A restaurant in Chiang Mai, Thailand, is facing significant backlash after a video went viral showcasing its peculiar discount system — based on how “skinny” a customer is.
The establishment, Chiang Mai Breakfast World, offered discounts of up to 20% to customers based on their ability to pass through increasingly narrow vertical metal bars, Thaiger reported.
The promotion drew widespread criticism online after British travel bloggers highlighted it in an Instagram video on April 6. The video swiftly went viral, attracting more than 58,000 likes and over 2,000 comments, The Straits Times reported.
The discount challenge that went viral
The setup includes five differently sized sets of metal bars. Customers who can pass through the narrowest bars receive a 20% discount, followed by 15%, 10%, and 5% for progressively wider gaps. Those unable to pass through any set of bars are greeted by a final sign: “Full price, sorry.”
Social media reacts
The restaurant’s unusual marketing tactic triggered a heated online debate.
A few found it light-hearted, with one commenter saying, “It’s just a joke, take it easy!” Yet others questioned the ethics behind such marketing, noting, “Imagine the embarrassment some people might feel just trying to eat breakfast.”
Another added, “So if I don’t fit, I have to pay more? That’s insulting.”