Question from Helene
Does a French law prevent restaurateurs from serving water after midnight?
Hello Helen, and thank you for your question.
Nice-Matin indeed received a screenshot and a reader’s message on Tuesday, taking offense at the fact that a restaurant in Nice refused to serve it a carafe of water after midnight, “because it was the law”. But there is no such law in France.
Since the anti-waste law of January 1, 2022, bars and cafes have the obligation to serve a free glass of water on request, to accompany a drink. Restaurateurs, cafetiers and bistrotiers are therefore obliged to provide free access to drinking water during their opening hours.
On the other hand, professionals are entitled to refuse to serve you a glass of water for free if you do not drink anything, and/or can charge you for it. The price of a glass of water must then be clearly displayed on the card, or on a display space belonging to the establishment. However, in practice, few professionals charge for this service.
Charging is legal, refusing to serve is not.
Regarding restaurants more specifically, as long as one consumes or has consumed food, there is no French law, even in times of drought and even after midnight, which restricts businesses to serving carafes of ‘water.
In fact, while charging for drinking water is not illegal, it is illegal to refuse to serve it.
In addition, still since January 1, 2022, establishments open to the public, such as cinemas, swimming pools, nightclubs, libraries and museums, must also be equipped with at least one drinking water fountain.
Good day!