Phones are the new cigarettes: why restaurants are discouraging and even banning them

By the Editorial Team · Wednesday, September 16, 2026

Restaurants and bars in multiple countries are increasingly adopting phone restrictions, ranging from locking devices away to incentivizing voluntary surrender, to promote face-to-face interaction during meals. This trend highlights a shift in dining culture that prioritizes social connection over digital distraction, though it also leads some patrons to avoid establishments with strict policies.

Restaurants and bars across several countries are increasingly implementing policies to restrict the use of mobile phones, aiming to enhance diners’ social interaction and improve the overall dining experience. Although phone bans in eating establishments are not a new concept, there has been a notable shift in attitude and enforcement methods in recent years.

In the early 2010s, many upscale restaurants embraced mobile phones, accepting that diners would photograph and share their meals on social media. However, some venues have since reversed course. For example, the Spy Bar in London places stickers over customers’ phone cameras upon entry, a measure intended to deter photography and reduce distractions, despite the fact that the stickers can be removed. The psychological impact of such actions appears to be a key factor in encouraging patrons to engage more fully with their dining companions.

Enforcement varies widely among establishments. At Antagonist, a bar in Charlotte, North Carolina, customers are required to deposit their phones into locked pouches similar to those used in schools to prohibit phone use. Meanwhile, the Trophy Room in Phoenix, Arizona, stores patrons’ phones in a vintage filing cabinet throughout their visit. The Clink restaurant, located inside the UK’s HMP Brixton prison, also secures all phones in an external cabin, consistent with prison regulations barring mobile devices.

Alternatively, some restaurants opt for incentives rather than strict enforcement. Al Condominio, a restaurant in Verona, Italy, offers diners a complimentary bottle of wine if they voluntarily hand over their phones before eating—a proposition reportedly accepted by about 90% of customers.

The rationale behind these bans centers on encouraging conversation and refocusing attention on food and shared experience. While some diners readily embrace phone-free dining, others choose to avoid venues that enforce such policies. The general manager of Antagonist acknowledged this dynamic, noting that some customers decide to dine elsewhere when their phones are restricted.

The movement toward limiting phone use has also reached larger chains. Pizza Express introduced phone-free afternoons last summer, aiming to foster social interaction among patrons. Similarly, the UK pub chain Wetherspoons has implemented policies that require phones to be kept on silent, though it has stopped short of full bans.

As restaurants navigate the balance between technological convenience and social engagement, these evolving phone policies reflect broader conversations about digital etiquette and human connection in public spaces.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.