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AIBU?

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Original poster

Pub not serving water

82 replies

Shaddrack · 12/02/2017 10:42

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"?

OP posts:
AwaywiththePixies27 · 12/02/2017 11:09

YNBU. That's ridiculous. The only strange law I've ever had in a pub and I still never checked if it was true was when my 10yo went up to the bar to ask / pay for an orange squash. Was told it had nothing to do with the drink it was that they can't serve a child at the bar even if all they're asking for is water. I dont know if that's licensing or their own policy though.

The not drinking water for science reasons must be bollocks given hangovers are essentially dehydration caused by excessive alcohol consumption anyway.

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 11:11

Oh come on, which is more likely, a drunk punter got it wrong or the bar was seriously quoting unexplained "science" as a reason not to give out water?

Sure, report them, I'm sure it will be taken very seriously!

MrsGsnow18 · 12/02/2017 11:13

Even after they stop serving alcoholic drinks pubs usually will give someone a glass of ice tap water especially if they have drank too much alcohol!
It's definitely a breech of their license and also quite a dickish thing for the bar man to refuse.

user892 · 12/02/2017 11:13

Never come across a wanker bar tender Narky?

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 11:14

Yes. But far more wanky drunks on the other side!

Purplepicnic · 12/02/2017 11:15

The only vaguely related thing I can think of is people who have died drinking too much water after taking ecstasy or something. But that's drugs not alcohol...

cherrypie11 · 12/02/2017 11:15

Very odd. Have never heard of a pub doing this

Lunalovepud · 12/02/2017 11:15

Report to the licensing authority. It's illegal.

TheMythOfFingerprints · 12/02/2017 11:16

As someone who works in a bar, it is indeed illegal to refuse as pp have said, but shitty too.
I'd call and calmly let the manager know that their staff are misinformed.

Billben · 12/02/2017 11:16

Narky, they didn't give her the glass of water because they wanted her to spend more money on a soft drink. Which she ended up having to do. I would be reporting them.

Lunalovepud · 12/02/2017 11:17

Incidentally, they also shouldn't be serving anyone who appears overly intoxicated so they have messed up there too. By the sounds of it!

SuperFlyHigh · 12/02/2017 11:19

YADNBU

Narky does have a point to some degree, we've got no idea if the friend slurred "gissus a glass of water" and the bar man refused or whether it was "Can I have a glass of water please?" And the two could have happened depending how drunk the friend was.

I do also think it's twattish and petty not to give a glass of water. What do they think people go to the pub for? Barman must realise people get drunk sometimes...

No wonder pubs are closing left right and centre if the barman refuses this simple request.

GarrulousGrimoire · 12/02/2017 11:33

I think they said "The License"

multivac · 12/02/2017 11:38

Was told it had nothing to do with the drink it was that they can't serve a child at the bar even if all they're asking for is water. I dont know if that's licensing or their own policy though

That's the law. Children cannot go to the bar, even if the pub is licenced to have them on the premises.

Original poster
Shaddrack · 12/02/2017 11:45

I asked my other friend, it was definitely the science, he said water would make her sick.
But coke doesn't apparently as he did serve her that. That must be "the science" bit Confused

OP posts:
NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 12:08

Narky, they didn't give her the glass of water because they wanted her to spend more money on a soft drink. Which she ended up having to do. I would be reporting them

So handy that you were there, AND the barman also explained his inner thinking to you!
Totally obviates the need for any guesswork on your part then. Jolly good.

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 12:09

No wonder pubs are closing left right and centre if the barman refuses this simple request

I don't think the pub trade in general is in trouble because one single barman may or may not have refused one glass of water to one drunk woman!

SuperFlyHigh · 12/02/2017 12:30

Narky if it were me in this situation and the barman was being this stingy over a single glass of tap water then I'd rethink returning there and possibly mention it to other friends too.

Can't abide meanness. Especially in what is supposed to be a friendly, sociable atmosphere.

Original poster
Shaddrack · 12/02/2017 12:31

narky Why do you think he refused her water then?

OP posts:
user892 · 12/02/2017 12:43

Narky - OP heard him too, with her own ears. She hadn't been drinking too much (that was the friend). If you think OP is lying then report the thread.

londonrach · 12/02/2017 12:45

Condition of licence. Report them. Only ever been refused tap water once..at a licensed chinese.

user892 · 12/02/2017 12:46

Oh - Narky has already said you were ALL being wanky drunks

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 12:47

narky Why do you think he refused her water then?

I wouldn't know, not being the barman. There could be 20 reasons.

user892 · 12/02/2017 12:50

There is NO REASON to refuse anyone tap water in a pub, none, let alone 20.

NarkyMcDinkyChops · 12/02/2017 12:50

Of course there is.

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