World · 15 September 2026

Restaurants now ban phones to encourage conversation and focus

Calmuziclover via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

More restaurants and bars are now discouraging or banning phones to help people enjoy themselves without distraction. Some places, like Antagonist in Charlotte, North Carolina, require customers to put phones in a locked pouch. Others, such as Al Condominio in Verona, Italy, offer a free bottle of wine if diners surrender their devices.

By BriefTea Editorial · 15 September 2026 at 1:10

Reported by Guardian · How we write briefs

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Why ban phones in restaurants? How do restaurants enforce bans? Are incentives effective?

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