[c22]

No it isn't. The cost of my widget isn't broken out to material sourcing, transportation, and other overhead. Doing it this way causes unnecessary mental gymnastics and is done for the sole purpose of creating political pressure. I don't mind companies having and sharing political opinions, but keep it off my receipt. Just put up a sign that says "prices have increased due to new regulation" and feel free to hand out pamphlets decrying the state of things, don't be disingenuous about your motives.

[ryandrake]

Exactly. If the SF restaurants OP mentions are not also itemizing all their other taxes and expenses on their customers' bills, yet singling out the “SF health mandate” one, it's pretty clear that they are just using those bills to make a passive aggressive political complaint.

Nobody cries and moans publicly in front of customers when their business license fees rise 5% or when the cost of their utilities go up, but suddenly when there is a mandate to make their employees' lives marginally better, they weep their crocodile tears all over the customers' checks.

[hyperhopper]

Not the sole purpose of creating political pressure: there is also the benefit to business of showing a customer a lower price and psychology easing them into spending more.