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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:
Thread gallery
5
Ginmonkeyagain · 04/09/2023 18:09

Well indeed - the tap water is always in my view additional to food and, usually, drinks orders.

I met Mr Monkey and some friends in a bar yesterday after they ran a half marathon, they got through a lot of litre carafes of free tap water but also between them (a table of 10 people) must have spent a fair amount of money on pizza and beer (at least £400 I reckon). I assume the bar would have been less happy had they just sat there guzzingl water and eating the free snacks from their finishers bags.

CClaire · 04/09/2023 18:13

@Feverly eh? Cos it was a hot day and he needed water

saltinesandcoffeecups · 04/09/2023 18:45

CClaire · 04/09/2023 18:13

@Feverly eh? Cos it was a hot day and he needed water

Would they not sell him some? I mean if I was thirsty and sweating and all manner of of things and I’d asked for a glass of water that was refused I would ask to buy a cold drink. I think that would be preferable to staring forlornly at others enjoying a cool beverage.

Although that I can totally see how that would flummox someone suffering dehydration 😰🥵

Tessabelle74 · 04/09/2023 19:48

JanesBlond · 04/09/2023 16:15

How much do you think a glass of water costs? You could buy a new glass from IKEA for every single glass of water you drank at home and it would still be cheaper than £1.

Show quote history

They're using a glass that needs filling, then clearing away and washing. They're sitting in a seat that a paying customer could use for free. That's where the costs lie, not the actual water 🙄

CClaire · 04/09/2023 21:27

@saltinesandcoffeecups someone else bought the whole round. When she said we don’t do tap water, my brother declined to get bottled water on principle I think.

M4J4 · 04/09/2023 21:33

ScoobyDoesnt · 04/09/2023 15:58

I've not read the whoel thread, but just to clarify 'the law' - licensed premises must provide free tap water, unlicenced do not have to. This however is only in England, Scotland and Wales, not Northern Ireland.

Of course the balance is what's morally right and wrong - as other posters have said, should provide it free if other drinks / food are being ordered, but if it's just a glass of tap water then that's different. Cafes (or any premises) still have costs to cover in terms of staff, cleaning (the glass will still need washing!) etc. (the water itself is negligible in terms of cost unless 100s a day are doing this) - plus if they're taking up a table, that could be a table worth £s to the business.

Does this mean it’s ok to ask cafes to fill up your water bottle?

M4J4 · 04/09/2023 21:35

CClaire · 04/09/2023 15:10

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!

Given 6 people of the party ordered booze, the landlady was stingy and shortsighted.

flyingsaucersandjellybeans · 04/09/2023 21:38

I thought it was a legal requirement to serve tap water tor free?

M4J4 · 04/09/2023 21:39

flyingsaucersandjellybeans · 04/09/2023 21:38

I thought it was a legal requirement to serve tap water tor free?

Only licensed premises are required to serve free water. But I’m not sure if customer has to order something else to go with it.

saltinesandcoffeecups · 04/09/2023 21:44

CClaire · 04/09/2023 21:27

@saltinesandcoffeecups someone else bought the whole round. When she said we don’t do tap water, my brother declined to get bottled water on principle I think.

We’ll then that was his choice… I mean there are principles and there is foolishness.

Pleaseme · 04/09/2023 21:50

M4J4 · 04/09/2023 21:33

Does this mean it’s ok to ask cafes to fill up your water bottle?

Show quote history

I wouldn’t ask a cafe to fill up a water bottle unless I was also a customer. Ie. Can I get a coffee to take away and please can you fill up my water bottle is fine. Even if it just takes a minute then it costs the cafe 17p @ minimum wage to pay that worker. I’m sure over time it could erode goodwill.

CClaire · 04/09/2023 22:02

M4J4 · 04/09/2023 21:35

Given 6 people of the party ordered booze, the landlady was stingy and shortsighted.

Show quote history

This was exactly my point. They lost a lot of future business due to being so petty. And then of course there’s the legal issue. It didn’t even occur to me id have to justify my brother’s face, choice, etc to the more truculent MNers, but then I really should have known better!

Fireangels · 05/09/2023 19:04

All cafes restaurants, pubs etc must by law provide free tap water on request. As I don’t drinks hot drinks, or sugary soft drinks, and don’t like cola, I often ask for a glass of water with a meal. I’ve never been refused or charged for this,

Free drinking water - what are your rights? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39881236

A glass being filled from a tap

Free drinking water - what are your rights?

Most people are unaware of where and when they can claim free drinking water, a survey suggests.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39881236

avemariiiaa · 05/09/2023 19:09

They should offer free tap water for people buying other items, but charge for it or offer bottled water only for people just coming in to just sit and drink water.

They are never going to turn a profit if people are ordering free water then taking up a table that a paying customer might have used. I will leave a cafe and go elsewhere if it's too busy and it looks like we might have difficulty getting a table.

celticprincess · 05/09/2023 19:11

In a bid to save the planet the establishments should be encouraging people to have free water in their own refillable container rather than selling water in plastic bottles. I also hate spending £3-4 on bottled water in some more expensive places.

In regards to eating in places, I don’t drink fizzy drinks and don’t drink alcohol so I find it easier in restaurants to just get a jug of tap water. I don’t like most of the really awful sweet juices like j20 etc. They actually give me headaches. Some places automatically bring you out a jug anyway.

emmetgirl · 05/09/2023 19:48

I own a licensed cafe. If someone is buying food or another drink I'm happy to provide tap water free of charge.
Someone coming in, sitting at a table and expecting a glass of water and buying NOTHING else? They'd be refused and asked to leave.
I'm a business not a community centre.

enchantedsquirrelwood · 05/09/2023 19:51

MargaretThursday · 04/09/2023 17:03

Yes, ordering a hot water for free and then adding own tea bag/coffee but expecting to use the cafe's milk/sugar. Or ordering a tap water, using a table for 2-3 hours to work and eating own sandwiches etc.

People see it as them being clever and getting one over the "exorbitant prices of the café" but the café currently is only just breaking even.

Show quote history

I used to do this at work as we had to pay for our drinks. So I took my own teabag (and had a box of sugar lumps in my desk) and paid 20p for the hot water and milk. Rather than paying £1.50 or whatever it was for the tea.

We had vending machines that charged as well and the coffee was yuck.

It is different in a public facing cafe which needs to turn a profit though!

Casperroonie · 05/09/2023 20:12

I actually thought this was illegal and water should be given for free.

I agree it's not really ok not to have anything in a cafe and ask for water but smo many places actually advertise they're happy to refill.water bottles for free as a way to be greener and reduce plastic.

I personally would not be visiting a cafe that charged for water (and I would never go in and have nothing to eat or drink).

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 05/09/2023 20:27

Casperroonie · 05/09/2023 20:12

I actually thought this was illegal and water should be given for free.

I agree it's not really ok not to have anything in a cafe and ask for water but smo many places actually advertise they're happy to refill.water bottles for free as a way to be greener and reduce plastic.

I personally would not be visiting a cafe that charged for water (and I would never go in and have nothing to eat or drink).

It’s only a legal requirement if they serve alcohol

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 05/09/2023 20:29

Fireangels · 05/09/2023 19:04

All cafes restaurants, pubs etc must by law provide free tap water on request. As I don’t drinks hot drinks, or sugary soft drinks, and don’t like cola, I often ask for a glass of water with a meal. I’ve never been refused or charged for this,

Free drinking water - what are your rights? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-39881236

Your link makes clear only places that serve alcohol - not an unlicensed cafe - have to serve free water…

This means pubs, bars, nightclubs, cafes, restaurants, takeaway food and drink outlets, cinemas, theatres, and even village and community halls - so long as they are authorised to serve alcohol.

Clarie83 · 05/09/2023 21:08

Yes they are being totally unreasonable, I certainly wouldn’t go there

stichguru · 05/09/2023 21:21

Water costs and washing up a glass costs. If you are going to be charging people for other things like coffee and cake and covering washing up the cake plate and coffee mug, then I'm sure you can cover a glass of drinking water and washing the glass in with that. But if people JUST want a glass of water then charge something.

JanesBlond · 05/09/2023 21:39

Tessabelle74 · 04/09/2023 19:48

They're using a glass that needs filling, then clearing away and washing. They're sitting in a seat that a paying customer could use for free. That's where the costs lie, not the actual water 🙄

Show quote history

Yes, if you’d have read the thread you’d have seen that is exactly what I said twice a few pages ago. Complaining about the cost of water is nonsense. Complaining about the opportunity cost is valid.

Emmelina · 05/09/2023 21:50

If they’re coming in and asking for a free water, in a glass that will need washing, and sitting at a table that could seat several paying customers, then I completely get where the cafe is coming from!

EarthSight · 05/09/2023 21:53

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.

I saw this situation on the weekend and thought they were cheeky fuckers for doing that. A cafe isn't a public fountain.