Is ordering tap water in a restaurant rude?

[TigerOnTour]

My friend often orders tap water in restaurants and I think it's a bit rude. She also has a tiny appetite so will basically just order a side, a starter or a child's meal. I feel like we are pissing off the restaurant. Obviously we don't all have to order a bottle of champagne, but a coke isn't expensive. Friend is very wealthy, if that matters.

Not at all rude I do it all the time

Agreed but only if not ordering other drinks.

In Australia everywhere has a bottle of tap water on the table.

Here in New Zealand water is automatically offered so it’s perfectly acceptable. Which is handy as it’s my favourite drink! I think in the UK you have to ask for it, and it’s sometimes awkward because they ask if you want still or sparking and you’re made to feel like a cheapskate if you ask for tap. But tap is better for the planet! Maybe the UK will catch up with NZ one day!

Due to the cost of living and people eating out... Unlikely

No. Most restaurants bring you tap water anyway. I don't always have a drink when I eat out and am quite happy with the water, but I've never had to order it, it just arrives.

I'm in NZ too - I don't think I've ever been to a restaurant where tap water wasn't brought to the table. I didn't realise that they don't do it as standard in the UK. Bit weird.

Goodness what a shame she has such a poor appetite that even attempting a single main dish would be impossible.

Rude? Absolutely not, YABU (and a bit daft).

Water in my part of the north east is lovely and soft and tastes great. I only buy sparkling water otherwise it’s a waste of resources ( glass or plastic).

Tap water is fine to ask for. An adult eating from the children’s menu is strange though.

Are you overthinking this? I go out to eat some days a lot some days a little - my only concern with the restaurant is that I'm polite and I tip - I don't spend any time considering how much profit they make as a result of my visit...I'd imagine like all businesses some customers are more profitable than others but not my place as a customer to give it any thought.

Water in the south tastes good too, IMO much better than a lot of bottled waters! A restaurant we visited recently offered bottles of sparkling tap water for £1 and they donated that £1 to charity.

Dunno about rude, but given the state of our water supply, it's fucking brave.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cgll12v5z7xo

The only thing that's a bit off here is ordering from the child's menu when clearly not a child. Personally, if I ran a restaurant it would be my rule that only under a certain age could do that.

Depending on success of the business, I might offer half sizes of adult meals or OAP deals (only adults I know who have tried ordering children's meals), but my starting point would be children's menus for children only.

Zero problem with ordering tap water as long as something else was ordered by the table too, be that alternative drinks or food (of any type.)

Plenty of restaurants offer small plates/tapas/snacks for people with small appetites. I expect restaurants know what they are doing and offer tap water without being asked and still manage to survive.

People on injectibles (weight loss) won't necessarily want a whole main course, I think Weight Watchers or one of those is bringing out food specific for that, so clearly there's a marketplace, as are all these protein-rich ready meals they now do in the supermarket. Eating three-course meals in restaurants is going out of fashion, I think, we go to a local one that does two courses for a set amount (so out of starter and main and dessert) and that's very popular.

It is a legal requirement in the UK for restaurants to offer tap water.
'All restaurants in England and Wales that serve alcohol are legally required to give customers free tap water according to the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) Order 2010, which came into force in April 2010 and was updated in 2014.'

Completely normal to order tap water.

I don’t like fizzy drinks, sugary drinks or alcohol so it’s rare I have anything other than tap water to drink. I always feel a bit embarrassed asking just for tap water, but I love my food so figure I make up for it that way.

Same here. Bottled water is a rip off.

It’s pretty standard to order tap water in most restaurants, I was out for dinner last night and we were brought tap water automatically without asking for it

Yeah…if you aren’t a child, order from the normal menu… Generally speaking, if you don’t want to spend money, stay home. It is upsetting and annoying to people having to bear with these attitudes. If she wants to be careful then she can choose something else than going out for dinner. A coffee?

About the water… if you aren’t in a restaurant that ask you « flat or fizzy », when you request water…no, it aren’t rude. They will probably just fill the cruche with water tap anyway…

Absolutely not rude.We always ask for water for the table irrespective of what/if everyone is drinking.

I usually have bottled water in a wine glass. Nothing wrong with ordering a side it appetizer. We have too bigger portions anyway. I often order a starter.
I think a restaurant would be glad of the patronage anyway.

Wealth has nothing to do with what your friend orders. I prefer to hydrate myself with water. I also do not order massive quantities of food. I have a simple appetite and eat small portions.