h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Is it actually a crime to take condiments (sugar/ketchup/salt sachets, etc.) from restaurants? I mean, they leave them out in little trays, in full view of everyone.
I myself have a large hamper full of them at home, along with another one full of complimentary hotel shower kits. They come in handy if I ever feel hungry or dirty.

I get mine from take outs and conveince stores. I think it's only a crime if they catch you.

I think that there is a clause that says if you are a student stealing them isn't a crime - or at least there should be if there isn't already! I wouldn't have any salt, pepper or mustard in my little student flat if it wasn't for places that leave them lying about.

Have known people to go a LOT further. When I was in Prague last November, staying in a fairly basic hotel, my travelling companions left with towels in their bags. I think most places expect people to take condiments - towels, I'm not so sure!

If you would like to find out more about towels, go to the page of Zem42, he is hosting a towel discussion forum - just don't mention ketchup.
If yu are a tea or coffee drinker, you'll know how infuriating it is when there's always JUST a bit too much sugar in them little sachets, so you end up with about five torn sachets all containg about half a centimetre of sugar. Wasteful much!

How does the condiment theory extend to glasses (and mugs) out of pubs?

Personally, I recon if they don't give you the opportunity to buy it, then, well, you're not left with many options. There's also a "free mug limit", which I think should be equal to 10 drinks out of the container you're eyeing off. So after 10, it's your's.

I think beermats are as far as u should go, but this is just one of my moral spells. Take what you like!

It's actually more fun trying to buy glasses if you're travelling in a non-English speaking country, especially if it's (ex) communist as they don't have rules to deal with you.

Seeing as I work part time in a pub, I'm not too much in favour of the stealing glasses thing, but saying that I have been known to act as an accomplice in other people's pubs!!

Buying them is usually easier, because then at least if you get stopped at the door walking out with a glass it's less likely you'll spend a night in a freezing cell (actually a friend of mine was threatened with that once!)

Always much easier to do when girls with large handbags are present

As an ENTHUSIASTIC tea dinker i often take extra sugar, milk cartons etc from any places that have them on a 'help yourself' basis as i know that later on (on a train, B&B etc) there won't be enough to get it *just right* surely that can't be a crime

I'd never have thought about the problems of trying to explain how you want to buy your beer glass to someone who owns a pub in a post communist country, I must admit. On the whole though, I find most people to be surprised when you try and buy their dishes. I picked up a Bailey's Irish Cream coffee cup from a pub and coffee house in Breckinridge, Colorado for a friend of mine. Hardest part was just trying to convince them to sell it. Paid too much for it, but I got a smile for my trouble.