A few weeks ago, I posted this blog on a great chef’s table at Lafayette in Stellenbosch. On the night, my water was “free” in that it was included in the bill. Today, on Cape Talk, the restaurant had to defend a customer’s complaint at being charged R2 per glass of water and R10 for a jug. The manager explained to the radio station that this was in line with their “water-wise” philosophy, and to make people realise that water does not, in fact, flow freely. While I support their care for the environment (they recycle and use grey water appropriately) I think this is a very poor example of customer interaction, since it is so egregiously out of step with other restaurants and they do not explain their point of departure clearly. Plus they make a margin on this water that is remarkably high – so their lesson in value becomes an irritation, not a learning. What if they playfully charged 10c for a glass – with a message about water preservation on the menu?
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14 Comments
I agree fully. As a patron, I would feel almost insulted by this attitude
And it’s not mineral water?
Indeed not, eau de Stellenbosch municipalite.
It’s so sad that one has to pay for tap water.
The excuse that charging for water is a "water-wise" philosophy is delightful, but deliberately disingenuous. It reminds me of the unctuous little tent-cards in five-star hotels explaining that the only reason they don't change the towels every day is to save millions of gallons of water ("Our hotel is committed to conserving our country's natural resources…"). Nothing at all to do with saving laundry bills or making a 99% profit margin on a glass of tap water.
I think the accompanying glass of tap water comes from a recognition that it is irresponsible to use alcoholic beverages to quench one's thirst. I find that people are trying to be more responsible about drinking and driving, so they will have a couple of drinks to be sociable but will drink water in between to prevent over indulgence.
I think it's a good idea and as the previous comments point out, drinking tap water is good for the environment. On the 'cheapo' point, restaurants are there to make money, but it's not my job to keep the economy running. If I can afford to go out and have 2 drinks and a couple of glasses of water, I should be able to do so. I normally have a crowd with me, if we all have 2 drinks, it provides some income for the restaurant and makes it look busy. Plus, the restaurant looks cool because I am there (just kiddding).
If they don't want me to go there and have 2 drinks, then I will invite people to my place for drinks or we'll take a picnic onto the beach. No problem. It's the restaurant's choice.
How would we feel if they visibly donated the takings to a charity?
I have noticed that it is very fashionable for people in the cape to go out and order a drink and a accompanying glass of tap water. What is it with this trend. I think that it is an excuse not to have a second or third drink. Restaurants are a business and are there to make a profit. They also have staff that rely on wages from the restaurant. If you are a tap water drinker then obviously you can drink as much as you want at home….so surely if you go out to eat then you are treating yourself…so why??? would you want to drink tap water?? If you are a cheapo then keep that part of you in a closet.
I think for a lot of people who drink tap water when they go out it is not because it is as good for the environment as it is on their bank balance.
As for the perceived notion that drinking glasses of tap water between alcoholic beverages in any way helps to reduce a persons intoxication is hogwash.
Unfortunately we all contribute to keep the economy running even the tap water drinkers because basic maths will allow you to work out that there is a cost involved in serving tap water.
The government does not provide it for free and the person who serves it to you does not work for free as the person who washes the glass.
And of course the glass lemon and ice is also not free.
I do not care if people drink tap water, only be honest for the true reasons that you are drinking it …..to save yourself money…
It's standard to be given a glass of tap water with a meal of even just a coffee throughout various European countries and the US..why are people being so sniffy about this? Some people like to drink wine, some like sparkling water, and some find they can wash their meal down best with plain old water.
What I find so surprising is how people completely miss the sustainability issue: it's not about wasting water (because this is hardly a high use issue here and any waste can be used elsewhere) it about not having a zillion plastic bottles going into a landfill or even being recycled. REDUCE comes before RECYCLE.
A little bit of thought and consideration shouldn't be regarded as cheapo. Not everyone drinks alcohol (and nor should they, if they're driving home ) so why must one be forced to have something as depressing a soft drink. I'll happily spend the money on a coffee (and also a desert whilst I'm thinking about the coffee) instead!
I'm happy to agree that some people order water to save money, and I don't see why that's a problem. I am out almost every night of the week, I spend large amounts of money on drinks and food, if I decide I'm being extravagant I might decide to drink more water. We aren't all rockerfellers.
As for water reducing intoxication, I think it's fairly obvious. If I drink 6 drinks in the 2 hours I spend at the venue… if all 6 of them are alcoholic I'm going to be more intoxicated than if 3 of them are alcoholic and 3 are water. Ja, definitely obvious.
And I agree, water is not free. I don't see it as a product, I see it as a service. Especially when places are serving those 200ml cans. Isn't it illegal to sell those things before they are fully grown. One would need 5 of those cans to quench a thirst, that's R60 or R70 in some restaurants. No, i'll order my coke but I want a glass of water too.
Drinking glasses of tap water instead of alchoholic beverages would surely reduce intoxication, and that's what some people are doing when "spacing" their glasses of wine with some water. Furthermore, I often like to be drinking *something*, and if I stuck to wine throughout the stay at the restaurant I'd be too physically incompetent to leave at the end of the evening. As Dax says, it's pretty obvious. Your arguments from economic principles are also rather spurious – of course water/ice/lemon/glasses etc. cost money, but those costs, factored alongside the number of these "free" drinks served, are surely outweighed by the goodwill not lost if a restaurant was to decide to stop serving tap water? In other words, they make a profit from serving free tap water.
If you read my first post correctly you will see that I said "very fashionable for people in the cape to go out and order a drink and a accompanying glass of tap water"and let me elaborate by drink I mean all sorts of drinks (cold drinks, iced tea, tea, coffee, milkshakes and alcoholic beverages etc) I think most restaurants don't care whether the customer wants a glass of tap water but the issue surely becomes painful when the amount of tap water drank outweighs the number of drinks that a customer pays for. So in this regard a customer can but only be perceived as cheap, because there will be no tip left on something that costs nothing. And as much as the defenders of tap water drinkers want to defend tap water drinkers…we all know them..and we know why they drink tap water…they are the same people who recycle gifts…who are never around when it is their round…who divvy up the bill and pay with their credit card pocketing the balance of the tip. So come on stop debating an issue that revolves around someone just being cheap. As for myself I will continue to purchase beverages at restaurants and bars and If I get a little pissed then i will call a cab.
Ja, I agree, there are those parsimonious people who do all those things and they annoy me too. I would just be reluctant to label someone as such simply for ordering a glass of water.
Whatever their motives, as Jacques said, the 'badwill' that would come with not serving water or charging for it, is simply not worth it.
As an aside: Last night I went to the showroom cafe for coffee and ordered a coffee and a sparkling water because I was thirsty and I felt like some sparkling water. My friend ordered a fruit juice and a glass of tap water, because he likes to dilute his fruit juice (a habit of taste).
I really regret not ordering tap water. because they brought still water by mistake, then took another 5 minutes to bring the correct water, which was then 'lightly sparkling', which to me tastes like sparkling water which has gone flat. Followed by coffee which was now cold.