Pub not serving water

[Shaddrack]

Is it the norm for pubs to refuse customers water if they think they've drunk too much alcohol?
Went out last night, my friend had over done it and asked for a glass of water before we left to walk home but was refused due to "the science"
I've googled but I can't find this science, all I can find is suggestions you refuse any more alcohol and offer water!
I think it was such a shitty thing to do, not just unreasonable but actually fairly irresponsible. But maybe i'm just not privy to the right "science"?

Yup. That's ridiculous.

YANBU that's ridiculous. I can understand them not wanting a group of people taking up a table all drinking tap water but if you've been there buying drinks and need some water it's irresponsible not to hand any out.

It's a condition of their license that they have to provide free tap water.

If she was pissed she probably misheard or misunderstood what they said to her.

Pretty sure they are legally obliged to provide it under their licensing conditions.

That's what i thought especially as he'd already served her alcohol. It seems irresponsible to then refuse water.

They should have given water. They sound like a shit pub with shit staff.

She definitely didn't mishear I was there too. Then another friend asked which was when he cited "the science" as the reason.

I'm pretty sure they're legally obliged to give tap water.

Report them to whoever issues their licence.

Sure they didn't say "the license" especially if it was after last orders?

The only possible explanation is that drinking water the next day after a heavy night on cider supposedly dilutes it and can make your drunk again.
Supposedly.

Unless the landlord is a qualified GP, I'm not sure they have grounds to be refusing water to patrons based on "science"

Was it after the pub had stopped serving, and could he possibly have said it was because of 'the licence' not 'the science'?

More likely they wanted her to BUY a soft drink.

I was out last week and we got absolutely hammered inthe pub
My friend went to buy more and they suggested we had water instead
"The science -" absolute tosh

Yanbu they should give a glass of tap water if requested. I also think you likely misheard and they said license although not sure if the license affects them giving a glass of tap water out for free

*The only possible explanation is that drinking water the next day after a heavy night on cider supposedly dilutes it and can make your drunk again

This is not remotely true, logical or possible. And unless she had slept in the pub and was asking for water the next morning, not even applicable.

Rubbish. It's against their license not to provide water and when I worked in bars (admittedly a very long time ago) a glass of tap water wouldn't have gone through the till and could have been given even after we'd stopped serving.

Ha ha no I suspect they just thought it would be easy to get rid of a drunk person with a stupid answer

Could it be that the drinking water has been tested and is unsafe to drink.

Apparently some licences specify a specific time by which everyone has to be off the premises - if it was 'the licence' could your friend have fallen foul of that?

specify a specific aargh! Tautology!

Seems like they are in breach of the law

No they were still serving, and he did let her buy a coke!
It was the barman not the landlord, I did think he was just being a dick.

Report them