Getting a free glass of tap water at a restaurant in Luxembourg is far from guaranteed – a stark contrast to neighbouring France where it is a legal requirement. Despite growing public support and ecological arguments, the issue remains unresolved, with no binding regulation in place.
In France, a 2022 law obliges restaurants to provide tap water free of charge once a customer places an order. In Luxembourg, however, the decision is left entirely to the business owner.
Some restaurants do offer tap water, but they are the exception rather than the rule.
This ongoing gap has sparked debate among customers, environmental advocates, and restaurant owners, who must weigh customer expectations against operational costs. Calls for change have been mounting for years.
Since 2016, several public petitions have urged lawmakers to make tap water more accessible in eateries. One such petition reached Parliament in 2019.
In response, the government launched the ‘Drénkwaasser’ (‘tap water’) initiative in 2023. Participating establishments received 24 reusable bottles to serve tap water to customers. But the programme stops short of mandating free service – businesses can still charge for tap water, with pricing left to their discretion.
The initiative proved more appealing to hotels than to restaurants and cafés. Many restaurants opted to continue selling bottled water, with the idea of offering free tap water firmly off the table for some.
“If we start giving water away for free, we earn nothing. It only increases our costs. I’ve said this before: the dishwasher uses electricity and water, plus the cost of buying glasses. All of these are added costs. So why should we give something away for free?” explains Alain Rix, president of Horesca, the association which represents the interests of hotels, restaurants, and cafés in the Grand Duchy.
“Water is a valuable resource that’s becoming increasingly scarce. I pay for my water at home, so I don’t see why people would expect us to give it away”, Rix ponders.
While it is true that drinking water carries a cost, in Luxembourg that cost is minimal. On average, tap water comes to around €4.50 per cubic metre – less than half a cent per litre.
Still, many restaurant owners cite overhead and the potential loss of beverage sales as reasons for refusing to provide tap water. But, not everyone in the hospitality sector shares this view.
At MESA, the Maison de la Transition in Esch-sur-Alzette, a glass of tap water is placed on the table without the customer even asking. “Sharing this resource aligns with our ecological values”, explains project manager Adriana Cardoso. “The people who come to MESA are what we call ‘consommacteurs’ – they make intentional choices to eat vegetarian and live more sustainably.”
For Cardoso, offering water is both an ecological commitment and a simple act of kindness. “In our experience, offering free water doesn’t stop people from ordering other drinks”, she adds.
Connie and Yuki, owners of the café Ready?! in Limpertsberg, follow the same trend. Customers there are always welcome to a free glass of tap water.
“We travelled a lot when we were younger, and everywhere we went, cafés would offer water for free. It just felt natural”, Connie says. “People need water, and it goes perfectly with coffee.”
“Besides”, adds Yuki, “selling water was never part of our business model. We don’t believe it’s something from which we should be profiting.”
Both MESA and Ready?! are open mainly during the daytime, but even establishments with lunch and dinner service have embraced the idea. Brasserie Terres Rouges in Esch-sur-Alzette, for instance, offers free water upon request.
When Leo and Stella took over the restaurant in 2022, they decided to keep the tradition going: “Being so close to the border, we have a lot of French-speaking customers. We don’t automatically put a carafe on the table, but if someone asks, of course we bring one. No problem.”
Leo acknowledges the cost but sees it as part of running a quality establishment. “There are always costs. But a good restaurant owner factors that into their pricing. A glass of water is already included in the overall bill.”
Despite the added expenses, these three establishments have made a conscious choice to offer free tap water. Still, they remain the exception in Luxembourg.
“Everyone should do what they feel is right”, Rix notes. “In Italian restaurants, you might get a free limoncello. Here, it’s water. It’s just a gesture of hospitality. If a business owner believes its the right thing to do, thats their decision.”
Ultimately, the choice to serve tap water remains with each individual establishment. But Rix believes offering a glass of water is a matter of basic courtesy, especially when a customer has already ordered something.
“If someone asks for a glass of water, they should get one. Any place that says no isn’t treating its customers properly. That’s a no-no for me”, he says. “But if someone walks in and says, ‘I want a litre of water and I’m not paying for it’ – that’s a different story.”
