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Original poster

Is ordering tap water in a restaurant rude?

211 replies

TigerOnTour · 30/05/2024 15:51

My friend often orders tap water in restaurants and I think it's a bit rude. She also has a tiny appetite so will basically just order a side, a starter or a child's meal. I feel like we are pissing off the restaurant. Obviously we don't all have to order a bottle of champagne, but a coke isn't expensive. Friend is very wealthy, if that matters.

OP posts:
yeoldbamboo · 31/05/2024 10:09

Are you overthinking this? I go out to eat some days a lot some days a little - my only concern with the restaurant is that I'm polite and I tip - I don't spend any time considering how much profit they make as a result of my visit...I'd imagine like all businesses some customers are more profitable than others but not my place as a customer to give it any thought.

Delawear · 31/05/2024 09:35

Tap water is fine to ask for. An adult eating from the children’s menu is strange though.

AlviarinAesSedai · 31/05/2024 09:28

Water in my part of the north east is lovely and soft and tastes great. I only buy sparkling water otherwise it’s a waste of resources ( glass or plastic).

Comtesse · 31/05/2024 06:41

Rude? Absolutely not, YABU (and a bit daft).

MissTrip82 · 31/05/2024 05:35

Goodness what a shame she has such a poor appetite that even attempting a single main dish would be impossible.

NattyTurtle · 31/05/2024 02:34

ClairDeLaLune · 31/05/2024 00:52

Here in New Zealand water is automatically offered so it’s perfectly acceptable. Which is handy as it’s my favourite drink! I think in the UK you have to ask for it, and it’s sometimes awkward because they ask if you want still or sparking and you’re made to feel like a cheapskate if you ask for tap. But tap is better for the planet! Maybe the UK will catch up with NZ one day!

I'm in NZ too - I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where tap water wasn't brought to the table. I didn't realise that they don't do it as standard in the UK. Bit weird.

NattyTurtle · 31/05/2024 02:32

No. Most restaurants bring you tap water anyway. I don't always have a drink when I eat out and am quite happy with the water, but I've never had to order it, it just arrives.

Snugdrink · 31/05/2024 00:53

ClairDeLaLune · 31/05/2024 00:52

Here in New Zealand water is automatically offered so it’s perfectly acceptable. Which is handy as it’s my favourite drink! I think in the UK you have to ask for it, and it’s sometimes awkward because they ask if you want still or sparking and you’re made to feel like a cheapskate if you ask for tap. But tap is better for the planet! Maybe the UK will catch up with NZ one day!

Due to the cost of living and people eating out... Unlikely

ClairDeLaLune · 31/05/2024 00:52

Here in New Zealand water is automatically offered so it’s perfectly acceptable. Which is handy as it’s my favourite drink! I think in the UK you have to ask for it, and it’s sometimes awkward because they ask if you want still or sparking and you’re made to feel like a cheapskate if you ask for tap. But tap is better for the planet! Maybe the UK will catch up with NZ one day!

Snugdrink · 31/05/2024 00:50

GreekGod · 30/05/2024 21:10

I believe it’s rude and cheap and order bottled water in restaurants

Agreed but only if not ordering other drinks.

In Australia everywhere has a bottle of tap water on the table.

SnowFrogJelly · 31/05/2024 00:35

Not at all rude I do it all the time

mathsAIoptions · 31/05/2024 00:27

I'd do this until the recent tap water situation. Not sure I'd do it now though!

Snugdrink · 31/05/2024 00:24

AlviarinAesSedai · 30/05/2024 22:58

I order tap water with ice, I thought due to licensing rules water must be available. If they don’t like it then don’t serve alcohol.
The restaurant should have a minimum spend if they don’t like it.
It’s no worse than people sitting in coffee shops for hours drinking one coffee.

Licencing laws for those drinking alcohol....

Snugdrink · 31/05/2024 00:23

Cyclebabble · 30/05/2024 15:55

No I do not think it is. My brother runs a bar and I used to help reasonably often when required. Many people will drink simply tap water. In most parts of the country it is a requirement that bars should offer tap water (I believe that this came from the days of ecstasy. That is assuming of course that there are other people in the group eating and drinking and you have not just popped in and said give me a free tap water and sat their spending no money at all!

Behind the bar we would just assume you were the dedicated driver. We and some other bars used to offer DDs free coke/soft drinks.

Only water if you are drinking alcohol.

elevens24 · 31/05/2024 00:11

@Lampslights
It's free in NI. We don't have water charges.

SpringerFall · 30/05/2024 23:10

We order it all the time, our child only drinks it (their choice) and we have it as it as well as ordering a coffee usually or sometimes tea

no idea why it is rude?

Mmmm19 · 30/05/2024 23:03

My mum always thought it was rude / not done thing but she’s getting used to it now as insist. I don’t need bottled water and not good for environment so don’t want to pay for it. I do order a main
edit- although I may have another drink with the water (wine, coffee or soft drink), I may not, particularly if it’s just lunch

TheChosenTwo · 30/05/2024 23:01

If I’m not drinking alcohol I only ever drink water. At home it’s just filtered through the fridge but essentially tap water.
Would always as for bottled in a restaurant though as otherwise I feel like a cheapskate! Even when everyone else is ordering soft drinks or alcohol and we don’t ever scrimp on the food order, one side dish isn’t going to touch the sides but i just don’t like other soft drinks. Sometimes I’ll order sparkling to really push the boat out 😂

AlviarinAesSedai · 30/05/2024 22:58

I order tap water with ice, I thought due to licensing rules water must be available. If they don’t like it then don’t serve alcohol.
The restaurant should have a minimum spend if they don’t like it.
It’s no worse than people sitting in coffee shops for hours drinking one coffee.

easylikeasundaymorn · 30/05/2024 22:57

LoveItaly · 30/05/2024 20:36

Very few people seem to be considering the restaurant in all this. They have staff costs, heating costs, rent etc to consider, and people going in and occupying a table for two plus hours whilst consuming a starter and tap water is ruinous for their business.

??? surely everyone is considering the restaurant, it's integral to the question, who else would the OP be suggesting the action of ordering tap water was rude to?

The friend isn't taking up a table, she's there with at least one other person (OP) or a group, so she's taking up one chair on a table that is already occupied and therefore not available to other diners anyway. It's not as if the restaurant would squeeze an extra random diner on the table with OP and her friends if tap-water-drinking friend didn't come.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/05/2024 22:40

StormingNorman · Today 22:37
I’m a CF who orders tap water and asks for ice and lemon in it 😜”

Most good restaurants provide as standard. Why wouldn’t you? It costs little and promotes goodwill. I would.

StormingNorman · 30/05/2024 22:37

I’m a CF who orders tap water and asks for ice and lemon in it 😜

Ordering such a small (cheap) meal is wrong though. The restaurant needs to make money off the table and that means ordering more than a £5 side for the hour you’re sitting there.

Nosleepforthismum · 30/05/2024 22:37

Lampslights · 30/05/2024 21:15

I always order Tap water, but I also order other drinks, it’s never just water, and I order a meal. I’d not go in and just order water, and if I did, I’d have bottled if it was all I wanted.

Show quote history

Agree. This is my approach too. Tap water alongside a glass of wine is absolutely fine. As a stand alone drink it should be bottled.

MrsSkylerWhite · 30/05/2024 22:31

I thought in the UK it’s free on demand?

Toomanyemails · 30/05/2024 22:31

I know a few restaurants where tap water is free if you're getting another drink too, and otherwise there's a small charge (50p-£1.50) which I like as a policy as it's clear where you stand. I avoid alcohol and sugary drinks and genuinely prefer tap water.

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