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).
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
