Anyone else been refused tap water in restaurant

motorguy

jouef wrote: »

Quite right, however there is no obvious indication that this is an NI thread, and the main UK article points here thus: 'This is the discussion thread for the Tap Water guide'. It seems to me sensible to discuss the three different laws in the same place, with explanation (such as the one you have so clearly given).

And as you said earlier, it's still relevant - I too find the demand based around H2O costing nothing quite short-sighted when the oncosts - staff, glassware, cleaning, heating, lighting, rent, depreciation etc - are the same as for serving pop or alcohol while the opportunity cost is actually far greater.

Is it true that where tap water must be offered free, a charge for its service is allowed?

Yes, i see the original post has been edited by the mods to point to here as the "tap water rights discussion board". This is the wrong place for it - this is the NI Board. There are different rights across NI, England, Scotland and Wales, so a general discussion should be on a common board, not one for local issues discussion.

motorguy

jouef wrote: »

Is it true that where tap water must be offered free, a charge for its service is allowed?

This seems to be the case - whilst they cant charge for tap water they can charge for the service associated with it.

Cherryscone

I had this Issue Yesterday In a Cafe where a friend and I bought a meal and soft drinks Mine was very spicy and I asked for a glass of water I was told no we sell water I said I only want a glass of tap water and again no sorry we sell bottled water at £1.65 I finshed my meal paid and left ths is the 1st time in a very long time I have had this Issue here in NI

redped

Cherryscone wrote: »

I had this Issue Yesterday In a Cafe where a friend and I bought a meal and soft drinks Mine was very spicy and I asked for a glass of water I was told no we sell water I said I only want a glass of tap water and again no sorry we sell bottled water at £1.65 I finshed my meal paid and left ths is the 1st time in a very long time I have had this Issue here in NI

Care to name the cafe? I'd like to add it to my "don't visit" list. While I appreciate the owners are running a business, and are not obliged to provide free tap water, I'd rather give my custom to places which aren't so obviously focused on maximising their profits.

motorguy

redped wrote: »

Care to name the cafe? I'd like to add it to my "don't visit" list. While I appreciate the owners are running a business, and are not obliged to provide free tap water, I'd rather give my custom to places which aren't so obviously focused on maximising their profits.

Reiterating what i said years ago on this thread and i still stand by it - when i / we go out for ANY meal i judge the overall cost of the meal relative to the overall experience.

According to many on here, they're happy to pay say £60.00 for a meal for two including "free" water, but if its the same overall cost of £60.00 but are charged 2 x £1 as part of that for the water then they're outraged and wont go back?

You're either paying for it as an itemised item, or you're paying for it across the total charges for the food. What does it really matter?

redped

Understood, which is why I said "so obviously focused on maximising their profits".

The sole reason for Cherryscone requesting a glass of water was due to the spicy food - given that they had already purchased a soft drink, I see the refusal to supply a glass of water as being slightly greedy on the part of the cafe.

motorguy

redped wrote: »

Understood, which is why I said "so obviously focused on maximising their profits".

The sole reason for Cherryscone requesting a glass of water was due to the spicy food - given that they had already purchased a soft drink, I see the refusal to supply a glass of water as being slightly greedy on the part of the cafe.

So they made the food "extra spicy" just to charge extra for water?

redped

motorguy wrote: »

So they made the food "extra spicy" just to charge extra for water?

Hardly, and that's not what I wrote.

Milko

No ... can we close this post now?

jouef

Milko wrote: »

No ... can we close this post now?

No ... the issue is not resolved