Tap water experiences

hulltrucker

cello57 wrote: »

Not that I know of, and I've owned a pub for several years. Tap water, although cheap, is not free if you're on a meter, and there are staff costs and glass washing to pay for too. However, I've never refused anyone.



Makes you wonder how your pub manages to pay the Sky subscription, doesn't it?:rolleyes:

My parents were Publicans for years and my Mum always says that a Publican cannot refuse to supply a glass of tap water free of charge - They have been retired for a while now so maybe the rules have changed?

tj34

A_little_stressed!! wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but out of interest, these places that say they have 'unfit' water, but use it for ice cubes, does the same happen when we go abroad?? We can't frink the tap water because there is a pretty good chance it'll make us ill, but what do THEY use to make ice-cubes??

I know when I went to Thailand (& most of SE Asia) I was told not to have ice in any drink because it was quite often made of tap water. The message was you can't know, so don't have ice.

Back on topic....
My local Chinese all you can eat buffet has a letter from Newcastle City Council saying that they have no obligation to provide free tap water - you have to buy their expensive drinks. I guess that is why there is a need for this campaign.

mentat72

In New Zealand they automatically bring a bottle of chilled tap water to the table, you don't need to ask. I always used to feel funny about asking for it - not anymore though, I suffer from migraines and fizzy drinks and cafeine and citrus drinks need to be avoided. Tap water is all I have left.

harryhound

potbelly wrote: »

This post will no doubt cause a reaction but please consider the following.
Tap water is NOT free to anyone, be it in your house, at work or in a restaurant; we all pay for it somehow, either rates or water meter so why should we expect it to be free in a restaurant?
I really like the idea of a contribution towards water based charities and think that is the best suggestion of all the posts on this thread.

I agree with you about the charity box concept but charging for tap water is just mean.
I've just had my water bill here in drought stricken Essex, supplied by "Essex & Suffolk" water [part of a holding company put together by the Suez group to hive off onto the London Stock Exchange, some UK water companies owned by their subsidiary Lyonnaise].
I am paying 93 pence a tonne, let us call it 100 pence to make the arithmetic easy.
That is about a tenth of a half penny for a pint of the stuff.

Logically the establishment's owner should put penny-in-the-slot locks on the toilet doors as-spending-a-penny does mean flushing several gallons of drinking water down to the sewage works and then paying a larger price per gallon to have it cleaned enough to be put in the local river [or back in the reservoir if you live in Essex:eek:].

Harry.

Seakay

Until recently I had not realised that there was a problem with asking for tap water anywhere - the only time that I have ever been refused was in a dodgy nightclub in 1983 when they said that they charged because of the ice and lemon. I said that I only wanted water, walked from the bar, told everyone in sight what had happened and started a protest. In the face of large groups of the young invarious stages of drunkeness I got my glass of water, but I don't know if it changed their policy!
Since then I have asked for a glass of water in pubs, cafes and restaurants and never been refused or even had the request questioned.

macaroni

Ive often asked for a jug of tapwater and 4 glasses in Harvester and never been refused or questioned, same in my local Indian restaurant.

I have in the past asked in Asda and Sainsburys restaurant with no problem, just a bit of hassle actually getting the drink as its not on tap (no pun intended) where they serve you

grahamm

So far as I can tell, although there is a lot of apocryphal belief that tap water should be supplied for free in pubs, there's no legal requirement in England.

There is, however, such a requirement in Scotland:

Provision of non-alcoholic drinks

9 (1) The conditions specified in this paragraph apply only to the extent that the premises licence authorises the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises.
(2) Tap water fit for drinking must be provided free of charge on request.
(3) Other non-alcoholic drinks must be available for purchase at a reasonable price.

Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005

Lexis200

I've never had a problem either... OH rarely drinks alcohol, and coke and pepsi on tap seems such a rip-off at a restaurant that she nearly always asks for a jug of water. I can't recall ever being refused or charged. The hardest part is getting them to do a jug WITHOUT lemon and ice, which she doesn't like, although maybe the lemon is to mask the taste of lead from the old pipes... hmmm

Skyhigh

Provision_of_non-alcoholic_drinks wrote:

(2) Tap water fit for drinking must be provided free of charge on request.

I'll just highlight how it doesn't state that they have to give you anything to drink it out of
It would be helpful if England also had a similar section of law introduced.

Most places won't refuse giving out tap water since very few people actually ask for it, also it Doesn't Make Them Look Good.
e.g. You own a pub, someone orders a meal, they ask for tap water, you refuse, they get annoyed - and never come back to spend more money. Basic business.
The tiny *tiny* cost for the water, staff and cleaning the glass are irrelevant when compared to gaining new custom and profit.

I like the idea of being able to opt for a contribution of a water-based chairty, sounds good.

Mind you, whats happened to One Water?
http://www.onewater.org.uk/
It's disappeared off the shelves of some of the major supermarkets/chain-stores which is a shame.

:!:

boots_babe

I must admit, someone told me years ago that by law any restaurant/pub has to provide free tap water, along with toilet facilities. I had always assumed to be true!

When out for a meal, we will usually order a bottle of wine, but I will always also ask for a jug of tapwater. I have never had any problems with this - except recently in a restaurant in Tallinn where they said 'we don't have any tap water'!!! I really wanted to reply to ask if their tap was broken, but I'm rather annoyed with myself that I just said OK.

I realise tap water is not actually free to provide, however the cost is miniscule, and I'm sure it is hardly going to lose a restaurant any money if they provide each table with a free jug of water. In fact I would honestly say that when I drink water along with my wine, I probably end up drinking more wine (hence more profit for the restaurant), as the water quenches my thirst and makes me feel more like drinking wine. If that makes sense!