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'Nonsensical': Restaurants are fighting an EU bid to mandate free tap water for all

Trade groups believe a European proposal will unfairly burden businesses.

RESTAURATEURS HAVE SLAMMED a European proposal that they must give free tap water to all members of the public as a “nonsensical” burden on businesses.

The European Commission has proposed the revision of an EU directive that governs the quality of drinking water across the trade bloc.

The current draft of the amended directive includes an article that says member-states must “promote water intended for human consumption” by encouraging free access – including to non-customers – in public buildings, restaurants and catering facilities.

The proposition has received support from several, mostly left-wing groups including the Greens and the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats.

Dutch politician Frans Timmermans, whose Labour Party is part of the latter group, said in February that the measure is “a good proposal for our citizens’ health and for their pockets as well”. He also said it would contribute to a reduction in single use plastics.

In response, a Europe-wide consortium of hospitality trade groups is calling on MEPs to soften the wording of the proposal, saying that it could add extra costs and eat into the sales of food businesses.

SPAIN-SEVILLE-DAILY LIFE Guo Qiuda / Xinhua News Agency/PA Images Guo Qiuda / Xinhua News Agency/PA Images / Xinhua News Agency/PA Images

Umbrella group Hotrec – which counts the Restaurants Association of Ireland (RAI) among its 43 member-associations – said providing free water to anyone who enters a restaurant or cafe ignores costs like glassware, dishwashing and waiting staff.

“By not making a distinction between customers and non-customers of restaurants, it makes it unsustainable, especially in touristic areas where restaurants would be overburdened by tourists not consuming anything,” the group said in a position paper shared with Fora.

The group said free tap water for all might also “discourage the consumption of mineral water and non-alcoholic drinks, which represents an important source of revenue for restaurants”.

RAI chief executive Adrian Cummins, who is a board member of Hotrec’s executive committee, said the wording of the directive as it stands is “very vague” and should clarify that free tap water be made available to paying customers only.

“If your door is open, someone can come in and ask for a glass of tap water, but they mightn’t spend anything. This is an issue that’s exercising all hospitality businesses,” he said.

Adrian_90524695 RAI chief Adrian Cummins Ruthlessimagery.com Ruthlessimagery.com

‘Nonsensical’

Cummins insisted that Irish restaurants and cafés have “no problem” providing free tap water to customers, “but they must be an actual customer that’s paying for a meal or paying for a coffee”.

“We’re not a charity, we’re there to provide a service. We have to pay rent and rates and pay wages. We don’t mind giving free tap water to customers, but this is a nonsensical idea.”

The Restaurants Association boss said the organisation is “very much pro the European project” but added policymakers in Brussels “often come out with nonsensical ideas that have no relevance to member states or with what’s going on in civic society”.

Cummins said the RAI and Hotrec are concerned the directive will be rushed through before the European Parliament elections in May 2019.

MEPs sitting on the parliament’s committee on environment, public health and food safety will vote on the drinking water directive in September.

Hotrec has encouraged its members to lobby national MEPs to vote in favour of a clarification that would state that restaurants should be encouraged to provide free tap water to paying customers only.

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Written by Conor McMahon and posted on Fora.ie

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    Mute Barry Somers
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:17 AM

    Just how many none customers do they think are going to just come in and ask for free tap water a day and get nothing else?

    This is scare mongering on their part and it’s about them wanting to charge for something that should be free.

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    Mute WCS
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:26 AM

    @Barry Somers:

    if you think they are trying to charge for it, exactly how many “non customers” do you think are going to come in and pay for tap water if this change is not enacted ?

    What are they trying to protect ? Are you in the habit of paying for tap water in restaurants ?

    28
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    Mute iohanx
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:17 AM

    @Barry Somers: councils should simply install ornate taps in public places for citizens to drink from like you’ll see in many towns, villages and cities across Europe. Anyone whom wants a drink of the local potable water could be sorted.

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:21 AM

    @iohanx: Yea install ornate taps around Dublin can see no issue there.

    47
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    Mute Gary
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:36 AM

    @Roy Dowling: People said the same thing about the bike scheme and that’s been a huge success. But I’d suppose there’s always the “if it’s in Ireland it won’t work” brigade waiting to spread their negativity.

    69
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    Mute Tom Harpur
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:53 AM

    @iohanx: great idea installing ornate taps around the city but drinking out of it could be risky as some lad pissed as a fart could have had a slash on the tap.

    25
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    Mute Tom Harpur
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:53 AM

    @iohanx: great idea installing ornate taps around the city but drinking out of it could be risky as some lad p!ssed as a fart could have had a slash on the tap.

    6
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    Mute Mary Elizabeth Whittle
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:08 AM

    @iohanx: yeah cos no one will urinate in them!

    4
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    Mute Nicholas Lynch
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:22 AM

    @Barry Somers: But its is not free. Bussines pay for water in and for waste out . I know businesses paying 20 k per year for water

    16
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    Mute eastsmer
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:25 AM

    @Nicholas Lynch: Not true, it’s only residents that had water meters and charges forced upon them – have a read
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVxnOKtW0AM3QHe.jpg:large

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    Mute
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:36 AM

    @WCS: it happens all the time in Europe I can see why Irish restaurants are up in arms but many European pubs and restaurants have a minimum charge for water including tap water.

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    Mute Nicholas Lynch
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 11:02 AM

    @eastsmer: I dont know what county you are in but the business I work for has been paying for metered water since at least 2004 . At that stage it was the council now Irish Water . Same tariff

    16
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    Mute Nicholas Lynch
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 11:34 AM

    @eastsmer: Not Not true . I said businesses not residences.

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    Mute David Dickson
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 12:57 PM

    @Mary Elizabeth Whittle: it a restaurant they can urinate in your soup.

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    Mute Trevor Donoghue
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 4:28 PM

    @eastsmer: Average water bill for my local pub was over 25k a year, and that was years ago so probably gone up a bit since then. there is no such thing as free tap water for commercial business , giving out free booze can be cheaper

    4
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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:16 AM

    Water is a right. FFG need to understand that. Not profit from it.

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    Mute MK76
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:34 AM

    @Willy Malone: And how should it be paid for Willy?

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    Mute Willy Malone
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:40 AM

    @MK76: As we are paying now. Taxation.
    Blueshirts like yourself understand that but wish to profit more.

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    Mute lorcmul
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:06 AM

    @Willy Malone: taxation goes to the government – it does not pay for the utensils or the labour for your right to free water – and it certainly doesn’t tip the staff for getting it for you

    47
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    Mute Tim Pot
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:13 AM

    @Willy Malone:

    Almost one million don’t pay income tax
    Not everyone owns a home
    Not everyone owns a car
    Vat receipts fluctuate wildly depending on the economy. (so when we need it its not there)
    Almost a third of households have private supplies, yet they still pay through general taxation.

    Totally unfair system of funding at present. User should pay.

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    Mute Good Early
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:41 AM

    @Tim Pot: So what of they don’t pay Income Tax?
    Various reports have shown that thanks to indirect taxation, the same individuals pay a higher percentage of their overall income out in tax then other groups.
    Everybody pays somewhere.

    42
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    Mute Fin Stack
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:19 AM

    @Tim Pot: the same people don’t pay for anything, and still wouldn’t pay even if direct billing was brought in. The tax payer ends up paying a third time.

    24
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    Mute Nucky
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:02 AM

    @Tim Pot: country man ????

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:23 AM

    @Good Early: Those same people who don’t pay income tax get more off tax man(social welfare)than what they pay back through general taxation.

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    Mute MK76
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:30 AM

    @Willy Malone: So who going to pay the ADDITIONAL €5bn+ Willy?

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    Mute eastsmer
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:46 AM

    @MK76: Maybe the private companies that drain water tables without paying should contribute ?
    https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DVxnOKtW0AM3QHe.jpg:large

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    Mute MK76
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 11:04 AM

    @eastsmer: Of course they should, but so should private households.

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    Mute Neville Bartos
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 5:57 PM

    @Good Early: what income earnings are they paying a higher overall percentage of tax on?

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    Mute Eamonn Duggan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:28 AM

    Policy in our business.
    Customer asks for tap water, you reply ” would you like ice with that ”
    Paying or non paying , a good experience brings people back.

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    Mute Artur Gurta
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:44 AM

    @Eamonn Duggan: good business idea. Give the water free and charge a euro for each ice cube

    42
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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:11 AM

    @Artur Gurta:

    Not forgetting 25 c towards washing, drying, replacing the glass tumbler plus 10 c contribution towards commercial rates charge, now likely to be higher due to greater throughput…of drinking water!

    30
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    Mute Larry Ryan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:32 AM

    This law is in France for years without any issues.

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    Mute Danny Rafferty
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:06 AM

    @Larry Ryan: Would be interested in hearing from anyone who worked in French hospitality as to how this works and affects business.

    22
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    Mute Dave Doyle
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:49 AM

    The Hospitality Industry should be renamed as the Permanent Whingers Industry.

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    Mute P.J. Nolan
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:47 AM

    @Dave Doyle:
    Thought that was the farmers???

    11
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    Mute Nathan Allison
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:04 AM

    They’ve been doing this in Switzerland for over 10 years. It works fine there

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    Mute Monica Bellmann
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 1:56 PM

    @Nathan Allison: Well not everywhere actually. A couple of years back we were on holidays in my country of origin and had lunch in a restaurant. My girls only drink tap water. On the bill we were charged CHF 2.00 for a jug of water. I complained about this rip-off and was told that it’s costing them money to wash the jug and glasses… When I offered to do the washing up myself they finally took it off the bill!

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    Mute Gerry Fallon
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:51 AM

    And maybe just a little biscuit with the free glass of water would be lovely!

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    Mute Katie
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:00 AM

    It’s actually a good thing in the battle against single use plastics though. It means people may be more inclined to go in with their bottle to get it refilled.

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    Mute Joseph Murphy
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 10:16 AM

    I can’t remember ever sitting down at a restaurant in Ireland and NOT being given water for free even if I didn’t ask for it. Where are these place where they’re charging for a glass of water?

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    Mute Paul O Connor
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 8:47 AM

    I’ve never been to a restaurant in mainland Europe but in the states, Aus, NZ and a few Asian countries I always got tap water in a restaurant. I always assumed it was the done thing all over the world.

    11
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    Mute Neville Bartos
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 11:45 AM

    @Paul O Connor: isn’t this article about allowing people to just come into a restaurant and ask for a glass of tap water stand there drink it and then walk out again rather than those who are seated customers ordering a meal and asking for tap water?

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    Mute Carnac
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    Jul 23rd 2018, 8:40 PM

    @Paul O Connor: restaurants in the States have a policy now that they only give tap water if you ask for it. Previously they automatically gave it to every customer.
    At least in NYC.

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    Mute Rathminder
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:30 AM

    Oh good, more plastic cups! As it is, a few places have no tap water supposedly and you must by a beverage. A small room temperature glass of water is supplied by others. Now, when we have hydrated Europe, where are the available free toilets?

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    Mute Rathminder
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 7:30 AM

    @Rathminder: *buy.

    3
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    Mute Barry Zuckerkorn
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:36 AM

    Tap water is free to customers where I work, these employer’s are crybabies

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    Mute SC
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:55 AM

    Irish businesses always provide tap water anyway so they won’t be badly affected. It turns out that a lot of our plastic waste was never recycled. It was shipped to China and dumped in the sea. So I’m afraid small business owners will have to suck this up unless they come up with a more environmentally friendly method of transporting water than pipes.

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    Mute Sean
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 1:26 PM

    @SC: it was unrecyclable because it contaminated. It would seem the answer lies in using less plastic in the first place.

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    Mute Pat Patovic
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    Jul 22nd 2018, 9:59 AM

    Well since they were charging a few euros for a glass of water it is a no-brainer they do not like an idea of giving it away for free. I drink water but when in a restaurant I do order soda – the price is mostly the same as the water they offer.

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