Do pubs legaly have to supply free tap water?

I always thought they did but a pub I went to last night refused and as a result of camping (i.e poor facilities) I felt really ill this morning, the water would have helped :mad:

I am just annoyed because I thought offering free tap water was apart of the conditions to get a liquor licence.

Reply 1

cobra

14

Technically yes anywhere that serves alcohol should provide free water, though there is a loop hole so they could charge for cleaning and hire of the recepticle

Reply 2

Psyk

16

I heard that ANYWHERE has to give you free tap water if you ask. I'm not just talking public places. Apparently if you go up to a random house, ring the doorbell and ask for water they have to give it to you. Personally I'd take this with a pinch of salt, I doubt it's legitimate.

Reply 3

Fleece

15

Legally I think yes. But then I spose it's a bit cheeky if you're not buying anything else to just ask for a water. I always do when I go with friends though, even if I feel cheap they have to give it me.

Reply 4

matchu

2

Psyk

I heard that ANYWHERE has to give you free tap water if you ask. I'm not just talking public places. Apparently if you go up to a random house, ring the doorbell and ask for water they have to give it to you. Personally I'd take this with a pinch of salt, I doubt it's legitimate.

No this is true, something to do with messengers travelling throughout the UK, who would obviously need to get water along the way.

Not too sure about pubs though - I've never been refused but what about clubs that charge £3.50 for a bottle of water?? Surely they wouldn't be too happy about giving you tapwater?

Reply 5

Kate.

15

As far as I'm aware, they do have to have free tapwater. At least, every venue for gigs I've been to have all started to have free tapwater in the past 2 years, when I don't think any of them did before that.

Reply 6

Fleece

15

Straas

No this is true, something to do with messengers travelling throughout the UK, who would obviously need to get water along the way.

Not too sure about pubs though - I've never been refused but what about clubs that charge £3.50 for a bottle of water?? Surely they wouldn't be too happy about giving you tapwater?

Actually clubs HAVE to give you tapwater too. It's illegal for them not to have a sink with tapwater running at the bar too.
I always ask for pints of tapwater at the end of a night in a club, never had a problem.
The club I used to work at used to fill loads of pint glasses of water at the end of the night in anticipation of all the people needing water at the end. (but that was for the all nighters).

Reply 7

AT82

OP

I've not once been refused free tap water in any venue/club or pub :smile:

As for cheeky how is it? We spend 6 hours in a pub between us spending £50 and they can't give us two glasses of free water?

Reply 8

Fleece

15

AT82

I've not once been refused free tap water in any venue/club or pub :smile:

As for cheeky how is it? We spend 6 hours in a pub between us spending £50 and they can't give us two glasses of free water?

Tbh in that situation I would have barked some spiel at them about legal rights and entitlement to free tap water.

Reply 9

AT82

OP

Fleece

Tbh in that situation I would have barked some spiel at them about legal rights and entitlement to free tap water.

When you're 120 miles from home though you don't want to kick up a fuss, I shall be emailing the brewery though which happens be based down the road in Stockport.

Reply 10

Fleece

15

AT82

When you're 120 miles from home though you don't want to kick up a fuss, I shall be emailing the brewery though which happens be based down the road in Stockport.

What difference does it make where you are in relation to home? I'd rather kick up a fuss somewhere I wasn't likely to ever go again, than somewhere I'd be likely to visit regularly.

Reply 11

AT82

OP

Thats the problem though, there is a good chance I will go there again :smile:

The village is dubbed "Little Manchester" in Anglesey :biggrin:

Reply 12

Fleece

15

AT82

Thats the problem though, there is a good chance I will go there again :smile:

The village is dubbed "Little Manchester" in Anglesey :biggrin:

Hehe. I still would have said something regardless of if I was going in there again. Ah well.

Reply 13

lskdgjsj

10

AT82

I always thought they did but a pub I went to last night refused and as a result of camping (i.e poor facilities) I felt really ill this morning, the water would have helped :mad:

I am just annoyed because I thought offering free tap water was apart of the conditions to get a liquor licence.

It would appear not:

"At present, cafes, restaurants and pubs are not obliged to serve free tap water on request, but many do so - albeit frequently with a measure of snootiness: tap water is cheap, and that makes you cheap. (New legislation will, however, make the provision of fresh water mandatory in Scotland from 2009.)"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,,1819028,00.html

Reply 14

jpowell

15

Currently there is no legal requirement for, pubs, cafes or restaurants to provide free tap water.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/water/story/0,,1819264,00.html

There is a lot of misconception about this, as evidenced by the poster who heard that anyone is legally obliged to provide you with tapwater (remember that tapwater is not free in the first place).

My advice is simply to avoid going to any place that refuses to serve you tapwater for free.

Reply 15

M'Lady

12

I thought that if a place served food/drink they had to provide toilet facilities and tap water free of charge. Costa and starbucks certainly provide tap water for free and every bar/pub I've been in hasn't had a problem if I've asked for tap water.

Reply 16

blone_bomb

i thought they had to give you the water for free but could charge you for use of the glass? ah well im obviously wrong reading this thread.

Reply 17

matchu

2

Where were you?

Reply 18

Xx Tomásíona - Mháire xX

14

AT82

I always thought they did but a pub I went to last night refused and as a result of camping (i.e poor facilities) I felt really ill this morning, the water would have helped :mad:

I am just annoyed because I thought offering free tap water was apart of the conditions to get a liquor licence.

hmmm any places I go to they give you water free......hmmmmmm if it is apart of the conditions their licence can be revoked if you really don't like the place :cool:

Reply 19

creak

13

Venues with a live entertainment license, at the very least do. That doesn't really help the OP, but for anyone at a gig where you're refused free water (and it has happened to me before, the bastards), know you are legally entitled and make sure you argue until you get it.

Do pubs legaly have to supply free tap water?

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