You would think that a simple request for a glass of tap water in a luxury hotel restaurant would be just a formality. Well… think again. It may not be as simple as you imagine. While many people claim that this is simply a basic human right, a luxury hotel in Italy has just proven otherwise.
An Italian court has ruled against a tourist who was refused tap water at a hotel restaurant. The incident occurred at the five-star Sassongher Hotel in Corvara during the 2019 ski season, but recently reached the Italian Supreme Court where his claim for €2,700 to compensate him for emotional distress and economic damage due to the refusal of tap water, has just been rejected.
The case was initially filed in a lower court in Rome where a lady claimed her consumer rights were violated when staff refused her request for tap water, saying it was a key part of the hotel’s service and compared it to “finding a bed with sheets” and “soap in the bathroom”. Silvio Belardi, the hotel’s lawyer, told Corriere Alto Adige newspaper that the court had ruled that “there was no obligation to provide tap water.”
The Supreme Court judges rejected the request, finding that Italian laws and regulations do not require establishments to provide tap water to customers and that the decision to serve it is up to each establishment.
So what you might have considered a basic human right is not necessarily so, it seems. And it’s not just in Italy. Here are the rules for several countries around the world.
United States and Canada Although it is a deeply ingrained cultural norm to bring a tall glass of ice water to the table the moment a guest sits down, there is no sweeping federal law in either country requiring restaurants to do so. In fact, in states where water is scarce like Californiawater conservation laws actually to forbid servers to bring water unless the customer explicitly requests it.
United Kingdom (England, Wales and Scotland) Under licensing laws, any establishment that serves alcohol must provide free drinking water upon request. (Interestingly, the North Ireland does not exactly share this legal mandate, and unlicensed cafes across the UNITED KINGDOM are technically exempt, although most comply).
France Reputedly consumer-friendly when it comes to catering, French law stipulates that a carafe of water (a carafe of tap water) must be included free of charge with a meal.
Everything you need to plan your trip in 2026 Spain In 2022, Spain passed a major waste and sustainability law that explicitly requires all bars and restaurants to offer free, unpackaged tap water to their customers in order to reduce single-use plastics.
Italy As the recent Supreme Court decision confirms, there is no legal obligation to provide tap water. Culturally, requesting tap water in an Italian restaurant is often considered a minor breach of etiquette, and establishments strongly favor the sale of bottled mineral water (still or sparkling).
Germany and Netherlands In Germanyrestaurants can charge whatever they want for water and tap water is rarely served. In the Netherlands, there is no law requiring free tap water, which has sparked ongoing debate and public petitions, as many establishments will flatly refuse a request from the tap and instead direct you to the premium bottled menu.
Swiss The Swiss view water strictly as a service. With the exception of the canton of Ticino (which mandates a free glass of water with a main meal), Swiss restaurants can – and do – charge whatever they want for tap water (Tap water). It’s quite common to see a carafe of tap water charging between 2 and 6 CHF (£1.70 to 5.00) on your bill, justified by the cost of washing the glass and the labor of the waiters.
Ireland Although known for its hospitality, Ireland has no legal requirement for restaurants to hand out free tap water, although many do so out of goodwill.
Australia and New Zealand In Australiastrict alcohol regulations stipulate that licensed establishments must provide cold water free of charge or “at a reasonable cost” to ensure the safety of patrons and prevent intoxication. In New Zealand, the law is completely simple: hospitality venues must provide free drinking water on request.
Japan There is no federal law requiring restaurants or luxury hotels to serve free water, nor do independent bars (izakaya) often have a strict “one drink minimum” policy where tap water does not count. However, in almost every table service restaurant or upscale hotel dining room, a glass of ice water (o-hie) or green tea is automatically brought to your table as an essential part of Japanese cuisine omotenashi (hospitality).
Singapore Despite being one of the most strictly regulated countries in the world, Singapore does not have a law requiring free tap water. However, the cultural norm is that mid- to high-end establishments happily offer it, while some casual local restaurants may charge a nominal 30 to 50 cents for “ice water.”
India Under the Would Act of 1867 (an old law from colonial times that is still technically active and enforced), anyone can enter any hotel or restaurant – including 5-star luxury resorts – and demand clean drinking water and free use of toilets. Establishments can face severe penalties or lose their operating license if they refuse water to a traveler.
Mexico and United Arab Emirates (Dubai) I grouped these two together because they take a similar approach. In many parts of the world, luxury hotels would not consider serving you tap water for a completely different reason: that of drinkability. In Mexico, filtration systems vary, so high-end resorts avoid tap water entirely and serve premium bottled water to protect guests’ health. In Dubai, although municipal water is technically drinkable, the reliance on desalination and the construction of storage tanks means hotels serve exclusively local or imported bottled mineral water – and you’ll see it on the bill.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
Do you think that the provision of tap water by hotels and restaurants should be a fundamental right, or is it fair that each establishment has the right to refuse?
Have you ever encountered difficulties around the world in making a simple request for a glass of water?
And what are the rules where you live?
Paul Johnson Paul Johnson is the editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for over 30 years. He is the winner of the Innovations in Travel “Best Travel Influencer” award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Telegraph.
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