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"?

[JassyRadlett]

'Random bits of law' = 'the very clear conditions for being permitted to serve alcohol'.

Pesky old licensing conditions.

[insancerre]

Jassy

[SansComic]

Pesky old new licensing conditions.

[SansComic]

Out of interest as this is no longer my area and is clearly yours, does this apply to Off Licences (e.g. Threshers) and not bars / pubs / clubs which may have on and off licences.

At what stage does one become a customer? Simply being on the premises or do you need to have purchased something? Does the purchase have to be alcoholic or can I demand it with my bag of dry roasted nuts?

[JassyRadlett]

Out of interest as this is no longer my area and is clearly yours

Nope - two second Google before I made pronouncements about fact on the internet.

This is the guidance on mandatory conditions for premises licenses or club premises certificates. It's plain English and quite accessible. The guidance also deals with the definition of 'customer'.

[TheMythOfFingerprints]

I would serve free water to;

Somebody with a group of people drinking paid for drinks.

Somebody that had purchased at least one drink.

Somebody who came in and looked unwell or similar.

I wouldn't serve free water more than once to somebody on their own who expected to be able to stay for the duration of a football match for example.
This would come under pubs having the right to refuse service to anyone.

In fact, I told a group of lads the other week that came in and started playing pool that that would be their only game if nobody was buying a drink.
We aren't a youth club, or your mates house.

[NarkyMcDinkyChops]

At what stage does one become a customer? Simply being on the premises or do you need to have purchased something?

You aren't a customer unless you have purchased something, that is the very definition of the word!