The ' Salary ' is for the responsibility of the job. ie, flying hundreds of people from A - B in one piece. Because you now end up in B but you'd rather be back home in A with your family, the company are obliged to provide food and board whilst you're staying in B. If we had to pay for food from our salary, then those that went on the longer trips and were more productive to the Company, would actually end up worse off !
On turnrounds we don't get a food 'allowance' as the Company provides food and beverage for us.
It's a shame that the downroute allowance doesn't cover for the odd 'drink' or two. That's why so many crew stay in and you never get the same feeling of teamwork amongst the CC that you'd normally get after a good night out.
Anyway, Demented, hope that explains it.
Harry