actually, getting free water IS easier. (at least in the U.S.)
It's a federal law that any business or establishment that sells food of any kind must provide free tap water when asked. (Just make sure you say TAP water) All you need to do is find a place that sells food or drink (like starbucks) and ask for it. It's illegal to charge you.
So after spending a while googling this "federal law" of yours.....I found nothing to do with any law in the US. I found a law in 1 area of Australia and 1 thing in the UK that stated some places that serve alcohol will have a clause in their liquor licence stating they must offer water to "combat binge drinking"
Seriously, can you imagine the hotdog stands in a stadium on a really hot July day being REQUIRED to serve free water to anybody that asked? They'd never be able to actually sell anything from all the people wanting free water instead of the $5 bottled waters. Not to mention most stands like that aren't hooked up to a water supply in the first place, yet they'd fit your statement of "any business or establishment that sells food of any kind"
Also, it DOES cost the business some to serve a water. Usually people want ice too, that cost some to keep supplied and cool. Has to be in a container of some sort, if its reusable that means it has to be washed, if its a plastic/paper cup that means they had to buy it. Usually people want lemon too, those cost something and also somebody has to spend time cutting them up.
The reason so many places offer it for free is because they want to keep the customers happy. Thats why most places that do charge for it only charge the 10-25 cents for the paper cup. Also most of those, if you argue enough and actually bought something from them too, will give it to you free. Because its not worth pissing off a customer and having them not leave a tip or making them not want to come back just to make that extra 10 cents. However, it is completely within their right to not serve tap water if they don't want to.
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· 9 years ago
When you price your menu, you take into consideration cups ect. There will never be a case where the giving of water caused a place to shut down. An establishment that is known to charge for water on the other hand, will close.
I think it's courtesy water, but tons of establishments do offer free water (e.g. fast food restaurants, amusement parks, etc). I've asked for water and they give you a plastic cup without charge and you go fill it up in the soda section. This is also why there are so many vines about feeling like a "criminal" when you fill your water cup with sprite.
It's not a federal law, just a bunch of state and county laws. However it is federal law that if you pay to enter into a place (movies, theme parks, etc.), there must be so many working drinking fountains and bathrooms available based on amount of people the venue can hold. Where you don't have to pay (malls and such), only bathrooms are required if the number of total maxumim patrons goes above a certain amount. Drinking fountains are usually added in for customer convenience. In both instances, the number of bathrooms is based on building codes.
It's a federal law that any business or establishment that sells food of any kind must provide free tap water when asked. (Just make sure you say TAP water) All you need to do is find a place that sells food or drink (like starbucks) and ask for it. It's illegal to charge you.
Seriously, can you imagine the hotdog stands in a stadium on a really hot July day being REQUIRED to serve free water to anybody that asked? They'd never be able to actually sell anything from all the people wanting free water instead of the $5 bottled waters. Not to mention most stands like that aren't hooked up to a water supply in the first place, yet they'd fit your statement of "any business or establishment that sells food of any kind"
The reason so many places offer it for free is because they want to keep the customers happy. Thats why most places that do charge for it only charge the 10-25 cents for the paper cup. Also most of those, if you argue enough and actually bought something from them too, will give it to you free. Because its not worth pissing off a customer and having them not leave a tip or making them not want to come back just to make that extra 10 cents. However, it is completely within their right to not serve tap water if they don't want to.