Is it legal for a restaurant to charge for tap water?

[newlywed]

The big debate of bottled water not being eco friendly is a good point I think but I charged for tap water in a pub before, is that legal?

[Reverandfunk]

Don't see why not, they've paid for the water and don't want you sitting in there spending no money.

[newlywed]

Good point but when you are spending say �50 on a meal it seems a bit mean to charge �2.00 for a jug of tap water which costs them 1 tenth of a penny per litre

[Ethel]

Yes it is. They are not obliged to serve you at all, so you can't expect free water.

As well as the water you are paying for the service, the use of a glass and the other facilities the pub provides, seating, cleaning, staff, toilets and so on.

[olly8080]

oh dear some one explain basic economics

unless you took your own glass in and servedyourselfin the dark with no electric and donated towards the running costs of the pub did you expect it FREE !!!!!

[Ethel]

I would expect free tap water with a meal, which is different to your original question.

But it is still legal to charge in those circumstances.

[BIG DAD]

so could i bottle up tap water chill it and sell it for a ridiculas price?

[kempie]

The provision of free tap water isn't a legal requirement in England & Wales unless conditions are imposed on the licence. It is however a legal requirement in Scotland that premises authorised for the sale of alcohol for consumption on the premises must provide free tap water under the provisions of the Licensing (Scotland) Act 2005, Schedule 3, s.9(2).

[loonytunes]

....and it is unlikely to be a condition of the licence in England and Wales as conditions can only be imposed under the grounds of prevention of crime and disorder, public safety, protection of children and prevention of nuisance.

[Buenchico]

As others have indicated, it's not illegal to charge for tap water. (Even if if was illegal to charge for the water, a charge could still be made for the 'service' of putting it in a glass and handing it to a customer).

To answer Big Dad's question:
Yes, it's perfectly legal to bottle tap water and sell it for a ridiculous price. However, it doesn't make for good publicity, as Coca Cola found out when they tried to do exactly that with its 'Dasani' brand:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/article1 034651.ece

Chris

[Jen1]

Tap water is not free. Bars, clubs restaurants are all on a water meter. That means they are charged, therefore you can be. If they serve alcohol then they should all have a licence.

Only if the customer buys a drink then they can have free tap water if they have this facility by law. If it warm then ask them to out ice in. It's not only the water in the glass, it includes providing the clean glass, ice and then washing the glass after.

If you don’t buy anything, then you’re not a customer, you’re a waste of space and should go bother someone else.

[bookiewookie]

Everyone should be aware by now that as long as the premises are licensed to sell alcohol, they MUST provide free tap water. The Licensing Act 2003 was amended to that effect in 2010. Please see here: http://www.alcoholcon...ce%20April%202010.pdf

Whether one agrees with it or not is irrelevant, really, it is the law and carries hefty fines for not complying.