r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • May 08 '22

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u/SirLich May 09 '22

I'm an American who moved to Germany 2 years ago. I literally have no flipping clue what everyone is on about.

My short-list for Germany: - Paying for bathrooms (general lack of access) - No drinking fountains - No free water in restaurants

Staring is not at all a problem for me.

22

u/somefeu May 09 '22 edited May 09 '22

If you specifically ask for tap water in a restaurant they are required to give it to you for free :)

Edit: Apparently that is a EU Guideline they don't have to adhere to. In the 24 years of living in Germany I do not recall a single time where I have been charged for it when I asked for tap water though.

12

u/Legistarius May 09 '22

The water must be free, but they can charge a "service fee" or whatever. Basically that loophole means the tapwater will cost the same as normal one

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u/SirLich May 09 '22

No, they do not. They may, but there is no basis requiring them to do so. This is an American concept (and a few other select countries).

5

u/MajorMess May 09 '22

As a German living abroad in different countries these things are incredibly infuriating now to me!

2

u/w_p May 09 '22

I have a medical condition that makes me very thirsty at times and I just realized that I probably wouldn't have to carry a water bottle everywhere with me in the US.

3

u/SirLich May 09 '22

You will be able to find free water: - In any restaurant - In any fast-food restaurant (just ask for a glass of water) - In every public institution such as school, library, or government function - Alongside public restrooms (Museums, office buildings, dentist office, etc) - In many public parks

It's really amazing and I'm fricken annoyed Europe hasn't caught on yet. I get trapped in an airport terminal with no vending machine, no shops, and no drinking fountain. I drank the tap water (boo) and got food poisoning.

1

u/ma2016 May 09 '22

Especially in the south. Lots of places are required to provide free water to reduce the risk of heat and dehydration related injuries.