When I lived in Leicester my parents stayed at the Holiday Inn - ludicrous prices, but they had Clubcard points from supermarket shopping so it was free.
There was a notice in the minibar that said any drink removed would be charged unless the occupent could prove it was later replaced. It's a pressure sensitive automatic billing system. My Mum - very respectful of authority - wanted to phone up Reception and ask if they culd use the fridge anyway. I said, "God, no Mum - they'll only feed you some line because it's more trouble for them! Just take all the stuff out like you usually do and pretend you didn't see the sign. They'll be plenty of idiots who genuinely didn't, they must have a way to process it!"
So they put their supermarket lunch fixings and alcohol in the fridge as usual and didn't consume anything provided by the hotel. Sure nuff it wasn't a problem. Although if I know Mum she would really have hammed it up at the desk
