Good news for restaurant ticket holders: Parliament has validated a series of new measures under the purchasing power law of August 3, 2022. Among these, the relaxation of the conditions of use of restaurant vouchers, which will be valid from the start of the 2022 school year.
First of all, the daily limit for the payment of securities is increased from 19 to 25 euros until December 31, 2023. Since the first confinement due to the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, the limit had risen sharply, reaching 38 euros. The aim was to support the purchasing power of consumers, but also and above all to help restaurateurs, deprived by the closure of their establishments. The end of this exceptional ceiling was voted on June 30, 2022. However, at the request of opposition groups, the government agreed to raise the ceiling to 25 euros to fight against inflation.
Another great novelty, it will no longer be necessary to buy food products to be consumed instantly. Until then, restaurant voucher owners were forced to buy only fresh products (fruits, vegetables, ready meals, snacks), savory and sweet groceries, frozen ready meals and non-alcoholic beverages. The objective was to avoid direct competition with bakeries, snack bars and restaurants, by requiring the purchase of foodstuffs to be eaten at the time.
Today, this rule is no longer valid: the French can acquire any type of food, even to prepare dishes at home. This measure was taken in order to support the purchasing power of consumers, which has been undermined by inflation since the beginning of 2022. Eggs, flour, butter, pasta… All unprocessed foods can be acquired by the restaurant vouchers.
However, the government has not agreed to increase the face value of the restaurant ticket, currently capped at 11.38 euros. Several groups of deputies had tabled amendments to increase it to a maximum of 15 euros, in order to give a boost to French people experiencing difficult end of the month. Proposal rejected by the State, which argued that the shortfall would be too great for the tax authorities, as restaurant vouchers provided by the employer are not subject to social security contributions.
