Italy’s Top Court Rules Hotels Not Required to Serve Tap Water, May 27

Italy’s Supreme Court ruled on May 27 that restaurants and hotels have no legal duty to serve tap water to guests. The decision ended a seven-year dispute started in December 2019 when a tourist at a five-star hotel in the Dolomites was repeatedly denied tap water and charged €7 per bottle of mineral water instead. The ruling clarifies that serving only bottled water remains a business decision.

How the Dispute Started

A tourist booked a half-board package at the Hotel Sassongher in Corvara in Badia for €5,700 during Christmas and New Year 2019. Her package included dinner but not beverages. Each evening, staff placed a 0.75-liter bottle of mineral water on her table and charged €7 per bottle. The guest asked repeatedly for tap water and even offered to pay for it, but the hotel refused each time.

The Tourist’s Legal Argument

The woman sued for €2,700 in damages, claiming tap water is a universal human right and a natural resource that must be provided free to meet basic needs. She argued that free tap water should be part of hotel service like a warm room or soap in the bathroom. Lower courts rejected her claim twice before the case reached Italy’s Supreme Court, the Cassation Court in Rome.

What the Court Decided

The Cassation Court ruled that Italian law contains no requirement for restaurants or hotels to serve tap water. The court stated that serving tap water remains a business decision for each establishment. Guests can ask staff not to bring bottled water or fetch tap water themselves, but no law forces hotels to offer it. The court rejected all damages claims.

What This Means for Travelers

The ruling confirms that Italian hospitality businesses can legally charge for bottled water exclusively. Restaurants and hotels now have clear legal cover to set their own beverage policies. Travelers visiting Italy should expect that tap water may not be offered, even at luxury establishments, and should budget for bottled water costs or request it explicitly before ordering.

Final Thoughts

Italy’s highest court confirmed that hotels and restaurants face no legal duty to serve tap water, ending the tourist’s seven-year fight for €2,700 in damages. Travelers to Italy should expect to pay for bottled water at restaurants and luxury hotels.

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