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Comment: Water on tap
Evening Standard Comment25.02.08
In some countries, restaurants automatically serve a jug or carafe of water as diners are seated. Yet in London, one is invariably asked, "Still or sparkling?" Bottled water has become the norm. It need not be - London's tap water is excellent, while bottle water is extremely wasteful. That is why this paper today launches its Water on Tap campaign, supported by Thames Water, the Mayor and many London restaurateurs. This aims to encourage restaurants to serve tap water automatically and diners to give up bottled water.
Bottled water can involve as much as 300 times the carbon dioxide emissions of tap: the manufacture of plastic and glass bottles consumes millions of barrels of oil and millions of litres of water, while their transport entails yet more emissions. But it is essentially unnecessary, especially in a city with as good tap water as London. Restaurants can surely find other ways to make their profit margins - and the more astute owners may find that serving tap water willwoo customers who are keen to be green.
There can be no easier way to demonstrate ethical consumer credentials than ordering "just tap". We hope that this campaign makes it the natural choice.
Reader views (4)
Searcys at the Barbican are charging us £2 per person to put jugs of tap water on the tables at our wedding - outrageous!
- C Hamilton, London
Water does not come into businesses free, serving the water is not free. discharge of water into sewers is not free (including rain water) Make water supplied to businesses free and reduce the minimum wage accordingly, make discharge of waste free, and then tap water can be free, its simple really.
Places that don't charge for tap water have the costs hidden else where instead of being honest and giving choices. Nothing is free in this world.
- Kay Tran, Crewe, England
I applaud The Standard's campaign on tap water replacing bottled in restaurants as the preferred option. What I would like to see though is an extension of the campaign to cover hotel rooms where bottled water seems the only option. Some hotels do now have water coolers in the hall ways but it is rare. Even then you could argue the water still comes in a big bottle and needs electricity to cool it.
Maybe when we book in we should not only be asked if we would like the papers delivered the next day but if we would like a jug of water delivered to our rooms on arrival?
- Trish Dainton, London, England
I support the Standard's Water on Tap campaign.
However, when I asked for a jug of tap water at Aroma Restaurant, Shepherd's Bush, on the evening of Mothering Sunday, I was told that it would cost £1.20. When I asked why I was being charged, I was told - "That's why I'm telling you".
I refused to pay for tap water.
Perhaps the Standard could address this issue of restaurants charging for tap water?
- M. Mckenna, London
