Related articles

The flagship measure to combat undeclared earnings, electronic cash registers, began to take effect across the Czech Republic on Thursday. The measure has been pushed by finance minister and ANO leader Andrej Babiš against opposition from the centre-right opposition. In the first wave, the measure applies to hotels and restaurants covering an estimated 40,000 businesses. It will be widened out to the rest of the economy in the following years. After heated discussion over last minute moves to water down the measure within the government coalition, Babiš now says that it will go ahead as originally planned.

Czech consumers had the opportunity on Saturday to donate in the fourth annual National Food Drive. Some 659 supermarkets and stores across the country took part; under the programme, shoppers leave donated foodstuffs on the spot and items are redistributed by food banks. Last year, Czechs donated 236 tons - this year organizers are hoping to hit a target 300 tons.

The Czech Republic’s new electronic cash registers system, designed to provide the state with immediate information about cash transactions at venues, has entered a month long trial-period ahead of the official launch in December. Pubs, restaurants, and hotels, to officially begin using the system first, have 30 days to get used to it.

The Czech Confederation of Commerce and Tourism, the Czech Chamber of Commerce, and Atrium Czech Real Estate Management (managing the Flora shopping centre in Prague) held a joint-press conference on Monday warning that legislation passed this year – forcing large retailers to close their doors on seven state holidays – will lead to a net loss in revenues of around four billion crowns across the Czech Republic. Additionally, the grouping warned that the new law would lead to job losses, not just among cashiers or sellers but also cleaners and security. By contrast, the bill had support from the unions as it would allow employees in the service sector time off. October 28 is one of seven state holidays when large retail stores will not be allowed to sell products.

It started off four years ago as the Day of Czech Beer – but for the second time now this celebration of beer and pub culture has been expanded into a week-long festival. It runs from September 23 until October 1, with over 6,000 pubs, restaurants and breweries around the country taking part.

In 1988 Tim Simenon earned overnight fame when his first single as Bomb the Bass became an international hit. The dance musician and producer went on to release a host of Bomb the Bass albums, as well as producing the likes of Neneh Cherry and Depeche Mode and remixing tracks by David Bowie, Massive Attack and many more huge names. Today, believe it or not, Simenon is to be found behind the counter of Brixton Balls, a meatballs takeaway that he opened on Prague’s Korunní St. earlier this summer. To learn more about this unlikely sounding change

Tourists are getting ripped off even more in Czech tourist hotspots by retailers and restaurant owners, according to figures from the Czech Trade Inspectorate. It found around 40 percent of businesses were guilty of unfair practices in the second quarter such as overcharging with restaurants frequently selling short portions of food and drinks. This compares with around a third carrying out such practices in the same quarter of 2015. The office handed out fines in 148 cases with the total amount of fines coming to 300,000 crowns.

A sushi restaurant in Prague may get a fine of up to 50 million crowns after it emerged that its employees were catching fish on the banks of the Vltava River to be used in the restaurant’s kitchen, the internet site novinky.cz reported on Friday. Sanitary norms do not allow this practice. The Veterinary Authority was alerted to the practice by locals and its inspectors found evidence to confirm the suspicion. The matter is being investigated.

Tips given to personnel at Czech eating and drinking establishments will not come under an electronic cash registers system, Finance Minister Andrej Babiš indicated in his blog on Monday. The minister made clear that tipping was part of the Czech cultural tradition and that he saw it as a suitable means of recognizing services rendered. If venue owners and not personnel were left the tips, he stressed, those should be tabulated in the system. The first phase of the electronic cash registers system is to go into operation on December 1 of this year.

It’s the peak of the holiday season and thousands of people are packing up to leave the city. For those used to spending summers hiking in the mountains, holidays are forever connected with the taste of instant soups and mashes, which were lightweight and ready to eat but didn’t really have much flavour. Petra Pospěchová, a food journalist and keen mountain hiker, proves that you can climb the summits and eat well at the same time. Her Outdoor Cookbook, which came out just recently, features dozens of easy and tasteful recipes as well as a number