Tap water for all: why posh restaurants should offer free water

In this Financial Times Opinion, Henry Mance argues that no restaurant should be too posh to serve tap water and that establishments should provide free tap water rather than pushing pricey bottled options. He cites Italy’s high bottled-water consumption, a court case in which a hotel was allowed to offer only bottled water, and broader critiques of bottled-water culture (including Fiji Water). The piece suggests tap water is a basic amenity and reflects on how market forces and luxury hospitality intersect with everyday comforts.