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Water when eating out

Hi guys

Just wondering if anyone can clear this up for me? I recently heard that if you are eating in a restaurant they can't refuse you if you ask for a glass of tap water, as to prepare food on the premises you have to have a freshwater licence??? Is this true?

Because I have been to lots of chinese restaurant and buffets where they state on the menu they aren't allowed to give out glasses of water because of 'Health and Safety' reasons? And i'm left with no other choice than to buy a litre bottle of volvic or Evain for £3.99!!!

Can anyone clear this up please because i'm sick of trying to argue with them and still having to pay for water!

Thanks!

Shoe_Lover Thurs 20/03/08 19:34

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Ethel
Thurs 20/03/08
19:39

Complimentary tap water is at the discretion of the restaurant - there is no legal obligation to provide it.

Nik315
Thurs 20/03/08
19:42

Hi Shoe,
Very grey area this one. I worked in the restaurant trade for quite a few years and I have certainly never heard of a freshwater licence.
As far as I am aware, although restaurants are not allowed to charge you for tap water some get round this by saying that that you are paying a nominal fee for the service of someone pouring and bringing that water to you. As for not serving water for health & safety reasons that just sounds like a load of bull to me.

Ethel
Thurs 20/03/08
19:51

Restaurants ARE allowed to charge for tap water - they are still providing a glass to drink it from.

If that were not the case, there would not be any need for this campaign:

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article -23441558-details/Water+on+tap+at+every+restau rant/article.do

Ethel
Thurs 20/03/08
19:54

And:

"In fact, says Ingrid Gubbay, campaigns lawyer at consumer group Which?, restaurants do not legally have to provide free tap water. Only licensed clubs do"

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/ellie_leve nson/2006/11/water_water_everywhere.html

In A Pickle
Thurs 20/03/08
23:46

Both of Ethel's answers are quite correct,as always.
PS:~Really nice to see you back Ethel!

In A Pickle
Fri 21/03/08
00:02

Hmmm flirting leg? LOL

wee willie
Fri 21/03/08
00:04

i need a flagon

rickee
Fri 21/03/08
00:16

I reckon all this charging for tap water etc,has only come about since the "trendiness" of water,who cared before? It's amazing how "expensive" it's become to turn the tap on lol...The whole bottled water cult is now under common sense scrutiny,and,it probably wont be too long until common sense prevails !!

JonnyBoy12
Tue 22/04/08
23:23

Not sure about the legalities of this, Shoe Lover, but have to give the House of Commons its's due here. The restaurant there (or cafe) provides a large jug of water free of charge for all its's diners, which is the only place in London I have ever seen do that. So if you ever visit the Halls at Westminster make sure you get your quota of free water. The food is unfortunately not free, though.

By the way if you are a pregnant woman you can ask to use the toilet in any shop, and by law they cannot refuse you. So I have been told. Don't know what us poor guys are supposed to do though.

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