Diners are urged to get water on tap
● People unaware of their rights to ask for free water, survey finds
It is the question which any cash-strapped diner has come to dread: “Still or sparkling water”?
But the answer may be more straightforward than you think as a report reveals that Scottish consumers are unaware of their rights to demand free tap water in public buildings, rather than fork out for the expensive bottled variety.
The study found that just a quarter of consumers realise that licensed premises including bars, theatres and restaurants are legally required to provide free drinking water on request in Scotland, leading many to buy bottled water or other drinks when on the go. Despite this, according to a study from Keep Britain Tidy, almost three quarters of Scots are uncomfortable asking for free tap water in a glass without buying something else and more than a third feel awkward asking for it in a reusable bottle even if they are making a purchase.
Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-newton said: “This report demonstrates that the British public wants greater access to tap water when out and about. Topping-up a glass or refillable bottle would encourage us to stay healthy while helping to reduce littering in our streets, parks and beaches, which is all good.”
Under the Licensing Act (Scotland) 2005, all licensed premises – ie those allowed to serve alcohol – have to provide tap water free of charge – although they are technically allowed to charge for use of a glass. Alex Buchan, partner and licensing specialist at Edinburgh lawyers Brodies, said: “In Scotland, there are mandatory conditions applicable to all licensed premises and one of these is that they provide tap water free of charge on request.”
Leigh Sparks, professor of retail studies at Strathclyde University, said that restaurants and bars were loathe to supply free tap water on a purely commercial basis. “The reason restaurants and bars don’t make it as widely known is that if they can charge for a bottle of fizzy water, they make more money,” he said.
The report found that 60 per cent of people, however, believe businesses that serve food or drink should be required to provide free drinking water to the public, regardless of whether they are a customer or not.
The news that the vast majority of people do not know that they have a legal right to request tap water when in a bar, restaurant or other licensed premises is indicative of the fact that we in Scotland are shy of demanding good service.
We are not sure whether the owner of the premises will like it, so we prefer not to ask and make a fuss.
Restaurants are well aware of this, and some of the less scrupulous ones exploit it.
It could be said we only have ourselves to blame for not speaking up for what we want, but all restaurants should provide tap water free of charge and they should all be up front about offering it – after all, it costs them nothing.
Although restaurants and bars – and any other venues which serve alcohol – are legally required to offer tap water to customers under terms of the Licensing Act, most cafes, technically, do not have to do so. But they should.
Eating out should be all about the experience. Making customers feel uncomfortable – or indeed that their meal was unnecessarily pricey – might make a few quid on the bill, but is poor business.