Countries debate mandatory free tap water in restaurants, citing health, environment, and business costs.
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Discussions are ongoing in Lithuania regarding whether restaurants and cafes should be required to provide free tap water. A previous proposal from 2022, which aimed to mandate free drinking water in public catering establishments starting in 2023 to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce single-use plastic, was rejected by the Seimas, leaving the decision to businesses. Experts suggest that requiring free tap water would be a small burden on businesses given the high quality and low cost of tap water in Lithuania, while also offering consumers significant savings compared to bottled water and reducing plastic waste. The Lithuanian Hotel and Restaurant Association notes that many establishments already offer free tap water upon request, but emphasizes that mandatory provision would increase operational costs. In contrast, other countries have different practices: in Spain, restaurants are legally required to offer free tap water to reduce single-use bottles, though enforcement varies; in Greece, laws also mandate free tap water, but many establishments do not adhere to this; and in Czechia, free tap water is typically offered only upon ordering food or drinks. In Bulgaria, while some establishments offer it as a gesture of goodwill, the restaurant association argues that providing free water is not truly free due to the associated labor costs.
