Italy's Supreme Court rules tourists can be denied free tap water

Italy's highest court has ruled that restaurants are not obligated to serve tap water to customers. The decision came after a tourist claimed her consumer rights were violated when a restaurant only offered bottled mineral water priced at 7.

Italy's Supreme Court has sided with a restaurant in a case that could have significant implications for tourists dining out across the country. The court rejected a complaint filed by a tourist who argued her consumer rights were breached after a restaurant refused to provide tap water and instead offered only bottled mineral water at 7.

The ruling establishes that Italian establishments are under no legal obligation to offer tap water to patrons, even upon request. The tourist had argued that being denied access to free or low-cost drinking water constituted a violation of her rights as a consumer, but the court disagreed.

The decision is likely to draw attention from travellers visiting Italy, where bottled water at restaurants is a common — and often costly — practice. Consumer advocates may contest the ruling's broader implications, particularly for tourists unfamiliar with local customs around dining and water service.