Italiens oberstes Gericht entscheidet gegen Tourist, der Leitungswasser in Dolomites-Hotel verweigert
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/26/italy-court-tourist-tap-water-dolomites-hotel?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Von Firstnarrows100
Italiens oberstes Gericht entscheidet gegen Tourist, der Leitungswasser in Dolomites-Hotel verweigert
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/may/26/italy-court-tourist-tap-water-dolomites-hotel?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Other
Von Firstnarrows100
37 Kommentare
€7 for a bottle of water is the real crime here, wtf 💀
But like why could they not just give her tap water though? Weird to not just give it lol
„Asking for free tap water at a restaurant in Italy is generally considered a breach of etiquette, especially if the server has already offered the choice of a bottle of natural or sparkling water. But customers are becoming bolder, with many seeking to avoid using plastic, and more restaurants now offer filtered water.“
She offered to pay for the tap water, EUR 7 a bottle is highway robbery
I am personally shocked that all 3 courts in Italy upheld the hotel’s right to refuse free tap water and instead force a charge for plastic bottled water.
Do you think the same thing would happen in your country?
Does the law now always side with corporate greed over essential human rights?
Wow. Even here in the land of greed and capitalism, every restaurant I’ve been in over the course of 50+ years has offered free tap water.
Italy is so weird with restaurants. This, and „pane e coperto“, is just plain stupid.
just to be clear,at a bar in my city i heard the owner (woman in this case,but I’m sure a lot of men owner think the same) complain about a client asking for a second glass of water after his coffe „i pay this water!“ she was saying wile filling with treated tap water another half glass (yes they don’t even give it full)
Same in Germany. There’s no right to get a glass of tap water here…
The EU Drinking Water Directive 2020/2184 encourages restaurants to provide free water, or for a small fee. But it’s just a suggestion. Law fell short of providing free water.
is this typical for italy? i’ve only been a couple times so far and don’t recall. i’m going in the fall again & am planning a trip to the dolomites in a year with my husband & kids. i live in europe which is already kinda funny about tapwater, but this is another level of BS.
I feel so lucky living in France for the fact that fresh and cold water is free and often offered directly by waiter, and no to very little tip culture.
Kinda seems like tap water should be free anywhere ordered. Within reason.
Reminds me of “The Moon is a Harsh Mistress”, the popularizer of “there ain’t no such thing as a free lunch”. The book has a restaurant where meals are free with the purchase of super-expensive drinks.
It’s pretty awful that Italians would think it normal or lawful to force such wasteful practices on people just to make a mappa. How many planets do they think we have?
Europe. AC + Free Tap Water. It’s time.
Italy continues to be Italy.
its EXTREMELY low to refuse water… come on.
At a five star hotel where she was staying? Do these people know anything about hospitality?
>“During her stay, the tourist complained about “constantly being denied the opportunity to consume tap water, and instead being forced to purchase bottled water”, [Corriere Alto Adige reported](https://corrieredellaltoadige.corriere.it/notizie/cronaca/26_maggio_25/acqua-di-rubinetto-il-ristorante-puo-rifiutarsi-di-servirla-l-hotel-in-alto-adige-batte-la-cliente-in-cassazione-nessun-obbligo-f24899e4-b3e5-4120-81cf-37a1e4228xlk.shtml?refresh_ce), citing court papers.
>The woman then pursued legal action, arguing water was “a natural resource and a universal human right” and that “the free provision of a minimum vital quantity is necessary to meet essential needs and must be guaranteed”, Corriere wrote.
>The woman considered tap water to be an integral part of the service at a restaurant or hotel, “much like finding a bed with sheets, a warm room and soap in the bathroom”.“
uhhh… was there no tap in the hotel bathroom? lmao
Wait for it when you gotta pay for air.
Pure greed. This kind of thing is all over Europe. We need an EU law that guarantees free tap water at restaurants.
The cost of water at Italian restaurants was a big culture shock for me when I visited (from the perspective of someone who’s lived in both Canada and the US). In North America it isn’t even uncommon for restaurants / cafes to give you tap water for free even if you don’t purchase anything, and it’s unheard of for it to not be free for customers.
Why not just buy one bottle and refill it in your room and take it to dinner every day?
That’s interesting. You literally can’t sell food or alcohol in most parts of the US without offering free water. I’ll still trade for free universal Healthcare
„That court confirmed there was no law in Italy obliging restaurant managers or hoteliers to serve customers tap water, and dismissed the case too.“ – This is pathetic. This is what people say when someone suggests something should be changed but they have no intentions of changing anything.
In the UK, Australia & New Zealand it is law to provide complementary water to patrons if at a restaurant or licence premises. The person arguing the case mustn’t of been a good lawyer.
This is something France got right, a restaurant must give you free tap water it you ask for it.
My Grandma, to describe someone particularly attached to money, would say:“He would sell water to Christ“.
Go to Zurich and pay 5chf per person for ~~tap~~ Zürich water
20chf for a table of four ~22eur!
In the UK tap water must be offered for free if the restaurant serves alcoholic beverages lol.
From an environmental point of view is it insane to „force“ people to buy bottled water, when good quality tap water is available.
This is outragous that mpromote drinking and soda drinking witch is both bad
What are EU laws on access to and availability of water? Could those supersede local laws in EU countries?
As a French guy, not getting free tap water at a restaurant would be seen as a crime.
At least we do get option to get tap water in Finland in majority of the restautant. Finnish tap water is good 👍
First there should be a right for drinking water – in restaurants and events (e.g. concerts) and next optimally it should be provided from any hospitality place where tap water is abundant – at least from the tap directly.
It hurts my brain everytime when going to a stadium or cinema that I cannot bring a bottle of water. That should be illegal.
Name and shame the restaurant. I hope someone creates a website to boycott these places
Bad Italy bad.
I might remember incorrectly, but didn’t Italy also have a ruling some years ago that stealing food wasn’t illegal if you are starving?
I wonder what would have happened if she’d filled a plastic bottle with tap water from her hotel room and had drunk from it at the hotel restaurant without ordering any drinks.