The Italian Supreme Court has ruled that hotels and restaurants are under no legal obligation to serve tap water to guests, rejecting a compensation claim from a tourist who was refused tap water at a five-star hotel in the Dolomites.
The Incident
During the 2019 ski season, a woman dining at the Hotel Sassongher in Covara was offered only bottled mineral water, costing €7 (£6), when she requested tap water. The woman, whose identity remains undisclosed, argued that water is a natural resource and a universal human right, and sought €2,700 (£2,338) in compensation for emotional distress and economic damage.
Court Decision
The Italian Supreme Court denied her request, stating that Italian law does not mandate establishments to provide tap water. Silvio Belardi, the hotel's lawyer, told the local newspaper Corriere Alto Adige that the court reaffirmed the principle that there is “no obligation for the establishment to provide drinking water to customers.”
Legal Arguments
The woman initially filed her claim at a lower court in Rome, arguing that her consumer rights were violated. She contended that tap water is a fundamental part of hotel service, comparable to “a bed with sheets” and “soap in the bathroom.” She was staying on a half-board basis, with dinner included but drinks excluded. She claimed she repeatedly asked for tap water, even offering to pay, but each evening a 0.75-litre bottle of mineral water was already placed on her table.
Context
Serving tap water in restaurants is uncommon in Italy, unlike in France, Spain, and the United Kingdom, where establishments are generally required to provide it. The Independent has contacted Hotel Sassongher for comment.
