What happened
Italy’s Supreme Court has ruled that a five-star hotel in the Dolomites was acting lawfully when it refused to provide free tap water to a guest dining at its restaurant. The case stems from a 2019 incident where a guest at Hotel Sassongher in Corvara was told only bottled mineral water was available for €7. She argued this violated consumer rights and was a universal human right, seeking €2,700 in compensation. The court denied her claim, stating Italian laws do not mandate venues to supply tap water, leaving it to business policy. This contrasts with places like England, where licensed venues must serve free drinking water upon request. The ruling impacts dining norms for travelers in Italy who may now expect to pay for water unless explicitly offered tap