"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
. ..

"JB" wrote in message
...

Might be an even better idea if they had some free water fountains on
each
platform.

It wouldn't be allowed by H&S. Water would have to be in sealed
containers.

Is that motivated purely by H&S considerations or (being cynical) could it
be that bottled water can be charged for (and therefore someone can make a
profit out of those sales) whereas a water fountain cannot easily be made
profitable?

What is the perceived hazard from having water coming out of a tap, the way
it has done for many decades and the way that it still does in private
houses? As long as the water comes from the rising main and not from a
storage tank, I don't see what the problem is.

"Martin Underwood" wrote
Is that motivated purely by H&S considerations or (being cynical) could it
be that bottled water can be charged for (and therefore someone can make a
profit out of those sales) whereas a water fountain cannot easily be made
profitable?

As a side thought, I think I am right in saying that in restaurants in
France, a bottle of water has to be paid for, but if you ask for a jugful
they are prohibited by law from charging.

"Henry" wrote the following in:


"Martin Underwood" wrote
Is that motivated purely by H&S considerations or (being cynical)
could it be that bottled water can be charged for (and therefore
someone can make a profit out of those sales) whereas a water
fountain cannot easily be made profitable?

As a side thought, I think I am right in saying that in
restaurants in France, a bottle of water has to be paid for, but
if you ask for a jugful they are prohibited by law from charging.

I'm pretty sure that in the UK you can ask for tap water and they have
to give you it free.

--
message by Robin May, but I would say that, wouldn't I?
"GIVE IN! IT'S TIME TO GO!" - The NHS offers a high standard of care.

"You MUST NOT drive dangerously" - the Highway Code
Spelling lesson: then and than are different words.

Robin May wrote:
"Henry" wrote the following in:


"Martin Underwood" wrote
Is that motivated purely by H&S considerations or (being cynical)
could it be that bottled water can be charged for (and therefore
someone can make a profit out of those sales) whereas a water
fountain cannot easily be made profitable?

As a side thought, I think I am right in saying that in
restaurants in France, a bottle of water has to be paid for, but
if you ask for a jugful they are prohibited by law from charging.

I'm pretty sure that in the UK you can ask for tap water and they have
to give you it free.

Not unless it has changed recently. A publican or restaurateur is entitled
to charge for the labour ,use of the glass etc. Since they are also paying
for the water on a commercial basis they are surely entitled to pass that
charge on?

"Piccadilly Pilot" wrote in message
...

Not unless it has changed recently. A publican or restaurateur is entitled
to charge for the labour ,use of the glass etc. Since they are also paying
for the water on a commercial basis they are surely entitled to pass that
charge on?

There was recently a case in Devon (IIRC) where a customer was charged for
tap water. The restaurateur made exactly the above case. However, South West
Water pointed out that the cost of the water, delivering it to the table and
the cost of water used in washing the glass would be something like
0.00001p.

The customer did the most sensible thing in such circumstances and referred
the details to the local press, who had a field day with the case and
utterly humiliated the restaurateur. Even the national press picked up on
it. The restaurateur might have salvaged some pride with a bit of humility
but made himself look an even bigger fool by adamantly standing by his
position.

Whilst there is nothing in law to stop anyone charging for tap water in
their own establishment, the majority of places regard it as a negligible
cost and that the goodwill is worth significantly more.

"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
. ..

there is nothing in law to stop anyone charging
for tap water in their own establishment

I've been informed that the difference between a pub and an inn is that inns
are legally obliged to give free water. This sounds like an urban myth to
me.

--
John Rowland - Spamtrapped
Transport Plans for the London Area, updated 2001
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acro...69/tpftla.html
A man's vehicle is a symbol of his manhood.
That's why my vehicle's the Piccadilly Line -
It's the size of a county and it comes every two and a half minutes

John Rowland wrote:
"Jack Taylor" wrote in message
. ..

there is nothing in law to stop anyone charging
for tap water in their own establishment

I've been informed that the difference between a pub and an inn is
that inns are legally obliged to give free water. This sounds like an
urban myth to me.

I suspect you might be right abouth the urban myth bit.

An Inn is supposed to provide accommodation at any time of the day or night;
historically at least. Most of us can imagine the reaction is someone
knocked on a pub door at 2 in the morning demanding a bed and stablng.

Henry wrote:
"Martin Underwood" wrote
Is that motivated purely by H&S considerations or (being cynical)
could it be that bottled water can be charged for (and therefore
someone can make a profit out of those sales) whereas a water
fountain cannot easily be made profitable?

As a side thought, I think I am right in saying that in restaurants
in France, a bottle of water has to be paid for, but if you ask for
a jugful they are prohibited by law from charging.

I believe so, and I find that a request for "une carafe d'eau" is
accepted more willingly in France than asking for tap water in an
English restaurant. I have never been charged for tap water in either
country, though I once found a restaurant (Old Siam in Reading) that
refused to serve it.

--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

In message , Richard J.
writes

I believe so, and I find that a request for "une carafe d'eau" is
accepted more willingly in France than asking for tap water in an
English restaurant. I have never been charged for tap water in either
country, though I once found a restaurant (Old Siam in Reading) that
refused to serve it.

I've often asked for, and got, a jug of water in London restaurants.
I've not been refused yet, though I have to be quick before someone in
the group pipes up for 'mineral water, please'.

--
congokid
Good restaurants in London? Number one on Google
http://congokid.com

congokid typed


I've often asked for, and got, a jug of water in London restaurants.
I've not been refused yet, though I have to be quick before someone in
the group pipes up for 'mineral water, please'.

I have noticed the waiters seem *really* slow with requests for tap
water and fairly fast with everything else. Well, there goes their
tip...

--
Helen D. Vecht:
Edgware.