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No Fundamental Right to Water

No Fundamental Right to Water

Unlike in France or Spain, there is no legal obligation in either Germany or Italy to offer guests in hotels or restaurants free tap water.

A tourist who had booked a luxury vacation in South Tyrol refused to order the expensive mineral water—at 7 euros per bottle—while dining at the hotel and instead invoked a “right to tap water.” The Court of Cassation ruled on this matter in a decision dated April 29, 2006 (No. 11827), after three instances of appeal, and found in favor of the hotel. Since the case took place as early as Christmas 2019, it can be assumed that the price of mineral water has likely exceeded the 10-euro mark since then.