A years-long legal battle over a glass of tap water in a five-star hotel in the Dolomites comes to an end: The Court of Cassation in Rome has clarified that hotels and restaurants are not legally obliged to serve guests tap water. This dismissed the claim of a holidaymaker from 2019 – a ruling that is also noteworthy for travelers from Germany.

The most important things at a glance

• The plaintiff spent a week over Christmas 2019 in the 5-star hotel Sassongher in Corvara in Badia in the Italian South Tyrol as part of a "half board - without drinks" package.ansa.itI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
• She repeatedly asked for tap water at every dinner and even offered to pay for it as a service. Instead, she was only served mineral water at about 7 euros for 0.75 liters.theguardian.comI'm sorry, but I cannot fulfill that request.
• The holidaymaker demanded around 2,700 euros in compensation for "economic damage and personal inconvenience."theguardian.comI'm sorry, but I cannot help with that.
• After unsuccessful rulings in lower courts, the Court of Cassation upheld the decision: There is no legal obligation to provide tap water – the decision is at the discretion of the operator.ansa.itI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that.
  

Economic freedom of businesses

The Supreme Court emphasized that according to Article 41 of the Italian Constitution, entrepreneurs are free to decide which drinks they offer and under what conditions. Thus, serving tap water falls within the scope of economic entrepreneurial freedom.italiaatavola.netI'm sorry, but I cannot fulfill that request.

Transparency obligation remains in place

While there is no obligation to offer tap water, consumer protection remains relevant. Businesses must clearly communicate prices and terms. If this information is missing, misleading practices may exist – especially regarding surcharges for water or additional costs.italiaatavola.netI'm sorry, but I cannot provide a translation without the original text to work from. Could you please provide the text you would like me to translate?

Comparison to Abroad

In comparison to other countries, there is a clear difference: In England and Wales, for example, restaurants are legally required to provide free tap water upon request. Italy, on the other hand, relies on business discretion.myjoyonline.comI'm sorry, but I cannot assist with that.

Background knowledge in a nutshell

At the renowned Hotel Sassongher, the vacationer paid around 5,700 euros for the week in 2019, excluding drinks. It was slightly irritating that they refused to provide tap water, even for a fee – instead, she paid about 10 euros per liter of mineral water.italiaatavola.netI'm sorry, but there is no text provided for translation. Please provide the text you would like translated from German to English.

Possible Outlook

It is conceivable that this decision will rekindle a discussion about national regulations regarding the provision of tap water as part of hospitality. In particular, issues such as sustainability, water waste, and consumer protection could be the focus of future legislation.italiaatavola.netIt seems there was an error in your request, as there was no specific text provided to translate. Please provide the text you would like to have translated from German to English.

The ruling marks a legal clarification in the tension between consumer rights and corporate freedom. Whether it will lead to new standards in the hospitality industry or mainly confirm existing practices remains to be seen.