The Prisoner's Dilemma of USA Restaurant Fees

Restaurants that add surcharges instead of raising posted menu prices create a prisoner's dilemma, and Simon argues that US consumer protection law should require posted prices to include all fees. Mi Vida in DC added a fee after initiative 82 began raising the tipped minimum wage toward 2027, and The Hamilton added its own surcharge in 2023. South Africa's Consumer Protection Act bars suppliers from misleading consumers about pricing, and Simon proposes a "FEE Act" (Fees Exactly as Expected Act) for the US.