If I'm a restaurant owner and someone is taking up a seat while drinking free tap water, of course I'm not going to like that.
That is what the problematic behaviour with your described case is. "Free tap water", however, absolutely should be the standard. In Belgium, you will generally be refused tap water even if you're a paying customer with a 100 EUR bill. Whereas in France, it's illegal to refuse serving tap water… think about that.
If you're not allowed to drink tap water, you'll be drinking bottled water which creates plastic/glass waste and promotes a business that essentially repackages tap water.
At the end of the day I guess it comes down to preference. Perhaps a silly question, but why do you go for tap water? Just because of the waste issue? And a second question, why would tap water have to be free and would you pay for it?
PS: Cool business! Are you in Belgium?
It's wasteful not to. I wouldn't say it tastes the same, but even though the water where I live is very chalky, I'm personally fine with it.
> why would tap water have to be free
Because it's virtually free to the restaurant. Having it free also promotes the healthy habit of drinking water instead of other drinks: When thirsty, if tap water is not an option, many people will choose soda over water… if you're paying for it anyway.
> would you pay for it?
If it's water I want, I'd rather pay for tap water than pay for bottled water, simply on the ethics of it. But I would find it absurd and disgraceful to charge for tap water. Remember, this is a custom that is standard in many countries.
> Are you in Belgium?
Brussels. Sablon to be specific :)
60% of the human body is made up of water (some parts more, some less):
* https://www.usgs.gov/special-topic/water-science-school/scie...
Now there are certainly other beverages available, but at a restaurant the options are usually alcoholic or sugary. And if you're not into alcoholic drinks (lifestyle, health, or you are driving), and do not want to ruin your health with sugary drinks (pop/soda), what are the alternatives if you want something with your meal?
Yes, you can pay several dollars/euros for bottled water, but given that it is H2O, I'm not sure what value you're getting. Bubbles?
At some Asian restaurants they give you complementary (green) tea, which I like, but I still often ask for a glass of water.
After my meal I'm fine with getting a tea or coffee, but my friends and I usually do that at another place and not at the restaurant.
(I'm also not much of a beer or wine person, so if I order a vodka or whisky with my meal I get strange looks.)
Never done that nor heard of anyone ever doing that. I've always ordered food/drinks and tipped at restaurants where I've gotten free water which is everywhere. The no pay example I cited is Starbucks which is an order and pick up coffee shop. I actually pulled out my wallet ready to pay for the cup of water but they were nice enough to give it to me for free which is probably a good idea in hindsight considering mint says I've spent $1200 there over the past 4 years and I appreciated that.
Just the fact they do that makes me want to go there more often.
And Starbucks stock has never been higher.
Is that not what happens in other countries?
Not how it works. You get free tap water with your order. So no need to use up a plastic bottle.
In extremis you can sometimes walk in if a restaurant isn't busy, ask for a glass of water, drink it while standing, and leave immediately. You would never sit in such a circumstance
Perhaps I'm not used to it, but that sounds extremely silly and rude to me?
The sort of request that is granted with a smile if asked politely, and denied if asked rudely, basically. Part of the general fabric of society.
You would only ask if you'd been out a while on a hot day and were parched, or something similar. There's surely some social analogue not involving water where you live?