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An American woman drinks demonstratively from a water bottle.
TikTok
Free tap water is common in the USA - not in this country. American tourists have also noticed this. They are making a fuss about Europe on social media.
Many Americans are surprised by the drinking habits in Europe. While tap water is often served free of charge in the USA, in Europe you first have to ask for tap water. It is not uncommon for the water to be added to the bill.
A Texan traveling through Europe told CNN that she often had to pay for tap water in Germany. "In the USA, you are immediately given a large glass of water without asking, regardless of whether you are in a fancy or casual restaurant," she says. It was not uncommon for her to be served sparkling water.
She noticed that other guests mostly drank wine or beer and no water was served.
She shared this experience with many other US tourists, who are increasingly sharing their observations about European drinking habits on social media. A TikTok video showing US vacationers searching for drinking water went viral. It says that Europeans "don't believe in water."
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The criticism in the comments was fierce. Many pointed out that water is available everywhere in European cities, often at public drinking fountains.
In Europe, it is still unusual to get free tap water in restaurants. While restaurants in southern European countries such as Spain and Italy often automatically offer free water, here in Germany restaurateurs decide for themselves whether and how much to charge for tap water.
