A legal dispute that began with a tourist requesting tap water at a hotel restaurant in the Italian Dolomites has ended with Italy’s highest court ruling that serving tap water is not a guaranteed consumer right.
The case started in 2019 when a woman spent the Christmas and New Year holiday period at a five-star hotel in Corvara, in Badia, under a half-board package where meals were included but beverages were charged separately.
According to reports, she repeatedly requested tap water during dinner service and even offered to pay for it. Her requests were denied, and instead a 0.75-liter bottle of mineral water costing €7 was placed at her table each evening.
She argued that she was repeatedly prevented from drinking tap water and felt pressured into purchasing bottled water. Taking the issue further, she claimed that water is a basic human necessity and believed access to a minimum amount should be guaranteed as part of hospitality services. She compared it to standard hotel amenities such as clean bedding, heating, or bathroom essentials.
The tourist sought €2,700 in compensation, citing both financial loss and emotional stress. However, lower courts rejected the claim, and Italy’s Supreme Court ultimately upheld those decisions, ruling that there is no legal obligation requiring restaurants or hotels to provide customers with tap water.
While requesting free tap water in Italian restaurants has traditionally been viewed as uncommon or against local dining etiquette, attitudes appear to be changing as some customers increasingly prioritize reducing plastic waste and supporting more environmentally friendly options.
0