Dispute over free water: Local operators now respond.
A heated dispute over tap water in Vienna’s restaurants and cafés has intensified after the Chamber of Labour (AK) criticized businesses for charging customers for ordinary tap water.
The AK surveyed 30 restaurants and cafés and found that only three offered tap water for free. In the survey, customers were charged as much as €3.60 for half a liter, sparking criticism over the practice.
Thomas Peschta, gastronomy spokesperson of the Vienna Chamber of Commerce, has now challenged the findings. He argues that a survey of just 30 businesses cannot accurately represent Vienna’s roughly 8,000 gastronomy businesses.
Peschta said he has nothing against serious studies but considers the AK survey “very one-sided.” He questioned the suggestion that most restaurants charge for tap water, saying it was unfair to draw conclusions about thousands of businesses from such a small sample.
He also rejected the idea that tap water should automatically be free. According to Peschta, water itself has a cost, with one cubic meter reportedly costing restaurants around €5 including fees. Businesses must also pay for staff and rent, while serving water may involve extras such as ice cubes or a slice of lemon.
Peschta compared the situation with other businesses, arguing that restaurants should not be expected to provide products or services for free simply because their basic cost is low. He also pointed out that consumers pay for their own water at home.
However, he stressed that many Viennese restaurant owners are actually quite generous with tap water. According to Peschta, most establishments charge only a small amount when a customer orders nothing except tap water.
The situation is different when customers are already ordering food or drinks. Peschta said that once another order has been placed, most restaurant owners will put a glass or jug of tap water on the table free of charge.
The dispute now highlights a growing disagreement between consumer advocates and Vienna’s hospitality industry. While the AK has raised concerns about charges of up to €3.60 for tap water, restaurant representatives argue that businesses have legitimate costs and should be allowed to charge for the service.