Tap water experiences

ticketcollector

I was always told that in one of the Licensing Act's that, wherever intoxicating liquor was served for consumption on or off the premises that a free non intoxicating liquid must be served on request,

scotbruce

It would appear that the Licensing Act 2003 does not mirror the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and that some local councils add the provision of free drinking water as a condition to the premises' or personal licence
eg
"Water shall be available free of charge to all patrons at the premises." (Guildford)
"The premises licence holder shall ensure that potable drinking water is
available free of charge at all times that any licensable activity is taking place.
The drinking water shall be provided from the bar when such facilities are
available. Notices publicising the availability of free drinking water shall be
clearly displayed in areas accessible by the public." (Bristol)

Perhaps pressure should be applied to amend the legislation and/or encourage all licensing authorities to add a similar standard condition to their new and renewed licences.

username

I will always ask for tap water regardless of what drinks I'm having with my meal. So far, most places have been happy to oblige, but the only real establishments which I have run into problems with has to be Chinese buffet places.

My local one in my hometown wanted 50p for a jug of water; I paid it since I wasn't wanting to pay for bottled and also I didn't really feel like rocking the boat that day. Another Chinese buffet (the Water Margin in Gunwharf Quays) offered me a a choice of 'still or sparkling'. When I said tap, they refused to serve me tap water, citing that they 'didn't do it' (!).

I'm now going to do my best to avoid the Water Margin from now on. You must be bloody joking if you're going to have me fork out £1.50 on a 330ml bottle of water.

harryhound

dianeirttm1991 wrote: »

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.

I think that dragging the stuff up hill and down dale in a diesel lorry, does wonders for our carbon footprint.

There is also the fear that the plasticisers and mould release agents, used making the plastic bottle, leach out into the water - might have a nasty effect on (especially male) plumbing.

I remember a blind tasting of water on offer in restaurants taking place in USA:
"And the winner is...................New York tap water!"
Perhaps that is because it is extra pure mountain stream stuff and because the American hospitality industry still does the welcome glass of iced water and the free book matches. (Plus a load of other tricks taught to the serving staff designed to get you "UP" the menu, but when you are being fleeced, it is so much nicer when the Americans and Italians do it. )

Harry.

djhworld wrote: »

There was an article in The Guardian the other day about bottled water and a lot of the facts were shocking

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/feb/10/water.foodanddrink

Superb link, I have learned a lot.
The only thing missing was the "joke" that future archaeologists (if there are any) will find a sudden change in the earth's record in the rocks, because they will find a narrow strip that represents a former beach anywhere in the world. They will call it the "plasticscene" period, because they will find millions of tiny flakes of plastic.
Mass medication of the world with nano technology - drink and enjoy.

heyjustme wrote: »

Do you know that you can ask a representative from United Utillites to call to your house/ premise and check the lead content? Not sure of other water companies.

I am pretty well sure that under the freedom of information act, you can demand the analysis of the tap water supplied to your area.
My water used to be supplied by a local water company, from a local works extracting well water from deep wells. I noticed that this was no longer in use and had been vandalised. That is funny I thought, almost free well water, ready to be put into the pipes, in an area with a water shortage?!?
So I wrote and asked what was going on.
After a fair amount of to and fro'ing. the water company eventually sent me a water analysis.
This looked like the figures you find on the back of an expensive bottle of mineral water.
There is one problem, because these contaminants are in solution, you don't get any idea what they were before they dissolved and got all mixed up in the water. For example it does not say "salt" it says sodium and chlorine.

Well it was obvious why the works had been shut - the rules had changed and the water was no longer fit to drink.

So I am left with three questions:
Had the water supply been poisoning me for years and years?
Had the supply recently been contaminated and if so by what?
Do "mineral" waters have to comply with the the same standards as drinking water from the tap?

Oh here is a fourth question: When will the government insist on rainwater harvesting, compulsory retro fitting of soakaways and "grey" water processing to flush toilets?

w81

TKPeters wrote: »

Our local 'Posh' Restaurant will not serve 'Tap Water' & always supplies 'Bottled Water', stating they cannot verify the quality of the 'Tap Water', yet provides 'Tap Water' ice cubes!

Surely government agencies test water supplies for drinking. I'd like to see more public water bottle filling stations. We should all probably be drinking more water than we do but plastic bottles are not the answer. We banned plastic bags, plastic water bottles must be next on the list of useless pollutants. Chlorination of tap water may also be bad but cold water taps in kitchens must be safe drinking water by law. Some people don't like the taste of their tap water but I see it as the natural taste of water from that area and you should enjoy it as part of living there and at least be confident that you are doing something that is the best option for the environment and you pocket!:money:

antsnest

will.moindrot wrote: »

I'd like to see more public water bottle filling stations.

Try Buxton, there's a well frequented tap in the centre of the town where you'll see the locals filling large containers for free.

You may recall seeing the same thing in your local supermarket as Buxton Water

stiffnuts69

scotbruce wrote: »

It would appear that the Licensing Act 2003 does not mirror the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005 and that some local councils add the provision of free drinking water as a condition to the premises' or personal licence
eg
"Water shall be available free of charge to all patrons at the premises." (Guildford)
"The premises licence holder shall ensure that potable drinking water is
available free of charge at all times that any licensable activity is taking place.
The drinking water shall be provided from the bar when such facilities are
available. Notices publicising the availability of free drinking water shall be
clearly displayed in areas accessible by the public." (Bristol)

Perhaps pressure should be applied to amend the legislation and/or encourage all licensing authorities to add a similar standard condition to their new and renewed licences.

unfortunatly you can not set standard conditions as a licensing authority.

If you were to put the condition on it would have to support one of the four licensing objectives.

In certain limited circumstances it would be possible to add the condition

I think its a bit of a non starter (although not a bad idea)

savercol

We USED to visit a Chinese Resturant. Group of four of us but I was the driver. Whilst the wine flowed (normally a bottle each) I ask for a jug of iced tap water. The water was free but the bill always came to aboutr £100. One day they insisted on me having bottled water, no reason was given why. I refused and insisted on tap water on the principle that we'd still spend £100. They still refused so we walked out and never returned again. Their loss.

Seakay

lavendergirl wrote: »

Went to our local Indian restaurant a couple of weeks ago. Had a paid for drink but needed a glass of water also as the meal was spicier than I anticipated. No problem being given it free.

Ask for a glass of lassi if you are having a hot curry - it will not be free being made with yoghurt, water and ice and flavoured either with salt or with sugar and rosewater, but it is an Indian drink and it will cool your mouth, which water doesn't really do.

Will_Tingle

debzhyams wrote: »

I know that legally in clubs that you have to be given tap water if you say it is for taking medication.

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

Which is where a pill bottle full of smarties, artificial sweetner or tic-tacs comes in handy...