Italian Supreme Court Rules Hotels Not Required to Serve Tap Water

Italy's Supreme Court ruled that a five-star hotel did not violate any law when it refused to serve a guest tap water at its restaurant. The decision came after the woman sued the Hotel Sassongher in Italy's northern Badia region. She stayed at the hotel from December 26, 2019, to January 3, 2020, under a half-board package that excluded drinks and cost 5,712 euros.

During dinner, she asked for tap water and offered to pay a service charge. Staff instead provided only bottled water priced at about 7 euros. She later filed suit seeking 2,700 euros in compensation.

Lower courts in Rome rejected the case before it reached the Supreme Court. The woman argued that water is a universal human right and that a minimum quantity must be supplied even when payment is offered. The Supreme Court disagreed. Judges held that Italian law does not require restaurants or hotels to serve tap water.

The court issued its decision in November. The ruling drew renewed attention in Italy this week. Hotel Sassongher stated it fully respects the Supreme Court decision but offered no further comment.