Two Grand Strand restaurants update policy to prevent dining and dashing

MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WMBF) - It’s illegal, and it hurts Grand Strand restaurants and the people who rely on the money and tips they make there.

“Dine and dash” is when people order their food, eat their meals and then leave without paying.

Within the last year, some restaurants have dealt with an uptick of dining and dashing.

In hopes of curbing the crime, two restaurants in Myrtle Beach are updating its policies to protect their employees and business.

Riptydz Oceanfront Grille and Rooftop Bar and Beach House Bar used to hold onto both credit cards and IDs to ensure people wouldn’t leave the restaurant before paying. But after listening to customers, the two restaurants are now just holding onto credit cards to prevent the theft.

In a statement to WMBF News, Dave Goodbread, the general manager of Riptydz Bar & Grill and Beach House Bar & Grill explained the revised policy:

“Riptydz Oceanfront Grille and Rooftop Bar and Beach House Bar and Grill recently implemented a policy in which customers were required to put a card and ID on hold during the duration of their meal. This policy was put in place to slow the amount of customers who attempt to leave without paying. This was an effort to protect both the employee from lost tipped wages and from lost revenue for the business.

After listening to our customers we have revised our policy and no longer hold their ID, only their card. Customers can also choose to pay with a card after each order or pay cash as they go.

2022 has come with many challenges and we will continue to adapt and make our guest experience and our employee working experience as enjoyable as possible.”

Alicia Thompson, the president of the Myrtle Beach Hospitality Association, said this kind of policy is not unusual.

“Especially in the later evening when there’s a lot of bar traffic and people are in and out with high occupancy at the restaurant. The businesses who are implementing that policy, I think it’s a rationale behind it,” Thompson said.

Along with the updated policy, customers at both Riptydz and Beach House Bar have the choice to pay in cash as they go or with their card after each order.

Copyright 2022 WMBF. All rights reserved.