To think that if you go out …

Takoneko · Yesterday 12:20

I agree that as things stand it doesn’t make any sense for them to charge. It wouldn’t be worth the bad publicity.

OrangeBlouse · Yesterday 12:11

They would be incredibly stupid to do so.

Takoneko · Yesterday 12:10

OrangeBlouse · Yesterday 12:07

They CAN’T charge for tap water.

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They can charge a fee for the service and glass. I’ve never been to a restaurant that does.

OrangeBlouse · Yesterday 12:07

LoveItaly · Yesterday 09:34

Of course I can understand that, so think that restaurants should start charging for tap water (which in my experience they never do) if that’s all people want to drink. Otherwise the price of food/drinks has to go up to cover costs.

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They CAN’T charge for tap water.

LoveItaly · Yesterday 09:34

PollyBell · 24/10/2026 12:54

But why can't you understand some people only drink water?

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Of course I can understand that, so think that restaurants should start charging for tap water (which in my experience they never do) if that’s all people want to drink. Otherwise the price of food/drinks has to go up to cover costs.

Ishehe · 24/10/2026 23:48

To be honest If I’m not drinking wine I would love to just order tap water. I don’t want a sweet fizzy drink but I always feel like I have to get something?! I sometimes get a cup of tea but yeah I have a feeling I should order a drink

YellowElephant5 · 24/10/2026 23:46

BugJuice · 24/10/2026 10:04

So do you order more food than you want/need then in order to help them survive?

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I do and always so so weird about it. I hate doing it from a food waste perspective. I'm like can't I just pay you £50 to sit here for an hour?

YellowElephant5 · 24/10/2026 23:43

Whaleandsnail6 · 23/10/2026 23:49

Yabu. Why do you think this?

Why should someone pay for a drink they don't want if they are happy with tap water?

Thats like saying "when you go for a meal, you should order starter , instead of only buying and paying for a main"

Its just daft

And restaurants make it SOOOO awkward. I'm constantly in the situation of ordering both food and beverages I don't want but then when I don't consume them it's an inquisition. I'm just paying to sit somewhere pretty and read a book. You're getting your money. Leave me alone.

OrangeBlouse · 24/10/2026 20:22

Summergarden · 24/10/2026 19:48

In Germany and Luxembourg most restaurants refuse to serve tap water unless another drink has been purchased and sometimes even then they refuse. I ordered a meal and a soft drink and afterwards asked for a small glass of tap water to take medication with. The waitress was apologetic but said the restaurant had a blanket ban on tap water (despite being perfectly safe to drink) so I had to but a bottle of mineral water.

I’ve no idea about Germany and Luxembourg, but in the UK they’re legally obliged to provide tap water.

FFSItsTooHot · 24/10/2026 20:13

I think many places vastly overcharge for their drinks (soft drinks especially) even of the price of the food is not too bad. I remember being in an Indian restaurant a couple of years ago and the waiter got the right ache when my friend and I asked for a jug of tap water and 2 glasses. Sorry,but I wasn't prepared to pay nearly 5 quid for a glass of diet coke!

TheeNotoriousPIG · 24/10/2026 20:13

I prefer a cold drink with meals. I can't abide with tea, coffee gives me terrible spots, hot chocolate is fine, I rarely drink any alcohol (apart from quaffing brandy) and I only like two fizzy drinks. One isn't sold everywhere, and one commonly has artificial sweeteners in it, which I avoid as they seem to give me headaches. In any case, I tend to feel fresher after having a large bottle of plain tap water to myself!

If it makes anyone feel better, I rarely eat out!

Summergarden · 24/10/2026 19:48

In Germany and Luxembourg most restaurants refuse to serve tap water unless another drink has been purchased and sometimes even then they refuse. I ordered a meal and a soft drink and afterwards asked for a small glass of tap water to take medication with. The waitress was apologetic but said the restaurant had a blanket ban on tap water (despite being perfectly safe to drink) so I had to but a bottle of mineral water.

nevernotmaybe · 24/10/2026 19:27

6079SmithW · 23/10/2026 20:15

for a meal then you should be prepared to also pay for a beverage (and not just order tap water)?

I think if you are a business that provides food, and cant make money from food, your business is incompetent and/or not viable

TwentyProjects · 24/10/2026 19:22

I don't drink alcohol and like water with a meal, what's wrong with that. I go out for the food and company

JeatherLacket · 24/10/2026 18:44

6079SmithW · 24/10/2026 12:37

Wow! I wasn’t expecting so many replies. It seems like I am being unreasonable so I’ll own that.
For context it was just a conversation I was having with a friend. He always jokes about people who just order tap water as being cheap, so we agreed to put it to this vote.

Is your friend a bit thick? Why does he care if people order what they want to order?

eighteenpercent · 24/10/2026 18:41

You'd be amazed how many places don't offer any still non alcoholic beverages other than bottled water. I don't drink alcohol and don't particularly like fizzy, so if no fresh juice is available I just ask for tap water. I think bottled water is so bad for the environment in comparison to tap water, and I have zero preference in taste.

amylou8 · 24/10/2026 18:40

Apart from a coffee when I get up I only drink water. Although I'm also not keen on tap water so I'd order bottled. But absolutely nothing wrong with ordering tap water with a meal.

Askingforafriendtoday · 24/10/2026 18:34

Catza · 23/10/2026 20:23

My boyfriend doesn't drink anything but tap water. And it has to be plain as shit with not a hint of lemon or ice. Drives me nuts too but what is he supposed to do?
And why does it matter to you specifically? It's a bit like saying that you should only go out if you are having a three course meal. None of this just a main and a desert business!

Plain water is my drink of choice, hate all those sugary, caffeinated, calorific drinks. Usually driving, YABVU

RebeccaRedhat · 24/10/2026 17:52

My daughter doesn't drink fizzy pop at all, occasionally she might a fruit juice or squash but she does drink alot of water. She's nearly 17.

latetothefisting · 24/10/2026 17:27

when does "your friend's" snobbery end?

What about people who drink water but have dessert, are they more acceptable than someone who orders a coke but only has one course? They'll spend more.

tigger1001 · 24/10/2026 13:11

sometime order juice but often just have water. Not like I'm taking up a table and not ordering anything. Ordering water with food is perfectly fine.

pinkizzy · 24/10/2026 13:07

I know what you mean. I actually prefer tap water but will always order some apple juice or something because I thought it wasn't ok just to have tap water!

PammyPrang · 24/10/2026 13:06

If more and more people order just tap water, I think a small cover charge would be fair to cover use of glass etc.

I used to go to a pub quiz where the same teams of people went every week. I always noticed this woman who arrived after the £1 entrance fee had been collected and then sat with tap water.

Yawningalldaylong · 24/10/2026 13:04

Disagree, tap water instead of fizzy drinks can easily save £8/£10. I’m happy to make that compromise to eat out occasionally.

NimbleTaupeTiger · 24/10/2026 12:58

Thisusernameisalwaysavailable · 23/10/2026 20:24

I can't drink alcohol, sugar r, caffeine or rtificial sweetener

I drink a lot of water 😂

Yep, me too. I sometimes have wine (at home) and an occasional beer with lunch if we're out with friends, but definitely too much of anything and I know about it for quite a few days. I also can't eat lactose, nuts, seeds, cruciferous vegetables, etc. I eat a lot of burgers and drink a lot of water 😂