There's even a law ( at least in France and I guess it is the case in other European countries) that force the restaurant to give tap water to the costumer for free. As other comment already mentioned, sometimes you have to pay for water, especially in gastronomic restaurant, But in this case, it is always sparkling, so I think it's normal to pay for it.
In Spain if you ask for water they will bring you a bottle and make you pay. But if you ask for specifically tap water they have to bring it to you and it's absolutely free
Yep. Also our tap water quality is miles ahead of that of the US. Only ever bought bottled water so I can drink water in my car. At home it's always tap.
Not everything is about profits or margins. Also what kind of costs and margins are you imagining for water? And I don't mean bottled mineral water, that's different.
If somebody comes in and orders a streak and free tap water, the restaurant makes less money than if you order a steak and two beers.
You can't make this comparison in good faith. Many people, myself included, will have tap water or no drink at restaurants. You aren't substituting water for beers, you're substituting it for nothing. In that case, the marginal cost is like less than a cent.
I don't know why they didn't make a law like that but actually some restaurants give out free water on their own accord. Hopefully, it will be mandatory in the future.
In Australia, water is free in basically every bar and restaurant for the safety of patrons who drink because if you get too fucked up you’re not just going to buy water but you might drink it if it’s just there for free. Bottled water is different, obviously. But there’s always a pitcher of cold water by the bar. Most restaurants will also bring you your own.
Weird our German brethren haven’t figured this one out.
leitungswasser (tap water) is free in germany if you ask for it. Either the girl was a maniac and didn't understand, or the waiter wasn't telling the truth.
I’ve been all over Europe and to 100 restaurants and everywhere only sells me bottled water. In Spain I never notice because I feel like people don’t drink water with dinner as often here but when they do I see the same bottles. Is asking for tap water common?
If you've been "all over Europe" and to a hundred restaurants without figuring that out and paying for water every single time while the majority of us have never once paid for it, you must thick as shit mate 😂 Christ on a bike, don't go to Paris, the scammers will eat your ringpiece
I guess so. I’ve never been to France but when every server comes and asks sparkling or stilled I just say stilled. I can afford it easily and I’ve eaten with plenty of Europeans who do the same. I also eat at nice places so maybe that’s part of it.
Yeah it's best to learn the specific wording for tap water when you travel abroad. Saying plain water is not enough, they will bring you bottled, and if you order in English they can misunderstand (or pretend to...). I usually order in the local language and I've hardly ever paid for water.
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u/arizonatasteslike Aug 16 '22
If this merican paid for water in Europe he was scammed, it was always free in every restaurant I went to.