Which of you has paid for tap water at a cafe or restaurant ?

Question

There was a big uproar about this on the radio first thing this morning. The prices ranged from 40p (UK) to £1 (UK).

Part of the counter argument was that water out of a tap was an over head to the business, and therefore a legitimate charge. However if that is a valid argument then the same should apply to electricity etc ?

Has it ever happened to you ? What do you think ? I've just started the argument here. Not necessarily my views.

Answer 1

Nope never paid for tap water.  Don't really see why you should be charged for it as the price of the food/drinks you order from cafes and restaurants are all made up of how much the raw ingredients cost, how much the proprietor has to pay for rent, gas, electricity, wages and yes their water rates...plus a little on top so they actually make a profit.

Maybe they ought to only charge if a glass of tap water is the only thing you order, for example, if you're alone in a cafe and you sit there for a couple of hours, ordering no food and ONLY consuming tap water you're taking up a table where paying customers could be sitting, where as if you drink tap water with a meal of some kind having a glass of tap water wont be costing the proprietor any money.

Answer 2

Never paid in my life for tap water, It is crazy

Answer 3

Yes, payed 50 cents  for a glass of water in a USA restaurant.  The price was on the menu so it was no surprise.

Answer 4

My mother was charged for a glass of water in a pub in Norfolk even though there was a large group who were all eating as well as having a variety of beverages.

Needless to say my mother was most upset at being charged for the water.  It is usually her drink of preference with a meal no matter where she is and so she would not have a coffee after the meal as she was not prepared to put anymore money in the Publicans pocket.

My personal opinion is that anything up to 50 pence is acceptable for a glass of water because someone has to pour it and someone has to clear up - in this day and age time is money and staff cost wages.

Answer 5

I've never paid, I only say, politely, "May I have a glass of water please, I don't feel very well" it works

Answer 6

I have worked somewhere where:

If you wanted a jug of iced water with lemon it was charged for, $3 (Australian).

Water was free by the glass (no ice or lemon).

I'm not sure if I agree or disagree, bt as with the statement regarding electricity, gas etc, these expenses would be factored into the prices of meals, etc, whereas excess water consumption would lead to more of an expense.

Answer 7

They should be Paying YOU, to drink that c**p... I should ask, does England know what Reverse Osmosis water is?

Answer 8

in the USA a restaurant has to offer free water and a restroom to ALL patrons in any restaurant.

It doesn't mean the tap water is very good to drink in some places, but they can't charge for a glass of water if you are eating there.

Answer 9

I have paid for water when I've asked for it.  But then, if I order something I don't expect it to be free.

Answer 10

I haven't been charged for tap water but I worked in a cafe as a teenager where the boss wanted to charge for tap water, I never did, always gave it free.

I can understand the overheads bit if its a buisness that has no trade but what is one more glass and such a small amount of water to a busy place that wouldn't notice the difference

Answer 11

yes iv paid for tap water. the most iv paid is 90p in the restauront near me..

Answer 12

DON'T drink water?

unless it has been mixed and distilled into a decent Malt whisky?

Answer 13

Never.

Answer 14

Once at pizza hut in Glassgow they charged me 1.40 pound

Answer 15

Being a waitress for the last  ten years I have wanted to charge for water:) I would always tell my customers that the water is free but its a 1.50 for the lemon.

Answer 16

No - never paid for it.

I'm the driver so I usually limit myself to one half lager (and I don't like sweet drinks) so stick to water after that.

Being a grumpy old lady, I would walk out and go somewhere else if someone said they were going to charge me for a glass of tap water.

Answer 17

It hasn't ever happened to me, but I've been expecting it to start for a couple of years now.

While I don't like the idea, I do understand it.  The electricity argument doesn't compare, it would be like a restaurant charging for the water used to make the food...those charges are already built into the prices.  However, if you order water to drink, that's much like ordering a soda.  And it should be relatively small in price since they aren't being charged much per gallon of water.

Answer 18

I have been charged for water, It's actually laughable.

Answer 19

I got charged for four waters once. And the bill was more money than me and my friends had. Caught the mistake and made it away without having to do dishes :)