Tap Water Battle: Woman Fights Italian Hotel for 7 Years

A woman's seven-year legal battle against an Italian luxury hotel over the refusal to serve tap water has concluded. The dispute began in 2019 when the patron stayed at the five-star Hotel Sassongher in the Dolomites and was reportedly charged €7 for bottled water during meals. She argued that tap water should be considered a basic amenity, comparable to soap or clean bedding. This argument was presented through years of court proceedings, eventually reaching Italy's Supreme Court. On April 29, the court delivered its final verdict, stating there are no Italian laws requiring establishments to provide tap water. This ruling highlights varying regulations across Europe regarding complimentary drinking water, with countries like England, Wales, and Spain having specific requirements, while others like Germany do not mandate it. Italy, despite having safe tap water, remains a significant consumer of bottled water, a preference often attributed to tradition and taste rather than necessity.