A few friends joined me at a bar over the weekend. We spent enough money there to deserve a glass of water when we asked for it. Bartender: “We don’t serve tap water. Bottles are $4.” An empty glass to fill in the bathroom was also out of the question. There’s nothing illegal about that policy and management is not required by any municipal, provincial or federal law to serve tap water (they can even charge for it if they want to). Am I the only one who finds that irresponsible? I should be able to wash down my tequilas with a warm glass of city water. I had 3 glasses with ice and lemon there today at lunch. Free of charge. That’s fucked up. —Dehydrated
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2011.
Wow, I probably wouldn’t go back. Sure, if a bar has that policy, whatever, but it’s not my type of place. and there’s no fucking way I’d shell out $4 for a bottle.
And for those DDs that go out, a pitcher in the corner of the bar with ice in it is ALWAYS a welcome sight. It’s just hospitality…
In your case, if it is as you say, you should have gotten your water.
I do see the bar’s side as I have seen many people come in after drinking at home, ordering free water, and partaking in the amenities for nothing. If you go to a bar and not going to buy anything, then stay the fuck home.
This happens at a lot of bars…the taps in some of the washrooms in some of these places have the cold water tap removed! One time, after a night of drinking, I wanted a nice glass of water to chug so I didn’t get super dehydrated and hungover. I asked the bartender lad and he said they normally charge for water but he gave me some ice and tap water for free :P! What a nice person haha.
THe simple solution, is never bother going there again. Find another spot. With the hundreds of Bars/Pubs etc. in the area, surely you can find another spot !
now why the fuck would you want a glass of water for? after the first 2 or 3 drinks, that’s mostly what you get at some of these dives. yeah, tell me that i’m wrong?
i know people that work at most of those shitholes you call bars or lounges, and even some taverns, and they all tell me, that after at least 3 drinks, you don’t realize that you are getting soaked, for watered down shit. about 40 per cent of your drink is water, or pop, or mix of some sort. add a little more water, in the juices, pops, or mixes, and there you go. i fucking kid you not. wanna test it out, take a teaspoon, pour a little in it, take lighter out and hold next to it, lit of course. booze burns a pretty blue. no flame, no juice to gogo.
I went to one of the bars downtown and as I was the dd, asked for a glass of pop, they didn’t know what to charge me for it. It ended up being 4.50 or something rediculous for a glass of fountain pop, when the mixed drinks were 2.50 (power hour or something). If I had of known that I would have asked for a mixed drink, not mixed, just keep the shot in the shot glass.
Don’t go to a bar if you’re broke. They’re businesses trying to make money. Buy the bottle of water and refill it in the bathroom if you must. If you’re a designated driver, explain it to bar staff and you may be able to receive complimentary soft drinks. Bars are not obligated to serve you tap water; it’s private property. If they don’t want to give you a free drink of warm, flat tapwater they simply do not have to.
What kind of broke chump goes to a bar without any cash anyway?
OP said nothing about not having cash, and they had spent quite a lot of money, NGF — I don’t think it’s unreasonable to get a glass of tap water free of charge.
Denying patrons water is illegal, unless something has changed. Thats why a certain bar downtown which you might be able to see yourself in, has removed all the cold water taps from the bathrooms. My understanding was that it was to get around the law – they will give you water, but it will be hot water.
I have been a bartender for 6 years, here and abroad, and I have never ever denied someone a glass of water in any circumstance.
Although this is a great example of how people are never happy – a few months back there was a bitch about the bar I work at, complaining about the pitchers of water and glasses on the end of the bar, calling it toilet water and claiming it was unsanitary.
Also LS, most booze is 40%, which will burn, but not usually visibly blue, unless its super dark around you. For that you need 80 proof and up – 151 rum, absinthe etc.
itsnotme, i do believe that i saidabout 40 percent of the drink is water, pop or juice. i never said a thing about the booze being 40 per cent. you can screach, that is way over, but water it down, and see what you get.
They removed the cold water taps? Isn’t that nice of them. Now when some drunk person accidentally scalds their hands, how does the bar respond? Throw more hot water on it? Or charge the person for ice? Stop going to that bar.