Palermo. A landmark ruling in Sicily has sent shockwaves through the hospitality industry. The Italian Supreme Court of Cassation has decided: hotels can legally refuse to serve tap water, even if a paying guest requests it. The case, which began in 2019 with a disgruntled tourist at a four-star hotel in Rimini, has now become a legal benchmark.
The court’s logic is chillingly straightforward: a hotel is a private business, not a public utility. They can set their own terms of service. If they want to push bottled water at €5 a pop, that’s their prerogative. The tourist, a Mr. Rossi from Milan, argued that Italian laws requiring restaurants to serve tap water should apply to hotels. The court disagreed.
This isn’t just about water. It’s about the creeping commercialisation of basic needs. In Rome, fountains run freely. But in a hotel lobby, the tap might as well be locked. The ruling leverages a 2018 EU directive that allows businesses to limit water use for health and safety reasons. Hotels can now claim that tap water is a ‘health risk’ – a convenient excuse to boost profits.
The implications are vast. Tour groups, already fleeced for minibar prices, will now pay for something that costs pennies. The Italian Hotel Association (Associazione Italiana Alberghi) is jubilant. They argue it’s a matter of ‘quality control’. But activists smell a rat. ‘This is a green light for price gouging,’ says Laura Bianchi of the consumer group Codacons. ‘They’ll start charging for ice next.’
Politically, it’s a minefield. The far-right Brothers of Italy party, keen on deregulation, is likely to back the ruling. Expect a push for similar legislation across the EU. In Westminster, the lobby is already buzzing. ‘Could this happen here?’ one Tory backbencher muttered to me over a pint of London Pride. ‘We’re already paying through the nose for everything.’
But the real story is the shift in power. The ruling codifies a trend: the hospitality industry is redefining itself as a luxury experience, not a basic service. Water, like air, is free. But not for long. Watch for a cascade of copycat cases. The Italian judgement is a test balloon. If it flies, expect hotels from Paris to Prague to follow suit.
For now, tourists be warned: fill your bottle at the public fountain. Or pay the price. The court has spoken. And it’s not thirsty for justice.
