I once booked into the Pullman Hotel at Brussels Midi train station. Was pleasantly surprised when at reception, I was told that the mini bar is not stocked and I was free to go to the supermarket and stock it with what I need.
Needless to say, they gained a very loyal new customer...…..(It also helped that all their TV Channels were for free)...;);)

Actually in many parts of Asia hotels (normally budget/low end) do charge to run the AC. You get a card and top off as needed. AC is still listed as an amenity. Unless its listed as no fee/free they can charge for it.

Same thing with the mini-fridge on the cruise ships.
Beware the shelf life of some of the crap that is in the fridge !
Previous guest mad as the dickens likes his revenge "Shaken not stirred" !
Open a can of beer or carbonated beverage and have a champagne shower !
Another method is changing the themostat/temperature "Some like it HOT" !
Watch out for amber color liquors being switched with something most foul - check the seal !
Some convenience #@%&*^$ !

Which cruise line do you sail with? Remind me to avoid them if ever I go on a cruise!

I always ask that alcohol be removed from the room.

I can remember when hotels charged a "corkage" fee if you brought your own liquor in to your room.

50 euros worth of labor and accounting? Ridiculous. It's a ploy to prevent people from using the refrigerators for their own things. Hotels want to charge exorbitant fees for their own stuff. However, most hotels will remove the fee if you complain. Should not be necessary, but sometimes it is.

We were stung once in Europe many years ago with this. To this day, I will still walk out with a shopping bag containing the empties, and drop them off at the supermarket recycling bins.
Unless, of course, there are bins in the hotel corridors, which, in that case, they get dumped in there - a bit at a time.

I guess the OP asked the hotel to remove the contents of the fridge? I almost always use the hotel fridge, mini-bar or not, as I try to eat healthy when I travel and often make my own salad. I just stick my stuff in there around the existing junk put there by the hotel, trying not to move their stuff due to the sensors, but sometimes I have to. It is very rare that there is an attempt to charge me, and if so, I simply say that I had to move things around to see what was available, but did not consume anything. Yes I guess some times I have had to remove some bottles to make room for my own stuff but, knock on wood, never had an issue. I would not have occurred to me to ask the hotel to remove the contents, interesting idea.

I never worry about this. If the property refuses to remove the charge I simply dispute it with the credit card provider I have an excellent success rate doing so. If more people would do this it might teach these properties a lesson.

:D:D
Haha - not quite, but does sound like the making of a Comedy sketch.... :D

I don't understand why you are wasting your time with a conversation. Just return the room as you got it, surely?!