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Italy’s top court rules against tourist refused tap water in Dolomites hotel
TL;DR
Italy's top court ruled that serving tap water is not a consumer right after a tourist's request was denied at a Dolomites hotel. The case began in 2019 when the woman was forced to buy bottled water during her stay.
Key points
- Italy's top court ruled against a tourist's tap water request
- The case originated in 2019 at a hotel in the Dolomites
- The tourist was forced to buy bottled water instead of receiving tap water
A tourist’s simple request for a glass of tap water at a hotel restaurant in the Italian Dolomites has culminated in Italy’s top court ruling that being served water from the tap is not a consumer right, after a lengthy and costly legal saga.
The case dates back to 2019 when the woman spent a week at the five-star hotel in the ski resort of Corvara, in Badia, over Christmas and new year. She was on a half-board deal with the evening meal included, except for drinks.
According to Italian press reports, the woman repeatedly asked for tap water with her meal, even offering to pay for it. This was refused and instead she arrived at dinner each night to find a 0.75-litre bottle of mineral water, costing €7, on the table.
During her stay, the tourist complained about “constantly being denied the opportunity to consume tap water, and instead being forced to purchase bottled water”, Corriere Alto Adige reported, citing court papers.
The woman then pursued legal action, arguing water was “a natural resource and a universal human right” and that “the free provision of a minimum vital quantity is necessary to meet essential needs and must be guaranteed”, Corriere wrote.
The woman considered tap water to be an integral part of the service at a restaurant or hotel, “much like finding a bed with sheets, a warm room and soap in the bathroom”.
Corvara, in the Italian Dolomites. Photograph: Zoonar GmbH/Alamy
She sought €2,700 in compensation for the “economic damage and emotional distress” suffered.
The first and second-instance courts dismissed her case and the woman then appealed to the supreme court of cassation. That court confirmed there was no law in Italy obliging restaurant managers or hoteliers to serve customers tap water, and dismissed the case too.
Asking for free tap water at a restaurant in Italy is generally considered a breach of etiquette, especially if the server has already offered the choice of a bottle of natural or sparkling water. But customers are becoming bolder, with many seeking to avoid using plastic, and more restaurants now offer filtered water.
Q&A
What did Italy's top court decide regarding tap water in hotels?
Italy's top court ruled that being served tap water is not a consumer right, allowing hotels to refuse such requests.
Why did the tourist sue the hotel in the Dolomites?
The tourist sued the hotel because she was repeatedly denied tap water and forced to purchase bottled water during her stay.
What were the tourist's arguments in the legal case about tap water?
The tourist argued that water is a natural resource and a universal human right, claiming that a minimum vital quantity should be provided for essential needs.
