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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that if you go out …

106 replies

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)?

OP posts:
Suchevilforebodings · 23/10/2026 21:31

YABU lots of people like tap water. I don't see the issue.
Some restaurants will even provide it for you without you having to ask

Judellie · 23/10/2026 21:29

I only like water, tea and coffee so tap water for me too. Just as an aside, I have noticed also at venues now (London Excel, Birmingham NEC etc) there are places to fill up your water rather than continually having to buy plastic bottles of it.

BaobhanSith · 23/10/2026 21:29

SquirrelGG · 23/10/2026 20:55

I often go out for a meal and just drink water. It's perfectly okay. I'm not in the UK and most restaurants supply water, you don't have to ask for it.

Edited

I'm in the UK and the restaurants I go to always bring a pitcher of water to the table, ice if requested, when we arrive. Hardly anyone orders a drink unless they want an alcoholic one. Thought it was normal.

They have stopped the bread basket though. It never returned after lockdown.

Tryingtokeepgoing · 23/10/2026 21:28

Spectacularly missing the point, but I can’t stand the word ‘beverage’. It sounds so mass-market catering to me! But, I wouldn’t have a problem if someone I was eating with just wanted tap water. If I’m having lunch I’ll often only have water anyway, and though I’d usually have sparkling if I didn’t like sparkling I’d probably go for tap water not bottled, unless I was in an area where I didn’t like the tap water! Most restaurants offer tap water without being asked any way, so I don’t see the issue.

lanthanum · 23/10/2026 21:26

DD only drinks water (anywhere). DH almost always drinks water (anywhere), occasionally juice. I drink a lot of squash at home but mostly water when out - squash tends not to be an option! DH generally tips generously, to make up for the fact that our bill is lower because of our preferences.

Sakura7 · 23/10/2026 21:22

You're being weird OP.

DewDropsAndCobWebs · 23/10/2026 21:21
  1. no one's business but the person ordering
  2. could be a million reasons why
  3. what's it to ya?
Nottodaybob · 23/10/2026 21:20

Wine or water for me. And if I'm driving, it'll just be water.

Wistfultearia · 23/10/2026 21:18

There's no 'should' about it. Perhaps you run a cafe and can't make ends meet if customers only buy food without a drink, or know someone who does? Why else would you mind?

BeanNaGealai · 23/10/2026 21:15

I always order tap water with a meal. I may or may not order wine/beer too depending on mood/who's driving/etc. I don't like fizzy drinks, tea or coffee.

No restaurant has ever objected.

BlackCat14 · 23/10/2026 21:10

No I don’t want to be “prepared to pay for a beverage” when all I want is tap water, thank you very much.

IVeryMuchDoNotThinkSo · 23/10/2026 21:09

YABU, some people like to drink water. They should not have to drink bottles water if they don’t want to.

Username193755 · 23/10/2026 21:03

I only like water with my meal. I find carbonate drinks gassy and I don't want to eat my meal.

SquirrelGG · 23/10/2026 20:55

I often go out for a meal and just drink water. It's perfectly okay. I'm not in the UK and most restaurants supply water, you don't have to ask for it.

WaryCyanStork · 23/10/2026 20:54

Why? I do normally to order a drink with a meal, but only because I want one. I don't choose what I order based on the restaurant's profit margins.

Undones · 23/10/2026 20:45

I only drink water and coffee.

mondaytosunday · 23/10/2026 20:45

No. I don’t drink alcohol and tap water is fine. We usually ask for a pitcher for the table and every restaurant has been happy to oblige.

LadyHexham · 23/10/2026 20:40

If I'm driving I generally drink tap water.

Arlanymor · 23/10/2026 20:39

Why? What's wrong with that? Some people only drink water - I know a handful. Insisting that people order drinks other than tap water is controlling... and rude.

Skybluecoat · 23/10/2026 20:36

It’s completely normal to order tap water.

outerspacepotato · 23/10/2026 20:36

I don't drink alcohol or soda. So yeah, I order water.

What's your problem with that? Because if the restaurant doesn't have a problem with it, why do you?

tomorrowfollowstoday · 23/10/2026 20:35

I don't agree, a meal plus tap water is fine.

NicolaSturgeon · 23/10/2026 20:33

Why WOULD you order and pay for another drink if you actually want water - especially if you're in Scotland, where one is routinely (and quite correctly) encouraged to choose the delicious clean nationalised tap water over other less salubrious drinks?

Error404FucksNotFound · 23/10/2026 20:30

Why?

LizandDerekGoals · 23/10/2026 20:30

drinks double the price of the bill. Charging £6 for a glass of pop is robbery. So jog on.