Who pays for the cost of food plus surcharge?

The correct answer is that cash-paying customers, including those receiving Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), civilians, and officers, are responsible for covering the cost of food plus the surcharge. This is because cash-paying customers directly purchase meal services from the dining facilities, which includes the price of the meal and an additional surcharge that helps to maintain and operate those facilities.

BAS is specifically an allowance provided to service members primarily to offset the cost of food and is not a direct payment for meals, thus it does not constitute the party responsible for paying the actual cost plus surcharge in a transactional sense. ESM members, or eligible service members, may have different arrangements regarding food costs, and these do not generally include a direct payment structure that covers the surcharge.

In summary, cash-paying customers actively pay for their meals at the time of service, thereby incurring both the food cost and any additional surcharges associated with those meals.