Coffee shops and stores that sell hot drinks on the roadsides surprised customers by raising prices as high as 25 percent in an operation described by consumers as that resembling a collective campaign.

Owners of the beverage shops in areas known for housing tourists during Ramadan said that they would decrease the prices after the fasting season. However, there was no let up even after Ramadan and prices continued to peak last month.

Sources in a company which specializes in the sale of hot drinks confirmed that the price hike was set to take place two months ago but fear of action by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry drove them to delay the raise. They said that the approval for raising the prices came in response to covering the operation costs in light of the increased rents of the stalls, and the rise in prices of coffee, milk, tea and paper and plastic cups and spoons.

However, sources in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that they haven’t received any official application in this regard.

The ministry refuted the allegation that it had allowed the price hike of hot drinks and said that the price of fixed goods could only be raised if it was accompanied by an approval from the ministry and only after they were convinced of the reasons for raising the prices.