Tap Water Law Uk

At a time when we are all encouraged not to buy single-use plastic bottles, it seems logical that the environment would provide customers with a glass of tap water, but there is no doubt that this can impact the profits of an operator who relies on the sale of many bottles of water and other soft drinks. We check if you are obliged to give free water to customers if they request it, and what are the consequences if you do not? Nevertheless, Keep Britain strongly encourages businesses to provide free drinking water to customers and non-customers, whether they have a liquor license or not. Each bottle of water requires 7 litres of water and we currently use 3 billion litres of bottled water each year in the UK. The environmental case for tap water is clear, but your business model may need to be adapted. In Scotland, all licensed establishments are required to provide their customers with drinkable tap water free of charge upon request. www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/16/schedule/4/paragraph/8/2005-12-21?view=plain If you want to know more about your local water or water company, take a look at DiscoverWater.co.uk. But if they serve alcohol, they MUST provide free drinking water, whether filtered or unfiltered, he says. Most customers believe they are automatically entitled to free drinking water – but that`s not always the case Providing safe, accessible and free drinking water on premises means a better hydrated population that can reduce their reliance on single-use plastic bottles. So what are your rights when it comes to tap water and what happens if you are unjustly deprived of it? Tap water is the coolest drink you can use to quench your thirst. It takes between a few hours and a few days to get it from the wastewater treatment plant to your home.

Yes. Establishments that sell alcohol are required by law to have free tap water. While customers of licensed companies must receive free water, there is a “grey area”. There`s nothing in the licensing law that prevents hotel companies from charging extra for service, glass use or filtration — though few do that if you`re a paying guest, the Consumer Council for Water told MoneySavingExpert. Absolute. Staying hydrated is important to feel energized and focused. Our body consists of an average of 60% water and maintaining a water balance is absolutely vital for our health and survival. Opting for pure water instead of sugary drinks also contributes to overall fitness as it hydrates the body and mind without unnecessary calories. Tap water is of the highest quality in the UK and its wide availability makes it an ideal daily choice for a healthy lifestyle. The NHS recommends drinking up to eight glasses of water a day to stay hydrated.

And if you drink alcohol, it`s even more important to fill the water. While most of us use free tap water in restaurants, it`s not something we`re automatically always entitled to. The rules for pubs are clear, they must provide customers with free tap water due to the licensing law. But unlicensed businesses, such as cafes or restaurants that don`t sell alcohol, are not subject to the same rules. In England, Wales and Scotland, this means that licensed establishments must offer free drinking water on request. Any establishment that sells alcohol – from clubs and bars to restaurants and cinemas – is required by law to provide free drinking water. However, there is no such law in Ireland, so customers have to buy water instead. The same applies to all British establishments that do not sell alcohol; You also don`t have to offer water for free. There is no such legislation in Northern Ireland, which means that restaurateurs are not required to provide water for free, although they usually do.

In Northern Ireland, there is no law on the supply of drinking water in licensed establishments. In countries where water is scarce, the issue of free drinking water goes beyond regulation. Cape Town, South Africa, was on the verge of running out of water in 2018, and restaurants are now pointing the finger at the crisis when they refuse to serve free tap water to their customers. They suggest that customers often don`t drink it, and the waste exacerbates the crisis. Since there are no regulations that require unlicensed restaurants to provide free drinking water, customers have no legal justification to claim otherwise. In fact, only restaurants that serve alcohol are required to provide free drinking water. Those who do not serve alcohol do not need to distribute free water. While licensed cafes and restaurants must provide their customers with free water, “it`s a bit of a gray area as to whether they can charge for the service or filtering,” MoneySavingExpert.com warns on its website. Because there is no need to filter tap water for free, restaurants may charge for filtered drinking water. Companies across the UK have joined a scheme that promises to refill water bottles for free. National chains include Starbucks, Pret, Costa, Island, Morrisons, JD Wetherspoon, Premier Inn, Greggs, Lush. Independent companies have also registered.

Water utilities provide essential services for the treatment and supply of drinking water, as well as for the removal and disposal of wastewater with minimal impact on the environment. In February 2018, the European Commission revised the Drinking Water Directive, which legally obliges certain companies in Europe to offer their customers free drinking water. Europeans suggest that forcing restaurants to serve water could save households more than €600 million on bottled water costs alone. In addition, access to free drinking water could help citizens use fewer plastic bottles, reducing the “25 million tonnes of plastic waste” currently produced by Europeans each year.