Australian diners have uncovered the nasty techniques eateries use to slap customers with astronomical water bills.
The law requires restaurants that offer alcoholic beverages to give free tap water, but that doesn’t stop some establishments from trying to trick guests into paying for it.
A resident of Melbourne noted a stealthy trend in which tap water was no longer available when still or sparkling water were the sole possibilities.
Australians are targeting the trend of restaurants charging exorbitant prices for tap water, as’still or sparkling’ are no longer the only available options (STOCK, waiter pouring glass of water)
After bringing bottles of still water to the table, which they mistook for tap water, another Victorian reported being charged an exorbitant amount.
They wrote, “I once said “still” believing that meant tap water, and they charged me $20 at the end for the several bottles of water they delivered to the table without asking if we wanted more.”
Recently, I had supper with a friend who wanted still water, to which I replied, “They’ll charge you for that.” She didn’t believe me. Yes, well, she did when the bill arrived,’ observed another.
Others urged the Melburnian to “simply ask for tap” in response to the “pompous” inquiry, as it is the restaurant’s method of upselling.
“Yes, always request tap,” one user wrote.
Is there anyone who does not roll their eyes when this question is posed? I will request costly sparkling wine just like I would any other item on the menu.
Another diner remarked, ‘If they provide still or sparkling water, we always want plain tap water. And they deliver. Typically occurs at restaurants.
It’s known as upselling. You can still request tap water, and they cannot refuse, but profit is essentially their job. There is no profit in tap water,’ explained a third party.
One Sydney resident who dined at the upscale waterfront restaurant Aria owned by chef Matt Moran was charged $10.50 for a bottle of still water.
It follows the shock of a Sydney resident who was paid $10.50 for a single bottle of water at an expensive waterfront restaurant (pictured)
However, a person claiming to be a silent partner in a ‘good up-and-coming Melbourne restaurant’ stated that people were exaggerating the issue and guests should simply be courteous.
‘At the end of the day, restaurants ARE companies, and it is not against the law for them to make money in this manner,’ they added.
If you do not like sparkling water or do not like to pay for it, it is only your responsibility to control the encounter or politely decline!
Nobody is compelling you to accept anything you do not desire.