Plastic cup ban causes spat at coffee shop

From August, coffee outlets can only use disposable cups for takeout orders. Yonhap

By Jung Hae-myoung

A customer who demanded his coffee be served in a disposable cup rather than a mug got into an argument with a staff member when his request was denied at a coffee shop in Myeong-dong, Wednesday.

From August, coffee outlets can only use disposable cups for customers who make takeout orders. A violation will carry a 2 million won fine and a 40-day awareness period is in effect until the end of July.

The Myeong-dong incident is probably not an isolated case as a recent survey showed four in five people don't like having their drinks in mugs.

The transition also is proving a harrowing experience for employees who don't know what to do when a customer vehemently insists on using a disposable cup.