Expect to pay 10 cents more for a cuppa of coffee and higher prices for beer or a bowl of noodles at coffeeshops that will stay open for business on the first two days of Chinese New Year.

The reason for the price hike, said coffeeshop operators, is that they have to pay their workers three times their normal daily wage for working on the two public holidays.

According to a Lianhe Wanbao report, it is common for coffeeshops to raise prices during the Chinese New Year.

Mr Hong Poh Hin, chairman of the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association, reckoned about half of the coffeeshops that operate on the two days would raise prices.

He said: "It is for the convenience of residents that coffeeshops continue to operate during Chinese New Year. In the past, many residents even specially asked me to open my coffeeshop during this period. Everyone is having their public holidays but we in the coffeeshop business have to continue working. Therefore, it is reasonable to raise prices a little and most people are understanding."

Many foodcourts will also remain open during Chinese New Year. Twenty-eight out of more than 70 eateries under the Kopitiam group will be open from the eve till the second day of Chinese New Year.