POSTCRIPT: Anti-Distracted Dining takes effect nationwide
Illustration by Patrick Dale Carrillo
(Editor’s note: This is a work of satire.)
MANILA, Philippines — A new law banning all diners from using mobile devices while eating will soon be enforced by the National Food Authority and the Food and Drug Administration.
Republic Act 10988 or the “Anti-Distracted Dining Act,” which became law last week, defines distracted dining as the diner’s use of mobile communication, electronic entertainment and computing devices or gadgets while the food and most importantly their companion(s) sitting or standing in front of them, if any, are ignored.
The law covers diners of all establishments including fine dining, fast food, casual and buffet restaurants as well as turo-turo, lugawan, mami and fishball stands and even people eating in their own homes.
R.A. 10988 is aimed at preventing people from ignoring each other during meals, when a majority of the table is engaged and locked onto their own respective mobile device’s screen.
The law also aims to prevent the excessive posting on social media of food photos when eating, especially those containing excessive amounts of hashtags, that according to a study conducted by the World Food Organization (WFO), causes the food to become cold after the 68th hashtag has been typed.
The WFO also said diners talking on their cell phones when eating are 17 times more likely to annoy other people at the table or around them than a diner who isn’t on the phone and just being himself/herself.
“It is better for your dining companion(s) to be annoyed at you for being yourself, than them being annoyed at you for your inability to interact with them and using your mobile device to hide your shyness or insecurities,” the WFO study adds.
The law defines distracted dining as:
•“Using a mobile communications device to take photos, write, send, or read a text-based communication, or to make or receive calls, and other similar acts; and
•“Using an electronic entertainment or computing device to play games, watch movies, surf the Internet, compose messages, read e-books, perform calculations, or pretending to do one or all of the above acts to avoid social interaction or small talk at the dining table.”
Diners are required to excuse themselves from the table to use their electronic devices for a maximum of five minutes only.
The law does NOT allow for hands-free use of a cell phone through an earpiece or smartwatch, as this has the same, if not worse, effect than your regular cell phone.
“Both hands should be on the eating utensils and nothing more,” said NFA spokesperson Nomel Nombriega. “Kahit na gamit nyo ang kamay sa pagkain, hindi pa rin excuse ang paggamit ng hands-free devices.”
Diners are also prohibited from using or displaying any religious artifacts such as rosaries, statuettes or photos during a meal, as this may also distract from the gastronomic experience.
“Sa pagkain lang dapat ang tingin nyo, huwag kung saan-saan,” added Nombriega. “Kahit nasa loob pa ng bag nyo yan, kung anyway you’re looking at it, your attention is distracted. That is a violation.”
Exceptions include a diner using a cell phone in an emergency, such as calling your best friend to rescue you from a creepy blind date or a desperate ex, and a call of nature emergency using a cell phone to ask for help after finding out too late that the stall you were in doesn’t have any tissue paper.
Nombriega added that diners who use restaurant review apps, such as Booky or Zomato, must close the app if they are already seated. He said that if ever they change their mind, they must stand up and exit the establishment before they are allowed to use the app again.
Violators will be fined P5,000 for the first offense, P10,000 for the second offense, P15,000 and a three-month suspension from being invited by friends to eat out for the third offense, and P20,000 and being disowned by friends and family for the fourth offense.
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