Originally Posted by
hobo13
Now I'm curious -- when you dine out in Europe, do you pay for water? I simply cannot stand paying 1E-2E for a bottle of water! I think it's insane. I may think that tipping is out of control in the US, but insisting on selling bottled water in Europe bothers me far more. How do you feel about this? Would you look at me strange if I asked for tap water at the table next to you in your local restaurant? Just curious.
Well, it rather depends where you go - there are many countries in Europe, and many styles of restaurant in each!
Generally, it's not a problem - you just specify it when you order. Some waiters may be under pressure to get you to buy items like mineral water with a higher markup - they'll most likely be doing the same with other menu items, though. The only really annoying water practice that I find at the more 'hard-sell' places in the UK is that, if I order a bottle of sparkling water (usually for me, maybe one other), to find that everybody round the table gets a glass of it poured out whether they ask or not. Quite annoying when you're the only one drinking it, but of course, it means you go through more of it.