Do restaurants and bars HAVE to hand out free water? Your rights explained

MOST Brits are unaware of their rights to a glass of water when out and about.

As temperatures spike across the UK, it’s important to stay hydrated when out and about.

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You might not already assume that that any establishment serving alcohol has to provide you with drinking water free of charge.

The legal requirement as set out under the Licensing Act, means that all venues that serve alcohol in England and Wales must ensure that customers have access to free water. The same applies in Scotland.

Can I get free water from a restaurant or bar?

Clubs, pubs, restaurants and anywhere else serving alcohol for that matter are legally required to ” ensure that free potable water is provided on request for customers where it is reasonably available”.

Some restaurants may try to avoid the law by only offering fresh filtered water. You can still ask for tap water and won’t need to pay. The Consumer Council for Water believes that customers should not be charged anything at all if they ask for tap water.

However, you aren’t legally entitled to free tap water in premises that don’t serve alcohol – although it wouldn’t hurt asking, especially during the hotter months.

For example, Costa Coffee and Premier Inn allow customers to refill their own water bottles free of charge in their premises.

How do I get free water?

Just ask – it’s as simple as that. But make sure you ask for tap water as restaurants and bars may catch you out and turn up with bottled water which you’d be charged for.

What if a restaurant or bar refuses to give me water?

You can quote Paragraph 2 of the Licensing Act 2003 (Mandatory Licensing Conditions) (Amendment) Order 2014, to the member of staff serving you and if they still refuse speak to the manager.

If you’re still out of luck and unhappy that you’ve been refused what you’re legally entitled to – complain directly to your local licensing authority.

Where else can I get free water in the heatwave?

If you’re out and about in public and need to fill up your water bottle during the heat of the summer you can use apps like Refill which shows the nearest refill spots to you.

And remember, even though unlicensed cafe’s aren’t legally required to give out free water, there’s no harm in asking. The worst they can say is no.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk