A lawyer explained whether a café has the right to refuse access to the restroom without an order.

      July 9, 2026 08:00 Society Many have faced the situation where employees of catering establishments refuse access to the restroom without a purchase. Regarding the legality of such practices, NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" spoke with Alexey Konetsky, a member of the regional branch of the Association of Lawyers of Russia. The expert explained that there are two positions. On one hand, refusal can be seen as a violation of a citizen's rights. Forcing a purchase just because a person wants to use the restroom is unlawful. There are court rulings where demands to buy something in such situations have been deemed illegal. On the other hand, the territory of the café is private property, and the owner has the right to establish certain rules for using the property. This may include charging for the service. However, as the lawyer emphasized, the issue remains ambiguous: on one hand is property rights, and on the other is the unacceptability of forcing a purchase. "It's a 'double-edged' situation, but overall, the refusal of the establishment's employees is close to being unlawful," the expert believes. The specialist also noted cases where a coded lock is installed on the restroom, and the password is only given after a purchase. According to Alexey Konetsky, this is illegal, as it forces the visitor to buy a product. Such actions can be contested. In such situations, it is more effective to address not immediately with a lawsuit but with a complaint to Rospotrebnadzor, the prosecutor's office, or other supervisory authorities. The agency can conduct an inspection, establish the fact of a violation, and hold the establishment accountable. The materials obtained can then be used in court to simplify the proceedings. The communication with the lawyer took place as part of a joint project between the media group NOIC and the Nizhny Novgorod regional branch of the Association of Lawyers of Russia "So You Know." Earlier, Nizhny Novgorod residents were informed whether it is possible to return a product without a cash register receipt. NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has channels on Telegram and MAX. Subscribe to stay updated on the main events, exclusive materials, and timely information. Copyright © 1999—2025 NIA "Nizhny Novgorod". When reprinting, a hyperlink to NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" is mandatory. This resource may contain materials 18+.