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Comment by JupiterMoon | Hacker News Reader

> I do like the fact that you can get free water almost everywhere, there was often a large can and cups on the bar, free to take. Here a tap water is sometimes as expensive as a beer (in a bar obviously).

Wow in most of Europe this would not be legal. Are you sure your local laws allow this?

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I've frequently been told that it's illegal but most European countries that I've lived in or visit don't act like it's illegal. Some places' worst bars even have signs up that suggest they will not help you if you aren't paying.

Are you sure it's not legal? I increasingly get the feeling that this is an urban myth based on wishful thinking.

Depends upon country+. I know of a few European ones where this is the case. Check for your country (several people have posted the UK government's summary of UK legislation already). One often has to specify the actual law that the company is breaking for things like this before the business acts in accordance with the law.

In one place I've had someone try to bill me for the ice and lemon in the jug of tap water (with no prior indication that they would be doing so). So yeah lot's of places will try to break this law.

EDIT + and if you're actually a customer of the business...

What I encounter in Dutch restaurants is that they give you (sometimes ridiculously expensive) bottled water when you ask for 'water', and when you ask for 'tap water' they say they only serve bottled water.

Yeah. The lack of complimentary water at restaurants is probably my biggest complaint about traveling in Europe. When I sit down, I want a big damn glass of water immediately. This is the standard in the US, and I really miss it in Europe. Like you said, even ordering water is a trial when you don't speak the language. Learning "water" isn't hard, but remembering between it and "tap water" is hard, and the waiter has a decent excuse for failing to get your order right. And they usually treat you like cheap scum for failing to order an expensive drink. Ugh.

You should also learn how to say natural and sparkling in addition to water, if you have a preference when travelling in europe.

How can selling water at a commercial establishment be illegal? Bottled water industry would be out of business, as some of them are known to resell tap water too. I'm from Europe too, by the way, and don't see the big deal. I'd say around here it's pretty split - around a half of places will offer free water, and a half will offer it for money (not for beer prices though).

In the UK, if an establishment serves alcohol, they must also provide free tap water at request. It was designed with binge drinking in mind. Most places do still sell bottled water though.

Where I come from if you sell alcohol you have to offer tap water for free. (You can obviously sell bottled water as well.) This is the case in several other countries as well. I have several times been forced to quote the law to a bar or restaurant when they attempt to illegally charge for tap water.

Not sure if it's illegal here, but in South Africa restaurants are expected to serve you tap water if you ask for it. Doing otherwise would be rude, and most waiters (even at pubs) will clarify if you want 'bottled or tap' and 'with ice and lemon.'

I have noticed a strange phenomenon in Europe too, please forgive me if I'm generalising as I'm aware it's a big place, but people there seem like they won't do something without getting paid.

Example: delivery personnel who would deliver a refrigerator up to your door (but not further, into the kitchen) and a plumber who refused to even discuss what the options were for a problem we were having that was not what he had been called in for.

That doesn't happen here. Instead, the delivery guy usually helps you unpack the item of delivery, and the plumber will offer his opinion on a job he was not necessarily called in to fix.

Once again, standard disclaimer, this is anecdata, apologies for the generalisation.

> That doesn't happen here. Instead, the delivery guy usually helps you unpack the item of delivery, and the plumber will offer his opinion on a job he was not necessarily called in to fix.

And how much are you expected to tip these people?

optional. sometimes nothing. sometimes like $2.

Sounds like a cool place to live. Over here a plumber will give you a consultation, but regarding delivery, if you live at an appartment the delivery guy will deliver to the building, if you want it delivered to the doors of your appartment, it will cost extra, per floor. Installation will probably be additional expenses. Sure some retailers offer full delivery and installation for free (or included in price), but then it will be explicitly stated.

it has its ups and downs. we do have a high crime rate and sub standard internet so everything's a tradeoff :)

I don't know about the rest of Europe, but in Germany bars have to provide free tap water if you ask for it. They also have to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink that's cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink, IIRC.

> but in Germany bars have to provide free tap water if you ask for it.

That's a myth, they can charge whatever they want for it.

> They also have to offer at least one non-alcoholic drink that's cheaper than the cheapest alcoholic drink

That is actually true.

Interesting. Apparently it's an extremely widespread myth but a myth nevertheless:

http://www.swr.de/marktcheck/restaurant-irrtuemer-top3/-/id=...

IIRC in the UK it is a requirement of alcohol licensing laws that tap water be available for free to customers (this is second hand from someone who was getting their license some years ago).

Ofc I would expect it to vary by country. In general though everywhere here will try and sell you bottled water but give you tap water on request.

Edit: God dammit i need to refresh tabs before I reply.

First hand - https://www.gov.uk/alcohol-licensing#mandatory-licensing-con...

It's not that selling tap water is illegal per se, it's just that you are required to offer tap water for free as well (at least in some countries).

I was under the impression is was also illegal in Netherland, but some googling suggested it might not be illegal and there's some debate around it. My experience is that tap water is always free, but not everybody likes serving free water and some try to get you expensive bottled water instead.

It's completely ridiculous to buy bottled water here. We've got the best tap water in the world.

In the UK, if you are a licensed premises, you are required by law to provide tap water, as well as:

> a ban on dispensing alcohol directly into customers' mouths

Lame.

Well, I can only speak for Denmark, but here you are obliged by law to give water to anyone who asks. At certain restaurants though (the Louisiana museum for instance), the waiter will sometimes politely refer you to the bathroom if you ask for (free) tap water (hinting you should buy it from the restaurant).

Reason being most restaurants earn their money from beverages (especially wine).

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