, other people were left shocked by the video and pointed out that they've personally never been asked for ID at the restaurant.
"I’ve never been asked for [ID] for food anywhere. Including Miller and Carter. Joke!!" one person exclaimed.
A second chimed in: "That's bang outta order that," and another user added: "Discriminating behavior."
Do you guys think it's wrong for restaurants to ask for ID before serving food?
