An Italian court has upheld the right of hotels to refuse to provide free tap water
Italy's highest court has definitively dismissed a tourist's lawsuit against a luxury hotel in the Dolomites over the inability to obtain free tap water in the hotel's restaurant.
This was reported by Corriere della Alto Adige.
The judges ruled that under Italian law, commercial establishments are not required to provide customers with tap water, even if they pay extra for the service.
This precedent put an end to a long-running legal dispute between the prestigious resort and its wealthy guest.
The conflict erupted during the 2019–2020 Christmas holidays in the municipality of Corvara in Badia. The plaintiff was staying at one of the region’s finest hotels, where a week’s stay cost nearly 6,000 euros.
The tour package included paid dinners, but the hotel sold all beverages separately at its internal prices.
The client was outraged by the fact that drinking water was sold exclusively in bottled form within the restaurant. At the same time, each 0.75-liter glass bottle cost 7 euros.
The management categorically refused to serve the guest tap water, which prompted the woman to contact law enforcement.
In her complaint, the woman noted that access to quality drinking water is a fundamental universal right of every person.
In her view, restaurant patrons should be guaranteed the opportunity to receive a minimum amount of liquid free of charge to quench their thirst.
The plaintiff also added that for upscale establishments, a free glass of water is just as basic a standard as having clean linens or towels in the room.
Due to the negative emotions and financial expenses incurred, the guest demanded monetary compensation from the resort.
The total amount of the claim for economic losses and emotional distress was €2,700. However, the Italian court found no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of the restaurant management.
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