Cafés in Morocco: the very salty bill that spoils the AFCON party

Enjoying a match of the Atlas Lions over a tea or coffee can turn into a scam. Several establishments are taking advantage of the record influx to inflate their prices without warning, turning the popular celebration into a financial trap.

It’s the "chef’s surprise": no display, no prior information, but prices that skyrocket once the final whistle has blown. A blatant violation of law 31.08 which guarantees the customer the right to know the price before consuming, depriving the citizen of his right to choose or refuse the service.

TV piracy and confiscated sidewalks

Cafe owners often cite security costs or "premium" location to justify these sudden increases. Excuses rejected outright by the Observatory: these costs are the responsibility of the professional and should not be arbitrarily passed on to the customer, taken hostage by the emotion of the match.

The abuse does not stop at the wallet. Many establishments broadcast the matches via "domestic" subscriptions to avoid paying commercial rights, an infringement of copyright law. Not to mention the illegal invasion of sidewalks by additional chairs and tables, forcing pedestrians to walk on the road, disregarding all safety.

Faced with this anarchy, a call is made to the local authorities to crack down, control and sanction these abuses.