Meat Is Murder or Meat Is Dinner

Meat Is Murder or Meat Is Dinner

The hospitality industry is a complicated one in which to excel. The customer must be treated as if he or she is not only always right, but also that he or she is important and revered. Every customer opinion counts and the industry must mold to fit the needs of those it serves. On an individual basis, this is not terribly difficult. People have basic needs and wants that should be met, and so long as this is accomplished the patron will be pleased with the service and choose to use it again. However, the complication is that, in the hospitality industry, there is rarely only a single customer to consider at one time, but rather many people, in many different groups, from many different lifestyles, that will be affected by each choice made by a manager, planner, or supervisor. What can be done to best serve every patron when the interests of the patrons may not be the same for each individual? One example of such a dilemma is the serving of meat within this industry.

Traditionally, meat has been considered the only acceptable main course for a meal in the Western World. People enjoyed meat because it was filling and hearty and thought to be delicious. In times of economic trouble, the poor would be left without meat while the wealthy continued to feast on it. A good supply of top-grade meat cuts has been considered to be an indicator of wealth throughout many time periods. So, in the hospitality industry, it has been standard to include meat in every served meal to please the guests. Poultry, beef, pork, fish, or other animal products would be the central aspect of the meal, and the quality of the meat would often make the patron's decision about the quality of the establishment in general. A lack of meat would indicate that the establishment was having economic difficulties, or simply be construed as rude.

However, increasingly this general attitude has been changing. Today, many people think that serving meat is actually immoral rather than necessary! Rather than risking offending people by not serving meat, it is possible to offend patrons by doing just that. The concept that "meat is murder" has made its way into the mainstream, and while vegetarians (those who do not eat meat) are still the minority, they consist of a sizable and growing percent of perspective customers. Organizations such as PETA will demonstrate in front of restaurants and other establishments that serve meat, which may additionally scare away customers who would actually like to eat meat. These are issues that must be considered.