Tap water experiences

Tiger_greeneyes

My best friend and myself always get a jug of tap water whenever we go for an Indian meal. We ask for ice and lemon in it too - although we get given a few cubes of ice, we only get one slice of lemon! No matter which Indian restaurant we go to, it's always the same. It's become bit of a challenge for us now - to see if we can get more than one slice of lemon and an extra After Eight mint

I'm all for having tap water available in restaurants and pubs etc.

NOSONDDU

If the ice is free ask for a glass of ice and let it thaw! I have never ever been refused water, after all you are paying for the meal. I do think the charity is a good idea but is there any proof that the money actually goes there?

fiscalfreckles

I have seen notices in several Chinese restaurants in London , usually the buffet type ones that state that tap water will not be served.

I don't think most other restaurants mind, as long as another drink is purchased, but they are trying to avoid people paying the absolute minimum to eat in their restaurants.

The worst case of this I came accross was a Kiddies Soft Play Centre, which was really pricey in terms of the drinks & snacks they sold, and they refused to provide tap water for the children, which we thought was a bit much. They also wouldn't allow anyone to bring in drinks (what Mum goes out with a toddler without a beaker of their favourite juice in her bag?!) They didn't last long and have now closed down.

debzhyams

I know that legally in clubs that you have to be given tap water if you say it is for taking medication.
Ive also tried this in the cinema where they refused to give me a glass of water once.
I didnt actually have a need for any medication I was just thirsty and they never forced me to prove my tablets existed.
Im sure this would work in a restaurant as well however then you might find waiters peering at you trying to see if there really is medication

dianeirttm1991

I fly out of various UK airports in the course of doing my job, over a dozen times a year.
I much prefer drinking fresh tap water (especially from home) to bottled mineral water and as I have to talk a lot in my job, I always carry a bottle filled with tap water ready for those dry mouth spells. Tap water also happens to be my favourite drink.
However, since the "liquid" ban through Security, I have not been able to carry my own filled bottle through.
So now I carry an empty bottle with the intention to fill in up once through all the security checks. However that is not as easy as it sounds.
I don't know if it's my imagination or not, but where there used to be cold water taps at the wash basins, there is now only hot.
I have never encountered this problem in overseas airports, and the better ones even provide dedicated water fountains at regular intervals around the airport.
It's not because I'm mean, but I refuse, on principle, to be "forced" to swell the Airports profits, when they have taken advantage of the liquid ban in this way.
During one of my early encounters of this problem, I spoke to an airport manager to find out where the water fountain was (knowing full well that there wasn't one because I'd already searched all over, and also for a cold water tap) and after some discussion with colleagues, was informed there wasn't one (Birmingham Airport, not the Outer Hebrides or anything), but that perhaps I could try asking at one of the food court outlets if they would let me have some water.
This worked out fine, but it can feel awkward, like begging, and is only a suitable solution when the departure lounge is quiet. It also wouldn't work if everyone suddenly decided to do it. I have no reservations in asking for water, but I know most people would not want the hassle and would just give in to the money making racket.
Besides, with all the worry about our dwindling oil reserves, why are we wasting it to make unnecessary plastic bottles to store "mineral" water in, which then has to come with a sell by date, ie. water that's already been in the ground for millions of years. Ridiculous.

Celestine_2

I am pregnant with my third child and have been out to several restaurants lately and requested tap water in as according to the government’s advice we should not be drinking alcohol whilst pregnant. Some of the restaurants have brought me a jug of water and not charged, others have charged me for it and one refused saying they could only serve me bottled water as they did not have a tap that was specifically for drinking, yet they supplied my colleagues with ice in their drinks that they made from tap water. It would be nice to have a sign on the restaurants to say “tap water friendly” as I don’t even mind having to pay for the tap water as everywhere including your house is charged for the supply, so long as it’s not an extortionate amount like some places seem to want to charge for it as they don’t have to store it or get it delivered like bottled water. I like the idea of some of the cost going towards charity for developing countries. Plus if we manage to get fluoride in the water then it would be even healthier to drink. See http://www.bfsweb.org/

guidarufino

I have absolutely no problem with asking for tap water wherever I am. I object to paying for water in bottles when it comes almost free out of a tap. I was in the Pigalle Club recently in London and noticed we'd run out of water. Fearing that our bill was already due to be pretty huge, I asked the waiter to only bring tap water from now on. He duly obliged though the bill was still huge from what I remember! Any establishment petty enough to refuse tap water will only lose your custom ultimately so it's pretty stupid of them to do so if you ask me.

ilovelillbj

My OH always asks for 'ice' water and 9/10 times they will go off and get it..however in wagamamas, it doesn't matter which server we get, every time we ask for ice water they will loudly say 'tap?'..we just find it funny

mummymi

i work at a pizza hut and we always give people tap water if they ask

hanky_2

after owning a restaurant for many years,there is no law that says public houses have to serve tap water,the only exception to that is a dated law that says a coaching inn must provide water and a bed for travellers.

I do serve tap water to my customers,but this will stop in the near future,with rising cost including water bills,minimum wage gas,electric,margins are being squeezed dry.

Our premises are 1600c,but not a coaching inn,if you could see the black gunge at the tap from the old cast iron pipes,and still want tap water,then good luck