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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cafe charging for tap water

234 replies

coldheartwarmtoes · 04/09/2023 13:47

Cafe local to me posted on Facebook yesterday that they were going to start charging people £1 for tap water.

Basically they're fed up of people just ordering the water and not a drink when there water, staff, washing up costs attached etc.

The whole thread derailed with people flouncing and being horrified.

Are they being unreasonable?

I'd share the link but they took it down!

OP posts:
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5
mycoffeecup · 04/09/2023 13:48

I think reasonable to charge if you just come in for water, but should be given free if buying something.

Hiphopopotamus · 04/09/2023 13:50

Are they licensed to sell alcohol? If so I’m pretty sure it is a legal requirement for them to offer free tap water.

AtomicBlondeRose · 04/09/2023 13:50

I think it a fair if there are regularly people coming in and getting just a glass of tap water with nothing else. I always ask for one alongside a hot drink and would not expect to be charged for that. I’ve also often popped into cafes/coffee shops and asked them to refill my water bottle when travelling - I don’t like buying bottles of water when I always carry a metal one. I guess they could tell me there was a charge, in which case I’d politely turn them down and go somewhere else!

readbooksdrinktea · 04/09/2023 13:52

Only reasonable if nothing else is ordered.

Clefable · 04/09/2023 13:52

I can't really get incensed about it. I think if you go to a cafe you should expect to pay for what you order and consume there. But I don't go to cafes and order tap water so I don't have a horse in the race I suppose. Seems weird if it's causing such a problem they have to specifically enforce though.

Gowlett · 04/09/2023 13:52

Just getting tap water is not on at a cafe.

Lastqueenofscotland2 · 04/09/2023 13:53

If people are coming in and just getting tap water that’s not on.

Original poster
coldheartwarmtoes · 04/09/2023 13:53

No alcohol served.

They said discretion allowed so I guess if you're ordering a coffee as well it's fine.

I work in a pub part-time and we get a lot of walkers just coming in and using the loo and asking for tap water and we just give it. I've stopped offering ice and lemon with it though if that's all they're having!

OP posts:
Sirzy · 04/09/2023 13:53

I think a “if you order tap water on an order under £5 then you will be charged £1” type thing is fair enough.

Curseofthenation · 04/09/2023 13:53

I think if they made this announcement alongside having a kilner water dispenser available for people to fill their own flasks/bottle (if sitting down to eat) then they might have had a better reaction. I can understand that it is frustrating for them. It's a tough time for businesses and customers right now.

Frabbits · 04/09/2023 13:55

Absolutely fair enough.

randomsabreuse · 04/09/2023 13:55

If you're in for food and you don't like sweeteners or tea or coffee you're probably a bit stuck...

I quite like hot chocolate but again sweeteners or more calories than I really need...

I often end up with water when I want something else due to lack of options.

If I'm out with the kids they generally have water, and tbh DS didn't like juice until he was 3.

Original poster
coldheartwarmtoes · 04/09/2023 13:55

They also said they were stopping people ordering half portions as well as that's losing them a lot of money.

Things are so tight right now.

I'm just not sure it's cost effective if people stop going altogether due to this policy. The person who just has tap water one week might come back next week with a load of friends who all order lots of food and drink?

OP posts:
GrandHighPoohbah · 04/09/2023 13:56

I think they could charge if someone is coming in, only ordering tap water and doesn't have their own bottle/cup. It would be reasonable to carry on giving it free if just filling up someone's bottle.

TeaKitten · 04/09/2023 13:56

randomsabreuse · 04/09/2023 13:55

If you're in for food and you don't like sweeteners or tea or coffee you're probably a bit stuck...

I quite like hot chocolate but again sweeteners or more calories than I really need...

I often end up with water when I want something else due to lack of options.

If I'm out with the kids they generally have water, and tbh DS didn't like juice until he was 3.

I’ve never come across a cafe that didn’t sell bottled water.

amylou8 · 04/09/2023 13:57

I always drink tap water with my meal in a pub/cafe/restaurant. Party because I prefer it and also because it's free. I've never been asked to pay for it, nor would I. I think if people are going in and just getting free water its a piss take, but if you're ordering food it should be free.

WaltzingWaters · 04/09/2023 14:00

i Think maybe tap water should be given for free on an order over £4 (as an example). But yeah, it’s not on for people to just go in and only order a tap water. But also not on for someone who has spent £10+ on lunch to not be given free tap water.

Reugny · 04/09/2023 14:00

If someone is eating food/orders coffee and asked for tap water then it should be free.

If someone doesn't order anything then fair enough to charge to discourage them.

Reugny · 04/09/2023 14:01

WaltzingWaters · 04/09/2023 14:00

i Think maybe tap water should be given for free on an order over £4 (as an example). But yeah, it’s not on for people to just go in and only order a tap water. But also not on for someone who has spent £10+ on lunch to not be given free tap water.

I've gone to cafes in a few places both in UK and abroad where if you order a cup of coffee you get free tap water on the side. Other places give you a free biscuit.

londonrach · 04/09/2023 14:02

@TeaKitten I don't like bottled water as it often tastes plastic. Tbh tap water tastes so much better than the bottled water and that includes the bottle ones. I restrict myself to one fizzy drink a day and don't drink tea or coffee. I love tap water. Saying that I wouldn't go into a cafe and just order tap order ...iid her a sandwich or cake to go with it. I think if someone ordered food giving tap water for free is ok ..is that's all they ordered that's cf.

Original poster
coldheartwarmtoes · 04/09/2023 14:04

I agree it should be free if ordering other things.

OP posts:
Carnewb · 04/09/2023 14:04

coldheartwarmtoes · 04/09/2023 13:53

No alcohol served.

They said discretion allowed so I guess if you're ordering a coffee as well it's fine.

I work in a pub part-time and we get a lot of walkers just coming in and using the loo and asking for tap water and we just give it. I've stopped offering ice and lemon with it though if that's all they're having!

Pubs have to offer 'free, potable water' because they serve alcohol, though like you I don't add ice and lemon and if it's demanded the smallest amount unless it's ordered alongside other things.
I think it's fair enough to charge for it when they're using the cafés facilities and not ordering anything else at all, that's taking the piss and must be happening often enough for it to be a problem.
Now and again to someone on a hot day passing by is one thing, and unlikely to cause a business to do this.
Unfortunately some people consider themselves customers even when they don't buy anything and feel they should get all the benefits of that without actually paying for it.

SleepingStandingUp · 04/09/2023 14:06

TeaKitten · 04/09/2023 13:56

I’ve never come across a cafe that didn’t sell bottled water.

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But spending £2 a go on bottles water when they have a tap working perfectly fine is ridiculous when I'm spending £30+. Fine if it's the only thing you're ordering esp if they're then sitting down to drink it

TeaKitten · 04/09/2023 14:08

SleepingStandingUp · 04/09/2023 14:06

But spending £2 a go on bottles water when they have a tap working perfectly fine is ridiculous when I'm spending £30+. Fine if it's the only thing you're ordering esp if they're then sitting down to drink it

Show quote history

I agree but that poster implied there was no other option than tea, coffee or sweetened drinks. Turns out they just don’t like bottled water.

cushioncovers · 04/09/2023 14:09

Ordering food or other drinks it should be free in my opinion. But just walking in off the streets to use the toilet and get a glass of tap water, then leaving is a damn cheek.