In Italy, the Supreme Court of Cassation put an end to a long-term court case between a tourist and a five-star hotel in the Dolomites, which lasted about seven years. The BBC reported this on May 28.
The incident took place in 2019 at the Hotel Sassongher in Corvara. While visiting a local restaurant, a tourist from Rome was denied tap water and was instead offered to buy bottled mineral water for €7.
The tourist filed a lawsuit, arguing that water is a basic human right, like “a bed with sheets” or “soap in the bathroom,” and demanded €2.7 thousand in compensation for moral and material damage. She insisted that the refusal violated her rights as a consumer.
However, Italian courts of all levels, including the Supreme Court of Cassation, sided with the hotel. The judges ruled that Italian law does not oblige catering establishments to serve tap water free of charge, and the decision on this issue rests with the establishment itself.
Hotel officials said the practice of serving only bottled water is common among high-end establishments and is consistent with their internal policy.
