HORESCA responds to pilot project on free tap water

The pilot was met with widespread criticism, with users on RTL commenting that this should have been implemented years ago.

50 businesses across Luxembourg are set to participate in the pilot project and will serve clients tap water in reusable glass bottles. However, representatives of the sector remain firm on their position that businesses should be free to offer tap water at a price of their choice.

François Koepp, general secretary of the HORESCA Federation, which represents restaurateurs, café and hotels, responded to criticisms in an interview with RTL on Wednesday morning: "You always got free tap water when you asked for it. I want to reiterate: it is not free service, it also counts as an expense."

"If you treat and filter tap water, or maybe even add CO2, it does not become cheaper than a bottle of mineral water," says Koepp.

Read also: Petition seeks to give access to tap water in Luxembourg's restaurants

Water is frequently served free of charge alongside another drink, but it is to be decided how much service charge restaurants would add for a bottle of tap water as the primary drink.

"First of all, our tap water is one of the best," says Myriam Cecchetti of The Left, who has pushed for the free offer. "Why would you not be able to drink it?"

There is also an environmental factor: "Bottled mineral water has to be filled, transported, cleaned, refilled. There are logistics involved and CO2 produced," says Cecchetti.

But why wait for a pilot project and not just implement free tap water at all restaurants straight away?

HORESCA ordered several hundred reusable bottles to be distributed to the 50 participating businesses. Koepp: "We want this pilot project to look attractive. Marketing is our business too".

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