Originally Posted by
Atacama40
And regarding the rule you suggest .... there is and never has been any such rule. And again surely that's the whole point. No-one has ever been billed for taking what traditionally has always been a consumable item.
Are you suggesting that you leave a restaurant with the bottle of olive oil, salt and pepper, mustard and sugar?
These are indeed consumables.
Common sense is not so common after all. And I'm always surprised to see that, if no rule is posted, some people may consider it possible (probably the reason why in the hotel transfer buses from NRT airport, it is specified that it is not allowed to make phone calls, or in some spas).
I remember a [German] passenger in the Air France business lounge in Rio who, when asked by the staff to end his Facetime call, retorted: but it's not written anywhere!
He was told: yes, because that's just basic politeness towards other passengers who may not want to hear your private conservation with your mother!