Waiter holding tray with tap water handing to customer

The Consumer Council for Water (CCWater) has backed calls for free tap water to be made more readily available to customers in licensed cafes and restaurants, as a healthy alternative to sugary drinks.

The Local Government Association (LGA), which represents more than 370 councils, wants restaurants to take the initiative in offering people dining out free tap water, rather than putting the onus on customers to ask for it.

The LGA’s call follows the publication of research by CCWater which revealed one in five people are unaware licensed premises have a legal duty to provide them with free tap water.

Karen Gibbs, Senior Policy Manager for the Consumer Council for Water, said:

The health and financial benefits of drinking tap water are considerable, so we strongly support the LGA’s call for licensed premises to make it more readily available to customers. Our research shows only a third of consumers drink tap water in restaurants and cafes, despite regularly filling their glass from the tap at home.

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