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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to ask for tap water?!

64 replies

popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 15:12

This is the norm in Europe, when eating out with kids but I've no idea if this is the done thing in the UK or is seen as stingy or bad mannered!

(Sorry for such a boring aibu but I have lived abroad too long and when I lived in the UK had no money- eating off-spring so had no need to know these things!!)

OP posts:

Original poster

popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 16:27

Oops, well spotted hotdrink

No, they seem to eat all my money. I haven't eaten any of them

OP posts:

LikeTheShoes · 13/07/2014 16:28

Its not just scotland BlueThursday any licensed premises in the uk must provide free tap water ([https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-licensing here]] there is also "a ban on dispensing alcohol directly into customers’ mouths" -who knew?!)

I once fainted at a gig in an O2 Academy (or it might have been a Carling Acadamy then...) and was brought a cup of water, they tried to charge me for it but I didn't have any money they accused me of faking it to get free drinks!

Original poster

popmimiboo · 13/07/2014 16:29

Liketheshoes -that's shocking!!!

OP posts:

RelocatorRelocator · 13/07/2014 16:33

We ordered tap water a lot for our dcs when they were small - unfortunately they have now discovered lemonade and it's much harder to get away with!

WorraLiberty · 13/07/2014 16:34

They can still charge for service/use of the glass if they want to be petty, BlueThursday

TotallyAddictedToLurking · 13/07/2014 16:38

Our local Indian restaurant now has a sign up saying they do not provide tap water. They are a licensed restaurant too.

It made me not eat there again as we always have a jug of water for the table on top of normal drinks, the price of mineral water in restaurants is shocking.

snazzync · 13/07/2014 19:37

Totally that is disgraceful, given that Indian restaurants serve a lot of spicy food, which warrants the need for water, I would think! Not to mention the amount of salt in a lot of dishes, which makes you thirsty!

Is that even legal for a premises which serves food?

HannerHet · 13/07/2014 19:51

I wouldn't think twice about ordering tap water. I also work in a cafe and if anyone asks me for water I ask them whether they would like bottled or tap. Not a problem at all

roofio87 · 14/07/2014 09:11

I have a very sensitive and dry mouth after radiotherapy and only ever order tap water when out. It has never ever been a problem!!

CalamitouslyWrong · 14/07/2014 09:15

We always order tap water, usually with no other drinks. It's never a problem.

halfdrunkcoffee · 14/07/2014 10:01

I find the opposite. I always ask for tap water in the UK and have no trouble getting it. I found Spain and Italy were really difficult. They were very reluctant to serve us tap water, asking us to just order a bottle of mineral water instead. France, however, was fine about tap water. I try to avoid bottled water given the environmental implications of the packaging and transport, not to mention cost.

Pipbin · 14/07/2014 17:59

Our local Indian restaurant now has a sign up saying they do not provide tap water. They are a licensed restaurant too.

I would be interested to know their faith as I understand it is against the Islamic faith to refuse someone water.

whois · 14/07/2014 18:29

Total non issue. Ask for tap water. Totally ok and if it's not, it isn't the kind of restaurant you want to be giving custom to.

Ongoing joke in our local Thai about how many times you have to ask for water before they finally bring it... Even when ordering beer, starters, mains etc!

londonrach · 14/07/2014 18:30

We always ask. Is that a problem?

londonrach · 14/07/2014 18:31

I think there's a law that a restaurant has to provide tap water if licensed.....

sashh · 14/07/2014 18:32

it was only on the way home I realised the feckers had charged us £10 for four glasses of water

Then they are in breach of their licence.

www.gov.uk/alcohol-licensing

Idontknowwhysheswallowedafly · 14/07/2014 18:33

Pipbin
Our local Indian restaurant now has a sign up saying they do not provide tap water. They are a licensed restaurant too

I would be interested to know their faith as I understand it is against the Islamic faith to refuse someone water

They might not be Muslims?

londonrach · 14/07/2014 18:34

As sasha says. Report totally......

looselegs · 14/07/2014 20:09

It's against the law for a licensed premises to charge for tap water.

GoringBit · 14/07/2014 20:18

There's no reason not to ask for tap water, and in terms of sustainability, it's way, way preferable to bottled water. As is asking for a doggy bag.

ShakeYourTailFeathers · 14/07/2014 20:24

Here in Canada you are usually brought a glass of water as soon as you're seated - if you then choose another drink as well that's fine.

NEVER charged for it

Hatetidyingthehouse · 14/07/2014 20:24

Always

Hatetidyingthehouse · 14/07/2014 20:25

I mean never! I mean I always ask for tap water. Not unreasonable

SanityClause · 14/07/2014 20:30

I go out with a group of friends a few times a year to a Michelin starred restaurant.

We always order a jug of tap water. They never try to "upsell", and if we finish it, they bring more.

GreeboOgg · 14/07/2014 20:32

Fine if you're eating in a restaurant or a you're in a pub and having a meal/others are drinking.

The only time I've seen somebody get het up over tap water was my Da! Used to drive him barmy in the summer when tourists would come into the pub, ask for a glass of tap water and then sit in the garden with their packed lunches and picnics they've brought with them. "Spend some bloody money or sod off, I'm running a business not a damn public convenience" was the er, polite version of his war cry.

Mind you, he used to make tourists and walkers put 10/20p in the charity box on the bar should they dare to nip in and use the loo without buying anything. He reasoned that it wasn't a public toilet, and they were lucky he didn't have an entry fee.

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