While the implications here likely won’t be too widespread, I can’t help but find this to be an interesting ruling, especially as someone who has opinions in the tap water vs. bottled water debate (thanks to @istrakhov for flagging this).
By the way, for those curious, I think the travel angle here is how norms around bottled vs. tap water differ so much around the globe, and it’s something for travelers to navigate.
In this post:
Italian hotel restaurant refuses to offer free tap water
Italy’s highest court has ruled that a five-star hotel in Italy’s Dolomites was acting lawfully when it refused to provide tap water to a guest. This actually dates back all the way to 2019 (yet the ruling just happened now, seven years later), and involves a woman who was dining at the restaurant of the five-star Hotel Sassongher in Corvara.
During a meal, she asked for tap water, but was told that only bottled mineral water was available, at the cost of €7. The woman argued that “water is a natural resource and a universal human right.” She also claimed this was a violation of her consumer rights, saying it’s a key part of a hotel’s service, and linked it to “finding a bed with sheets” and “soap in the bathroom.”
However, the Italian Supreme Court denied her request for €2,700, to compensate her for emotional distress and economic damage. The court ruled that Italian laws and regulations don’t mandate that venues provide tap water to guests, so each venue can decide on its own policy.
As a lawyer representing the hotel explained, “there is no obligation to supply tap water,” and “company policy is, like in many high-end establishments, to serve only bottled water at the table, which is sealed.” The hotel also argued “if a person wanted running water, they could easily get that in the hotel – just not at the restaurant.”
It’s worth noting that in many other countries (like England), licensed venues are required to serve free drinking water upon request.
I agree with the traveler in principle, but not in practice
In theory, I very much agree with the traveler here, that restaurants should provide tap water. When it comes to minor things I feel strongly about, the practice of people paying for bottled water is among the most confusing to me.
Assuming you’re in a place where it’s safe to drink tap water, I just find it puzzling how people instead choose to drop a substantial amount of money on water that was bottled elsewhere, and then transported halfway around the world. I always have huge respect for restaurants that offer house filtered still or sparkling water as a default, rather than trying to push people into ordering bottled water.
All that being said, I don’t necessarily feel that strongly that this is something that should be legally mandated, rather than being a business decision:
- I don’t consider this to be a violation of human rights, as the traveler claims, since one can also just go to the bathroom and drink water out of a sink there
- For that matter, the United Nations argues that food is a human right, and I don’t think anyone thinks restaurants should therefore have to give customers free food
- Now, I’d certainly vote with my wallet if I weren’t happy with a restaurant’s water policy, and if I felt strongly about that, I wouldn’t return, would leave negative reviews online, etc.
Now, do I disagree with laws in England, which require restaurants to provide tap water to guests? No, not really. It’s not that I’m against pushing for tap water, I think it just comes down to the level of regulation that you think makes sense.
Bottom line
An Italian court has ruled that that restaurants don’t have an obligation to provide tap water to guests. This all involves a 2019 incident, where a hotel in the Dolomites refused to give a guest tap water, instead forcing her to buy bottled water. She wasn’t happy about that, arguing it’s a fundamental human right, demanding €2,700, to compensate her for emotional distress and economic damage.
The court ultimately ruled that restaurants are under no obligation to provide free water to guests, so the hotel was acting within its rights. While I appreciate this traveler’s crusade against bottled water, I’m not sure I agree with the legal argument.
What do you make of this Italy tap water court case?
One of the Biggest SCAMS is Bottled water. They charged me $16.00 for a 1-Liter Bottle in Venice. The Fish was measly $120.00 (No price on the menu).Bring your own Bottle., problem solved! We will never go to Venice again. shitty Place to begin with.
I won't be surprised By the Judge being Biased (Mafia threats) or maybe he owns Restaurants.
As someone who has stayed at the Sassongher, it does not surprise me at all that it is the hotel that refused to provide free water! Service there was definitely an acquired taste...
Good for travelers to know.
I saw a server vehemently try to deny someone tap water once. I was on a business trip in Port-au-Prince and in a restaurant a European (sounded more German-ish than anything) wanted tap water. He did not want to pay for bottled. The restaurant staff insisted he did not want tap water and he should have bottled only. Finally the server told him in his limited english that the tap water will make him "spend all night in the toilet."
"When it comes to minor things I feel strongly about, the practice of people paying for bottled water is among the most confusing to me" – For what it's worth, I live close to Munich, where water is drinkable, yet it has higher levels of calcium and magnesium that I'm used to, so I opt to buy bottled water. I could buy a filter or whatever, but having tried several (which are either too ineffective,...
"When it comes to minor things I feel strongly about, the practice of people paying for bottled water is among the most confusing to me" – For what it's worth, I live close to Munich, where water is drinkable, yet it has higher levels of calcium and magnesium that I'm used to, so I opt to buy bottled water. I could buy a filter or whatever, but having tried several (which are either too ineffective, slow or expensive), I've come to the conclusion that the cheap still water at Aldi is my best option.
btw when I say too expensive, I mean to the point of being on par with buying cheap bottled water, at least based on the recommended lifetime of the filter
"I don’t consider this to be a violation of human rights, as the traveler claims, since one can also just go to the bathroom and drink water out of a sink there"
I'm sorry but no thanks lmao. If I went to wash my hands and I saw someone drinking from the sink faucet I'd find it pretty funny
IMO if a restaurant really thinks it's all that then it's in their best interest to...
"I don’t consider this to be a violation of human rights, as the traveler claims, since one can also just go to the bathroom and drink water out of a sink there"
I'm sorry but no thanks lmao. If I went to wash my hands and I saw someone drinking from the sink faucet I'd find it pretty funny
IMO if a restaurant really thinks it's all that then it's in their best interest to provide good water to ensure each customer starts each dish with a fresh palate. As someone who grew up in both Asia and the US I wouldn't sue a restaurant but I certainly wouldn't return. I guess one can tell I haven't been to Italy yet though
Voting with your wallet is the best course of action.
Suing a hotel for emotional distress because you were not given free tap water is why people hate lawyers.
I have seen quite a few restaurants in Italy charge a placemat fee, essentially 7-10 euros per person for the silverware and napkin. This is especially true in Venice.
That's a common practice in Italy (called "copperto"), although outside of very touristic areas, you'd rather expect to pay something like 2€. I think there is a similar practice in Portugal.
Cover charge (coperto) payment exists in almost every Italian restaurant with table service. Usually it ranges between 2-5€ and includes bread and similars.