Men are being taxed at a cafe in Melbourne, Australia (Picture: 7 News First)

A vegan café has been accused of discriminating against men after charging them an 18% ‘man tax’ and giving women priority seating.

The Handsome Her shop, in Melbourne, Australia, had hoped to shine a light on the gender pay gap with its controversial new rules.

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Owner Alex O’Brien, who is also a feminist, told the Broadsheet website: ‘I do want people to think about it, because we’ve had this (pay discrepancy) for decades and decades and we’re bringing it to the forefront of people’s minds.

‘I like that it is making men stop and question their privilege a little bit.’




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But not everyone agreed with the way the café was trying to promote equality.

One Twitter user wrote: ‘At the very least they are telling the world how much they despise males. Silver lining? It might wake a few more people on the fence.’

Another added: ‘We now raise “awareness” and debate it with discrimination toward men… but we must have be equals to men!

‘What a pissing contest.’

Some people even suggested a boycott, with a Twitter user writing: ‘Simple guys just don’t go there and watch the business plummet, It looks like s**t anyway.’

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A sign shows the rules (Picture: PaigeCardona/ Twitter)

Would you go to the Handsome Her cafe? (Picture: 7 News)

Ms O’Brien didn’t agree though and said men who visited her eatery had actually been positive about the rules.

One of the male patrons reportedly donated $50 (£30) because he was so in favour of them.

She added: ‘There’s been nothing but positivity from everyone, males and females.’

Ms O’Brien will donate extra money raised to charity Elizabeth Morgan House, which helps Aboriginal women and children.

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