Hotels can refuse tourists tap water, Italy's top court rules
Summary
Italy’s highest court ruled that a hotel acted legally when it refused to give a tourist tap water and only offered bottled mineral water for purchase. The court decided that Italian law does not require hotels to provide free tap water to guests.Key Facts
- A tourist asked for tap water at the five-star Hotel Sassongher in Corvara, Italy, during the 2019 ski season.
- The hotel staff refused to serve tap water and offered bottled mineral water costing €7 instead.
- The tourist claimed water is a natural right and asked for €2,700 in compensation for emotional and economic harm.
- Italy’s Supreme Court rejected her request and confirmed there is no legal obligation for venues to provide tap water.
- The tourist’s claim that tap water is a consumer right was dismissed by judges.
- The case was first filed in a lower court in Rome.
- By contrast, in England and Wales, venues must provide free drinking water when asked.
- The hotel has not released an official comment on the ruling.
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