Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Only having tap water at a restaurant, rude?

199 replies

Chocolattay · 11/03/2022 22:04

Me and DH have a young baby and are a bit skint.

I go out occasionally with my friends and will skimp them, only have a main and juice etc. Today we finally got round to a date night, baby present.

I am BFing and he was driving. I only wanted water (since baby fizzy drinks give me awful burps and didn’t fancy juice). DH doesn’t like soft drinks and was driving.

We just had a jug of tap water. The staff did keep asking “Are you sure you don’t want a drink?” and we felt a bit pressured so in the end ordered coffees (which we didn’t really want) with our dessert.

Genuine question as I’m curious as to people’s thoughts, is it shitty to just get tap water at a local family owned restaurant?

OP posts:
FairyCakeWings · 12/03/2022 10:59

I wouldn’t feel guilty for not drinking alcohol! Id feel a bit guilty for taking the free option of water instead of paying for the bottled water that they no doubt have available. They still have to provide the clean jug and glasses which is a tiny cost, but it’s not free. But then bottled water is usually so over priced and the plastic is wasteful that I’d get over the slight feeling of guilt.

SartresSoul · 12/03/2022 10:59

They make most money from drinks so that should explain their insistence. I don’t think there’s anything strange about drinking water with a meal.

Faffandahalf · 12/03/2022 11:01

I think a lot of people on this thread are either quite old, quite old fashioned or not in big cities.

The idea that you can’t have tap water with meals is a really really ancient POV.

In most London places they even ask ‘tap water’? It is so so completely normal and everyday it makes the ppl on the thread who think otherwise come across as really weird.

Nobody cares. No one bats an eyelid. Any service people who say otherwise must also not work in cities either. Do you raise your eyes at different cultures who won’t be ordering alcohol for example??

Volhhg · 12/03/2022 11:03

I work in a restaurant and people have just tap water all the time. I couldn't give a monkeys as long as they're polite and leave a tip! I can't believe people who are saying they work in the Industry say it raises eyebrows. I wonder if they work in the UK or what kind of restaurant they work in? I've worked in expensive and casual places

BigWoollyJumpers · 12/03/2022 11:23

I always drink water because I don't drink alcohol much,, but I do ask for mineral water. Generally because tap water is not very nice.

I am interested by the plastic bottle argument, because in restaurants we always get glass bottles of water. I think I would be a bit put out if the water came in a plastic bottle in a restaurant.

Faffandahalf · 12/03/2022 11:50

They probably buy it in plastic bottles and put into glass bottle to look ‘fancy’ and discard the rest. I can’t imagine any restaurants are being environmentally friendly

Seashor · 12/03/2022 11:52

I’m tea total. The choice of soft drinks in bars and restaurants is mostly shocking . A J2O really isn’t the height of joy! So yes, if they are short sighted enough not to provide for non drinkers then I will order tap water.

YanTanTetheraPetheraPimp · 12/03/2022 11:57

@NopeNoNope

I'd order water but wouldn't ask for free tap water. I'd rather not have a drink at all because I'd be worried about the raised eyebrows too and people thinking if can't afford a bottle of water then I can't afford to eat out, but I'd want to just have tap water because that's what I have all the time as I don't drink but id admire you for doing it if I was with you.
I cheerfully ask for a jug of tap water, if they don’t like it that’s their problem. I rarely drink alcohol, never if I’m driving and I don’t like soft fizzy drinks. It’s not as if I’m only eating a packet of crisps or something while everyone else has a full meal! If they think I can’t afford it then again that’s their problem because I can easily afford it
daisypond · 12/03/2022 11:57

Id feel a bit guilty for taking the free option of water instead of paying for the bottled water that they no doubt have available.

Why would you feel guilty? You are legally entitled to it. I’d feel more guilty getting bottled water. It’s environmentally terrible. No one gets bottled water these days. It has a terrible image, for one. You’re more likely to get people - not waiters- looking at you oddly if you get that. I live in London and tap water is a completely normal, civilised thing to have when eating out.

Delectable · 12/03/2022 12:10

Wherever I'm eating I only drink water with my food. I seldom have a non alcoholic drink afterwards or before if the food will take ages but during a meal I want the taste of the food only.

Winday · 12/03/2022 12:15

I have recently made the switch to just asking for water. Don't drink alcohol often (usually driving). If I order a (sugar free) fizzy drink it's never finished and sometimes sets off acid reflux, so seems wasteful. Fruit juices are too sugary/acidic.

If the mood takes me I'll have a coffee or tea at the end of the meal, but I couldn't give a feck anymore about choosing tap water during the meal. People choose this for a variety of reasons. Not all to do with budget.

Honeyroar · 12/03/2022 13:06

@daisypond

Id feel a bit guilty for taking the free option of water instead of paying for the bottled water that they no doubt have available.

Why would you feel guilty? You are legally entitled to it. I’d feel more guilty getting bottled water. It’s environmentally terrible. No one gets bottled water these days. It has a terrible image, for one. You’re more likely to get people - not waiters- looking at you oddly if you get that. I live in London and tap water is a completely normal, civilised thing to have when eating out.

How are they legally entitled to demand tap water?? I’ve never heard that. I own a coffee kiosk and I don’t serve tap water. Our tap water is well water and we aren’t allowed to serve it, even though it tastes lovely and we drink it at home. All our coffee machines etc run off bought in mineral water.
daisypond · 12/03/2022 13:18

How are they legally entitled to demand tap water?? I’ve never heard that.

If you sell alcohol - virtually all restaurants- you have to serve tap water free on request. If you don’t sell alcohol, it doesn’t apply.

StarlightLady · 12/03/2022 13:18

Licensing Act 2003: All premises licensed to sell alcohol must provide free tap water upon request.

CandidaAlbicans2 · 12/03/2022 14:42

Last time I went out for a meal there were jugs of free water out on the table already, and I don't think twice about asking for tap water if it's not automatically offered. No way am I buying bottled water, and I usually don't want an alcoholic drink (£6 for a glass of wine and £2 for half a diet coke, no thanks!). Never noticed raised eyebrows either.

RosesAndHellebores · 12/03/2022 15:35

My grandparents would turn in their graves if they thought people paid for water nowadays.

UnwantedOpinionBelow · 13/03/2022 01:15

I have asked for tap water many times before at a restaurant. I used to worry about it looking stingy but have realised not one waiter/waitress has cared. I think it's normal now for people to ask for tap water!!

PrincessNutella · 13/03/2022 01:53

This has never occurred to me.

TwoShades1 · 13/03/2022 02:04

This is me and there isn’t even a reason, I just prefer it. I rarely drink alcohol so often just don’t want an alcoholic drink. I don’t like carbonated drinks as they make me uncomfortably bloated and I avoid juice as it has a lot of sugar. So really I’m left with drinking water with meals. Also not really a fan of hot drinks, can’t have milk or caffeine either.

apintofwine · 13/03/2022 02:06

[quote Chocolattay]@OwlinaTree

I do have the occasional glass of wine/G and T at home but don’t really feel the urge to drink when out anymore. It just feels like money down the drain, I suppose BF can be a convenient excuse.[/quote]
Not really the point of the thread, but if you keep using breastfeeding as a convenient excuse - posting about, and saying it when you’re out and about - it perpetuates this myth that you can’t drink when breastfeeding, making other people believe it and judge others who choose to.

Don’t drink if you don’t want to, but don’t say it’s because you can’t because you’re breastfeeding

Simonjt · 13/03/2022 02:06

I often drink water when out, I have type 1 diabetes, so eating out can be enough of a faff without adding in sugary drinks.

Good restaurants should be actively offering water to guests

Calandor · 13/03/2022 02:33

No it's fine. You wanted water so you had water. It's a restaurant - you go and buy what you want from there.

gingerknobs · 13/03/2022 02:44

Tap water is fine

mnnewbie111 · 13/03/2022 03:21

@AnotherDelphinium

I’d just reply “oh we’ve got a drink, thank you” and if they persist “a refill would be great”.

Being pushed into drinking alcohol is really frustrating. You’ve obviously had at least two courses, so you’re hardly only ordering tap water!

Water is really great, most people don’t drink enough, why the obsession with “it’s not a drink if there’s not alcohol in it” Angry How about if you haven’t got the margins on the food you increase them rather than pressure-selling alcohol.

If I experience this I’d leave a poor review and not return.

They didn't mention alcohol tho. They meant any drink, soft drink whatever. Sounds like you've got a right bee in your bonnet about it tho
New posts on this thread. Refresh page
Swipe left for the next trending thread