Italian court rules against tourist who complained hotel refused her tap water

A tourist in Italy who was refused tap water at a five-star Dolomites hotel lost a court case after it was ruled that the hotel acted lawfully.

The woman was dining at a restaurant at Hotel Sassongher in Covara during the 2019 ski season when the waiter only offered her bottles of mineral water costing €7 (£6).

She argued that "water is a natural resource and a universal human right" and requested €2,700 (£2,338) compensation for her emotional distress and economic damage, according to Italian media reports.

The Italian Supreme Court denied her request as judges ruled that Italian laws do not mandate venues to provide tap water to guests.

Silvio Belardi, the lawyer representing the hotel, is quoted in the local daily newspaper Corriere Alto Adige as saying the court reiterated the principle that there is “no obligation for the establishment to provide drinking water to customers”.

Local reports said that the woman, whose identity has not been confirmed, initially filed the claim at a lower court in Rome.

She argued her consumer rights were violated when staff refused to give her tap water, saying it was a fundamental part of a hotel's service, likening it to having a “bed with sheets" and "soap in the bathroom".

She said she was staying at the hotel on a half-board basis with the evening meal included, except for drinks.

The woman said she repeatedly asked for tap water, even offering to pay for it. Yet when she arrived at dinner each night, a 0.75-litre bottle of mineral water would already be on the table.

Serving tap water at restaurants is rare in Italy, whereas countries such as France, Spain and the UK are all obliged to provide tap water.

The Independent has contacted Hotel Sassongher for comment.

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