Originally Posted by
ChangingNappies
Same as in most other EU airports I know. Or even at many fast food joints when takeout and seated VAT rates are different. But yeah, HMRC gets its due on the sandwich you eat in the terminal when you fly within EU but not when you fly outside. (For flights to JER I never could figure out, though.)
Cold sandwiches sold from a shop not meant for consumption in the shop are zero rated for VAT in the first place.
So your destination has nothing to do with VAT as it isn't charged anyway.
Not every item in the UK attracts VAT in the first place but it is complicated and the average shop assistant isn't going to be aware of all the particular in and outs and what items are exempt, or are zero rated or which attracts the reduced or standard rates.