Cafe charging for tap water

[coldheartwarmtoes]

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!

Then again, they might not.

Where do you want to draw the line there? Let them sit and use the free Wifi and bathrooms on the off chance that they might be a paying customer at some unspecified time in the future?

They're a small business trying to survive in very challenging times. It's obviously enough of a problem that they've had to implement a policy.

I've never heard of people ordering half portions before and absolutely don't think that should be a thing. If you can't finish a meal then take the rest home or order a starter instead.

I thought you had to legally provide enough water to someone so that they could take medication (I.e a pill) free of charge…..or I’ve made this up?!

It seems fair to me to charge for the washing up costs etc.
Stopping half-portions of food they might find looses them business. Lots of people particularly elderly people find restaurant portions wild esp for lunch.
If they'll find somewhere cheaper or start buying one meal between two rather than two half's.

Can't pay for it? Or won't?

I don't think it's the job of private businesses to act as a public resource.

A local cafe started doing this. I stopped going, it just felt so petty and mean-spirited. They closed down soon after, so I clearly wasn't the only one. Goodwill is hard to build and easy to lose - these guys managed it in one fell swoop! Without the goodwill of customers, there is no business. I think some business owners forget this at their peril.

I saw this post on Facebook. I think if you are taking up 'space' in a cafe where someone else could be sat and they are ordering something that they could make money on then charging for water seems quite reasonable to me. The cafe is a small business and they don't have many covers. They also said it was discretionary. I think it's fair enough.

Just when alcohol is served, which isn't the case with this cafe.

I agree with others, if only tap water is ordered, then a small service charge is reasonable.

If people have food or an other drink, then it should be free.

My local has it listed on the menu so you can get a half portion of pasta, or a half sandwich and a small soup. It’s handy for children who don’t need to eat beige food.

The problem with half portions is that people assume that it should be half the price when in reality it would probably just be a bit cheaper. There is a lot more to the cost than the ingredients and the cost of the chef, waiter, washing, utilities etc doesn’t Change between a full and half

I've been thinking about this since my last post and ultimately, what they're trying to do is encourage people NOT to come in and order just tap water. So I think I'd say,

If you want to sit at a table, there's a minimum spend of (the cost of a cup of coffee). If you want to order tap water or for us to refill our bottle, we ask that you please make a donation to [insert charity of choice] here.

And maybe that will make people think and be embarrassed if they don't and you don't lose the goodwill of the people who are regular/proper customers?

I guess lots of people ordering half portions makes it harder to make a profit unless you are serving them to children eating with their parents.

There are actually very few public spaces in towns and cities except for parks where people can eat and drink their own food. This means that we tend to use cafes as a place to go to the loo and refill water bottles. I have even seen threads here where people have seen other customers or CF friends and relatives ask for hot water for their own teabag. That's fine if you are ordering food and the cafe doesn't have the tea you want but not otherwise.

I can see why the cafe is making this decision but I can empathise with people wanting somewhere to sit down for a few minutes.

We used to do a lot of long distance walks and having enough water could be a problem. I always was polite if I was asking for it without ordering anything else and have offered a tip as well especially if there was ice included. Likewise if we had driven somewhere and the only place to park was a pub I would always park at the far end but also go in and mention it to the publican so they knew we would be back for a beer etc in a couple of hours.

Lots of times bottled water is stupidly expensive and frankly no different than tap water, in fact I have known some places make a point of having bottled tap water so that they can charge for it.

@coldheartwarmtoes wrote:
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?

On the other hand, the person who just has tap water might take up a table so that someone else can't be seated, doesn't become a regular paying customer and doesn't "come back next week with a load of friends who all order lots of food and drink"....

‘If you're in for food and you don't like sweeteners or tea or coffee you're probably a bit stuck...’
😄. A bit stuck by only having the options of- pay the £1, buy bottled, buy juice, bring your own drink from home and keep it in your bag or car, go somewhere else. Limitless options.

Because drinking water is literally essential to stay alive so if someone is dehydrated I think it is the responsibility of public outlets to provide them with free drinking water. Obviously, like I said before, discretion would be used.

I don't think cafes are being over-run by the dangerously dehydrated, more by people who fancy a sit down and access to a toilet or phone charger.

About 15 years ago, a group of about 6-7 of us went to one of the local pubs on a hot day. My [adult] brother asked for a tap water, while the rest of us ordered booze, and the landlady refused to pour it! I still remember his sweaty little face, waiting for us to drink up and go. My parents, who used to drink in there every few weeks, didn’t set foot back in there from that day on!

Food is essential to staying alive. By that logic, public outlets (private businesses) should provide free food for people who may or may not be starving to death. 🤡

I hardly think it’s that there’s a plethora of people suffering actual dehydration that’s driven the cafe to such a step

a combination of cheeky fuckers, a reduction of public toilets and water fountains, and tougher times for businesses is much more likely the cause

In Oz, the pubs usually serve tap water alongside whatever you order.

@CClaire why did your adult brother have a ‘sweaty little face’?

Tap water costs businesses money - tap water isn't actually free, plus they pay someone to bring the water, and clean the glass which the water is served in, as well as the cost of electricity to clean it. People who are only drinking water are also taking up a space which another customer who is actually spending money could occupy. I honestly don't blame them.

They do here too. I don't think anyone has a problem with someone ordering tap water alongside food or drink that they've paid for. It's folk walking in off the street and asking for their bottle to be filled up for free, without ordering anything, that is the issue.