A Thai restaurant sparked outrage online for offering discounts based on how “skinny” customers were


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.

Picture courtesy of Tripadvisor

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Amonthego (@amonthego15)

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.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Amonthego (@amonthego15)

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.”

A screenshot from an Instagram video by amonthego15 shows a woman tries to squeeze through metal bars labeled with discount rates at a restaurant in Thailand.
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.”