- Italy's prime minister paid for four tourists who left a restaurant in Albania without paying.
- The dine and dash incident in Berat was widely reported in Albania, where many Italians holiday.
It's not often a restaurant can do much if diners manage to flee before paying for their meal.
But for one eatery in Albania, Italy's prime minister has come to the rescue by picking up the tab for four Italian tourists who did a runner.
The incident, which occurred in the city of Berat, made headlines in local media, and brought it the attention of Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, Reuters reported.
Meloni, who was visiting Albania on an invitation from counterpart Edi Rama, told her ambassador to "go and pay the bill for these idiots, please," Rama told the Italian newspaper La Stampa.
The bill came to about 80 euros ($87), BBC News reported. It's not clear when the incident occurred.
A statement issued by the Italian embassy in Tirana confirmed that the bill had now been paid, adding that Meloni settled it with "personal funds."
It added: "Italians respect the rules and settle their debts and we hope that such episodes will not be repeated."
The Italian agriculture, and Meloni's brother-in-law, Francesco Lollobrigida, was with her in Albania and told Reuters that paying the bill was a case of national pride.
"She offered to pay the bill. The ambassador was on his way back to Tirana and was available to do this," Lollobrigida told Reuters. "A few dishonest individuals cannot embarrass a nation of decent people."
Albania is in the midst of a tourism boom, with many people attracted by cheaper prices than much of western Europe, as well as stunning beaches.
Consumerism No Profit, an Italian consumer group, said prices in tourist hotspots were up by as much as 130% this summer, CNN reported.
The number of passengers flying to Albania more than doubled in June compared to the same month last year, the Financial Times reported, citing Airports Council International Europe figures.
Italians make up a significant portion of visitors to Albania, with one tourist telling the FT it was "little Italy."