margot55

I agree, JJason, re: tap water quality vs. bottled water, and in fact, many studies have been done on this issue that bear out this notion. Consequently, I always DO order tap water at restaurants, and never order bottled, at least in this country...I posted this thread not as a knock to the quality of tap water, but just because until now, I had been unfamiliar with the practice of charging for tap water in restaurants.

rjw_lgb_ca

angeleno: I have been living here in southern CA since '85, and I recall that restaurants DID stop placing water at table automatically-- diners had to request water-- during the "big" drought (which I call that long period of no rain starting in 1986). But I don't recall them charging for it. Did that happen to you somewhere?

I seem to remember that this was a huge stink of an issue-- and that ultimately restaurants promised that they would not charge for water. Am I remembering wrongly...?

DebbieAllen

Vette, girl, we all know it's healthy to drink water with meals -- but tap water is just FINE.

In fact, haven't y'all heard that American children are getting cavities up the ying-yang these days, because they're all drinking bottled water? You may not like tap water, but it DOES have flouride, and that's good for the pegs!

Suzie

Actually not all tap water has flouride. Tap water has flouride if the municipal water supply is supplemented with it. Vette4Paris your comment is interesting in that most water supplies in the US are regulated and are healthy enough to drink but some people prefer the taste of one type of water over another. I grew up on well water, you could actually see stuff in it. Consequently I'm not all that picky about the taste of most waters. On the other hand my DH grew up on the freshest water in CA and can not tolerate the taste of any other water. As a matter of fact my in-laws bring their own water when they come to visit.

Brooklyn_Bomber

Suzie has a designated hitter?

Lori

I read recently (maybe in WSJ, can't remember) that cavities are making a big comeback in young folks & kids due to the many years of drinking bottled water which does not have flouride in it. I've traveled a lot but never have been asked to pay for a glass of water in a restaurant, altho during droughts in CA have been asked if I wanted a glass of water.

Also, if a fast food place charges you for water and says it is because they have to charge for the cup they are correct. Cups are inventory and they do have to pay for them, hence some franchisees will charge the customer simply for the cup because the cost of the cup will come out of their profit, which can actually be quite slim. (One cup is a small amount I am sure, but if you add up lots of small amounts it can become a larger amount). This is the same reason many fast food places are "rationing" out napkins rather then have the customers grab handfulls from the dispensers.

margot55

Yes, what IS the translation for DH??? (The imagination does go wild, you know...)>

Suzie

DH-Dear Husband

Suzie

Oh margot55 I'm must plead slow today, I just got it! :0

buttercup

I worked at a movie theater in my college days. We had to charge for the cups, no matter what was in them. At the end of the day, we balanced how many cups and popcorn boxes we sold against the money we took in.

The strange this was, ice water cost as much as a soda, but refills of anything were free(no new cup used). Eventually, they started offering special water cups for free.

margot55

Actually, Suzie, I was just relieved to find out that DH didn't mean "dead husband"! ><

Kal

Actually margot probably thought it meant what her pet name for ME is!
:-"
The formal name would be Richard Cranium for those of you that are cluelessly challenged!

nice to see we all survived Monday.
A bit cranky I see but survived!

Aloohhhhaaaa,
Kal da DH.

SmileyFace

Never heard of this tap water charge trend out here in CA. However, the last time we were in Manhatten, we were offered a choice of "flat, sparkling or house water". It took us a second to realize that the "house" water the waiter was referring to was plain, old tap. Gave us a good chuckle when we left.

Kal

Smiles, "House Water" reminds me of the time we ate at Luna's in NYC's Lil' Italy w/ my little Italian.

The waiter asked me if I'd like to try the "imported beer".
Told him yes so he brought me a Schlitz..."Imported" all the way from Milwaukee!
Cheers!

iceeu2

This tickles me...........we call our boss Richard Cranium ALL of the time...but, back to the water charge...I was in a deli in Pigeon Forge and they would only SELL bottled water......had I been alone, I would have cancelled the order and said good day, but since I was with others......I ordered diet coke.....btw, margot55, have a wonderful 25th anniversary no matter what your Kal buddy says!!!
.

margot55

Well, aloha and mahalo to you, iceeu2 (no rhyme intended!), and, as memory serves me, Happy Belated 50th!

methinks

Did anyone see the Penn and Teller Bull_ _ _ _ episode on this subject? It was quite funny. This issue of bottled versus tap comes up every 10 years or so. In the US, any municipal water supply is as safe or safer than any bottled water sold here. Ironically, some bottled waters actually come from Municipal supplies. And when asked in a blinded taste test whether people liked the taste of NYC tap water or a bottled brand, most prefer NYC tap water .

Suzie

I've seen the taste tests that methinks is talking about and they always crack me up because people are sure there is a difference in taste.

Thanks for the Richard Cranium giggle. So much cleaner than the original.

Looooooved the "house" water post. What a riot and how pretentious is that anyway?

We need a thread about the most pretentious travel experiences. Bet they are hysterical!!!!