Where do you report a restaurant that wont give you tap water if you ask for it?

SharkMX

Went out for food to an Indian restaurant at Kellys corner with some friends.

One of them doesnt drink flavored drinks or alcohol with their food and when they asked for a glass of water at the table. Then I decided I wanted a glass of water too to have with my drink that i already bought and asked for one also.

They said sorry we only have bottled water and it would cost €. We both said no, we would just like tap water please.

They refused and we asked why were they refusing. The answer was that they could not give customers tap water because it was bad quality so they would only sell us bottled water for our safety.

This really annoyed all of us at the table, especially the person who only drinks water.

I feel this needs to be reported, but who do we report it to and how? Its a total scam.

Besides if they were telling the truth, which i doubt, and they dont have quality water in the place for cooking, washing etc they should actually be shut down.

Peregrinus

Restaurants are under no obligation to serve you tap water (or anything else) if they don't want to, so there is no-one you can report this to. The restaurant is not doing anything unlawful.

Obviously what's going on here is that the restaurant would feel embarrassed or unable to charge you for tap water, and the don't want to forego the margin they would make by selling you bottled water. So they hope that, by declining to supply tap water for free, they can encourage you to buy bottled water.

It's a very stupid marketing strategy but not, as I say, an unlawful one.

Obviously the story about the tap water being unsafe is bogus. It's the same tap water that you drink at home; it's perfectly safe.

If the tap water actually were unsafe then, yeah, there'd be a public health issue, and it would be a concern of the HSE Environmental Health Service. You can, if you wish, report to the Environmental Health Service that this restaurant is telling its customers that their tap water is unsafe to drink. But the EHS will see as quickly as you and I have that this is bogus, and they don't want to be drawn in to a what is in reality a dispute about a restaurant's shoddy attempts to sell overpriced bottled water. They have genuine public health concerns to deal with. So I don't think you'll get a lot of mileage there.

Trigger Happy

No law has been broken so there is no-one to report them to.

Leave a bad review, never darken their doorway again and move on with your life.

6541

Could you just get up and go to a local convivence store and purchase water for a 1/4 of the price ? Assuming one was near.

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323690/where-do-you-report-a-restaurant-that-wont-give-you-tap-water-if-you-ask-for-it

Honestly you need to get real. It's possible the water is of bad quality and unsuitable for drinking. If they had given you tap water and you became ill what would you have done then - put them out of business?

What do you want to achieve by reporting them?

SharkMX

Didnt know they could refuse you tap water. Wow. I stand corrected.

It is very bad form though.

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121399563#Comment_121399563

Where on earth did you get the idea that a restaurant had to provide free water?

Wow alright. Amazing what people think they are entitled to

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402279#Comment_121402279

There's plenty of places where it is actually a legal requirement - generally a component of the liquor licence. Just not Ireland.

Mrs OBumble

This is Ireland: in many towns, the tap water takes horrible, even though it's safe to drink.

standardg60

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121399205#Comment_121399205

Give me a break, it was an Indian restaurant, not a restaurant in India. If it wasn't suitable to drink everyone in the locality would be informed of such so it's clearly bs.

It's poor form to treat a customer like that but as above it's not unlawful, though perfectly reasonable to name and shame online, i'd be pretty peed off too if it were me.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121399205#Comment_121399205

Restaurant is in Dublin, it's the same water a million+ people drink every single day. It's an obvious lie so it's odd that someone would defend this.

If they're making their customers ill with anything they serve then yes absolutely they should be shut down until they can rectify the issue. But that scenario is clearly nonsense. If the tap water is suspect what are they cooking the food in? What are they washing the crockery and cutlery in? What are the staff washing their hands in? They should certainly be shut down in such a case!

Rubberchikken

Lots of places are happy to supply tap water. Highly unlikely the water is unsuitable to drink.

Cost cutting and a level of meaness is my guess

Go elsewhere for your meals. Maybe if enough people voted with their feet/money they'd realise that being cheap is poor form and shortsighted.

Hotblack Desiato

double post

lmk123

I’d say straight to Drew Harris or else the army, maybe try the SAS, such is the gravity of this situation

elperello

I have never been refused a glass of water in a restaurant anywhere.

It's outrageous to refuse a glass of water to someone dining in a restaurant.

And to think these people probably consider themselves part of the hospitality industry.

Strumms

Look they didn’t only have bottled water. No restaurant in this country is without potable water. No public building is…. They are just attempting to nickel and dime you for a few more euros.

may not have been practical but I’d just have walked and not paid… it’s quite reasonable having been refused the simple courtesy of a glass of tap water…

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402543#Comment_121402543

Walked and not pay for your meal?

What a totally and utterly stupid comment.

mondeoman72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402543#Comment_121402543

OMG That is the absolute stupidest - throw toys out of the pram post I think I ever read. And for the record, tapwater is not free for a business, it is paid for in water rates. A business pays its bills from its fare, that includes the sale of bottled drinks, side orders, food and whatever.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403024#Comment_121403024

Tap water is as good as free.It was most discourteous to refuse tap water to a customer.

I thought the customer was always right.

With us it was the other way round .We always gave water from a bottle in case there was any question about the quality of the tap water(old pipes in the house)

Never charged for it.

Maybe the restaurant owner didn't like their customers (unruly ,impolite?) and over reacted.

Maybe the staff was new and inexperienced?

mondeoman72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403280#Comment_121403280

1. No, it is not "as good as free", a business has to pay for it.
2. You have no idea what the restaurants financial situation is, so reducing additional drink sales by giving away water could be causing financial damage. I am frequently a designated driver and always have to pay for my pint of miwadi. "Sure its as good as free"
3. "I thought the customer is always right" LOL, That is an americanism linked to Karens.
4. The general attitude of the OP where they want to report the restaurant is laughable. Perhaps they should do that. Hopefully they will be put right.
5. Recently, I dealt with someone having a mickeyfit over someone selling "poisionous" food past its best before date. I linked them to the FSAI and they went quiet.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403285#Comment_121403285

I will file your post under delusional

mondeoman72

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403286#Comment_121403286

Dont you mean factual?

Savetheplanet

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402292#Comment_121402292

Not really relevant when we know the restaurant was beside Kelly's corner in Dublin though. It is out of order but as said, not illegal.

amandstu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403287#Comment_121403287

Correct

ozmo

Years ago - I worked in a fast food place after school in Dublin City- the workers there were always under the (likely incorrect) impression we had to give tap water when asked. I only worked there parttime so didn't question it.

One regular customer would often ask for water - then asked for the hot water - then started bringing in his own teabags and asking for a dash of milk.... we drew the line at that point... lol.

kowloonkev

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403285#Comment_121403285

You may be factually correct but seem to be clueless about business and especially service industry and consumer psychology.

The answer for a struggling restaurant is never to make the service worse and come across like a tight-arse.

Every restaurant should have 'free' filtered water in any case and add it into the food cost.

Mr Disco

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323690/where-do-you-report-a-restaurant-that-wont-give-you-tap-water-if-you-ask-for-it

Did you call the gardai? This could be seen as attempted murder by thirst. You may be in line for lots of compo if you take a civil case !

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403024#Comment_121403024

😅 They also pay for light and heat, insurance…. Should clients be billed for those directly too :) ? Maybe charge for toothpicks and serviettes while they’re at it eh 😉

Hoboo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402543#Comment_121402543

😂 try telling that to a judge.

Strumms

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403333#Comment_121403333

I won’t need to, where I eat the water is free and brought to your table. 😉

JVince

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403336#Comment_121403336

I assure you it's not free. It will be built into the money you pay somehow.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121402543#Comment_121402543

To my lasting regret, you're not entitled to repudiate a debt because your creditor fails to afford you simple courtesy.

(If you were, the banks would be in big, big trouble.)

It's common for restaurants to provide unlimited fresh water as part of the cover, just like they provide salt, pepper and (often, in an Italian restaurant) bread — common enough that's it's reasonable to expect water as standard. But your only recourse against a restaurant that doesn't provide it is to take your custom elsewhere.

SharkMX

TBH it wasnt a problem for me but it was for the person who only drank water with their meals. So I felt sorry for them.

I just thought it was something that was illegal. Dont know where I heard that in the first place, but clearly I was wrong. The person who wanted the water works in one of the buildings in the same block and their teams Christmas meal was going to be in that place. I guess its not going to be in there now though. Also I dont know how much influence said person has on the rest of the company potentially going there for lunch on any normal day, but I would think they will spread the story around the company and it wont be zero effect.

But sure you live and you learn. I think its pure meanness not to give someone tap water of they want it. Even charge for it if you like, but dont force them to drink bottled water for €3.50 if they just want some water with their meal thats not cheap either.

irishgeo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323690/where-do-you-report-a-restaurant-that-wont-give-you-tap-water-if-you-ask-for-it

If you go back bring your own water. The sign saying only food and drink purchased here can be consumed here is not legally enforcable either.

magicbastarder

It's very common these days for staff in a restaurant to bring over a bottle of tap water even before you order food. Refusing to provide a glass of tap water is bizarre.

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403425#Comment_121403425

Yes, it is.

irishgeo

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403474#Comment_121403474

You got a source for that?

Cabaal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121399205#Comment_121399205

if the water is unsuitable for drinking I'd question its use for other purposes in the business. For the most part water from taps in Ireland is very good quality, its well treated and its most certainly drinkable.

Yes, they don't have to provide tap water. But then they should be upfront and say they just don't provide it and not create some b*llshit excuse about it not being suitable for drinking. Purely based on such a stupid comment from them it might be no harm reporting them to Environmental Health Service.

We know many restaurants have extremely questionable hygiene practices so it can do no harm to at least flag such a concern. If the water is unsuitable or unsafe for drinking then one has to question if its suitable for washing produce and dishes.

muffler

I'm surprised the trolls haven't mentioned Irish Water yet.

Calahonda52

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403336#Comment_121403336

Freedom's just another word for nothin' left to lose,

And nothin' ain't worth nothin' but it's free,

Feelin' good was easy, Lord, when Bobby sang the blues,

And buddy, that was good enough for me,

Good enough for me and my Bobby McGee.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Cg-j0X09Ag

Peregrinus

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403491#Comment_121403491

A business can work on any terms and conditions they like, as long as they are not in breach of the law. There is no law that says a restaurant - or any other business - must allow you to bring your own food and drink onto their premises and consume it there. Therefore, they can make it a condition of their trading that you don't bring your own food and drink for consumption on their premises. If you do that they can decline to serve you; they can decline to admit you. If you think they can't, you need to point to a law that would prevent them from imposing such a condition.

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403540#Comment_121403540

In a company I used to work in the water was deemed safe to drink. But when you ran the tap and put it in a glass, the water was cloudy - like watered milk. We didnt drink it, we didnt even use it for tea. There is no way we could give a glass of that water to a client. Just because an areas water supply is deemed ok to drink by authorities doesnt mean its quality either. Treated Tap water can sometimes taste different to how it should aswell. There are several areas all over the country where water is deemed safe yet people living in those areas use bottled water.

In a restaurant setting tap water can only be served if it tastes good and actually is clear. If I owned a restaurant Im not sure I would be happy to serve tap water - I could very possibly be leaving myself open to litigation should a customer become ill from that water. The quality of tap water can change very quickly.

Also I think if you go out for a meal you have to be prepared to pay. Expecting or demanding tap water which may be of dubious quality is unreasonable.

6541

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403706#Comment_121403706

You are fair craic !

Cabaal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403706#Comment_121403706

Sounds like your water was in a high lime area, water is perfectly fine to drink...but it'll eventually kill your kettle.

But this restaurant was in Dublin and in general Dublin tap water would not be any of the above.

magicbastarder

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403706#Comment_121403706

was there a lot of air in the water? i.e. if you left it to settle, did it clear?

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403730#Comment_121403730

Perfectly fine to drink apparently. We didnt drink it though because it looked and tasted awful. Would you serve a glass of cloudy water to a customer in a restaurant - no you wouldnt! Would you drink a glass of cloudy water if it was served to you in a restaurant - no you wouldnt!

I dont agree with you that the quality of water in Dublin is great and safe to drink all the time.

Deeec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403740#Comment_121403740

No it remained cloudy - never settled. It was safe to drink apparently but looked and tasted awful.

daheff

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058323690/where-do-you-report-a-restaurant-that-wont-give-you-tap-water-if-you-ask-for-it

my first question here would be if the water is unsafe to drink, how can they use it for cooking/washing /cleaning?

i'd be declining to eat in that establishment in future.

NewbridgeIR

This happened me before (same excuse - tap water not drinkable) but the restaurant offered bottled water and said they would not charge for it - which they didn't.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403808#Comment_121403808

then it’s not really even close to the same as the OP’s situation is it?

See he was refused “free” tap water and encouraged to buy bottled. You were refused and given bottled with no charge.

NewbridgeIR

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121403843#Comment_121403843

The underlying situation is the same. Tap water requested but restaurant unable to provide due to quality.

The difference is in how the two restaurants handled the situation.