Limos are a great accessory for a fun night out on the town. Whether it’s to celebrate a special occasion or simply add a touch of class to the evening’s activities, a limo can transform an ordinary night out into an experience that is truly memorable. It is not uncommon for most limos to come stocked with a bar and bar accessories such as glasses, ice buckets, and drink mixing sticks. However, what you won’t find in most limos is a selection of plates and utensils. Here’s why: Limousines and food are not a good combination. While some limo companies will simply discourage the consumption of food inside their vehicles, others will ban it altogether.
Of course, some passengers are puzzled or even put off by this anti-food policy. After all, if drinking is allowed inside a limo, then why is food such a problem? Chris Welsher of the Missouri-based company Murcielago Limos explains why he prefers that food be kept outside of his vehicles to the greatest extent possible.
First of all, there’s a safety issue at hand. If a passenger is munching away on some appetizers in the back seat, then all a driver has to do is hit the brakes or run over a pothole to cause that person to potentially choke on the food item in question. Of course, this could happen to any passenger who happens to be eating while on the road, but it’s not a risk that Welsher feels comfortable taking.
The second reason why most limo company owners will not allow food is that it introduces a greater opportunity for destruction. In a moving vehicle, it is simply too easy for food to fall off of a plate and spill onto the floor. This type of damage, in turn, can cost the passenger a fair amount of money. Now some passengers might disagree with this particular rationale; since there’s not much of a difference between spilled food and spilled beer or cola, why the anti-food attitude? However, passengers should realize that food spill cleanups could end up coming out of their pockets. Most limo companies will let passengers off the hook for spilled soda and chalk it up to the cost of doing business. However, a plate full of red pasta sauce on the floor is a different story, and one for which the customer in question is liable. Many limousine companies therefore make it a policy to not allow food inside their limos in order to avoid a situation where the customer ends up getting charged for an innocent yet damaging spill.
As a general rule, the more food that is brought into a limo, the more likely that a mess is going to be made. Limo companies therefore have two options; they can either charge customers a considerable fee for their services and build the potential cost of cleanup into the rental price, or simply make it a policy that food isn’t allowed. In some cases, the latter is simply the better option.
Of course, there can be exceptions to this rule. Limo companies tend to be a lot more lenient when it comes to snack foods like pretzels and nuts — foods that can make a mess if spilled, but that won’t cause heavy stains. While some companies might place an absolute ban on food items, most companies will simply try to regulate the amount and type of food that gets brought into the vehicles.
Many limo company owners also realize that it’s natural for customers to get hungry during a long night out on the town. In order to accommodate ravenous passengers, limo drivers will often make a food stops part of the night’s itinerary. Customers will usually be taken to a fast food restaurant, where they can sit down, get a bite to eat, and return to the limo feeling a lot less hungry and a lot more satisfied. Welsher finds that this is the best solution for owners and passengers alike. In fact, as a limousine business owner, Welsher encourages customers – and drivers – to do a fast food run and eat outside of the limo in question. This way, he doesn’t have to worry about customers making a mess in his vehicles. At the same time, he also won’t have to worry about upsetting customers by charging them extra for cleanup fees in the event of an accidental food spill.
Remember, just because your limo company won’t allow food inside its vehicles does not mean that you’ll be forced to spend the night hungry. Besides, you always have the option of eating at home before you head out — an alternative that will be healthier for both your body and your wallet anyway.
