united-kingdom england-and-wales restaurants
What laws require establishments to serve free tap water in the UK and what are the parameters of these requirements?
<p>Can an ice cream / &quot;fast food&quot; shop, that purports not to be a restaurant, decline to serve fresh drinking water free of charge when asked for by a customer?</p>

<p>In England and Wales and Scotland, 'licensed premises', i.e. premises authorised to serve alcohol, are obliged to provide free drinking water to customers on request. Unlicensed premises are not obliged to provide drinking water.</p>
<p>In England and Wales, all licensed premises &quot;must ensure that free potable water is provided on request to customers where it is reasonably available&quot;. <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111116906/schedule?view=plain" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukdsi/2014/9780111116906/schedule?view=plain</a></p>
<p>In Scotland, all licensed premises are obliged to provide &quot;tap water fit for drinking&quot; free to customers on request. <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/16/schedule/4/paragraph/8/2005-12-21?view=plain" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2005/16/schedule/4/paragraph/8/2005-12-21?view=plain</a></p>
<p>In Northern Ireland there is no law providing for giving customers free water on request.</p>
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<p>Schools in Great Britain (i.e. not Northern Ireland) are obliged to supply free drinking water.</p>
<p>England <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1943/made" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2012/1943/made</a></p>
<p>Scotland <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/153/regulation/7/made" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2020/153/regulation/7/made</a></p>
<p>Wales <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/mwa/2009/3/section/5" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/mwa/2009/3/section/5</a></p>
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<p>All UK workplaces must provide workers an &quot;adequate supply of wholesome drinking water&quot;. <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/22/made" rel="noreferrer">https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1992/3004/regulation/22/made</a></p>
