Italy’s highest court ruled in late April 2026 that a five-star hotel in the Dolomites acted lawfully by refusing to provide tap water to a tourist during meals [1, 2, 3]. The Supreme Court of Cassation confirmed there is no legal obligation in Italy for hotels or restaurants to supply tap water on request, upholding earlier rulings from lower courts that dismissed the tourist’s claim [1, 2, 3].
The case arose after a tourist stayed at Hotel Sassongher in Corvara during the 2019 or 2020 New Year holidays, depending on the report [1, 2, 3]. During her stay, she requested tap water during meals but was offered bottled mineral water costing €7 per bottle instead [1, 2, 3].
The woman argued that water is a natural resource and a universal human right, saying it was "much like finding a bed with sheets, a warm room and soap in the bathroom" [2]. She sought more than €2,700 in compensation for emotional distress and economic damage [1, 2, 3].
Silvio Belardi, lawyer for Hotel Sassongher, stated "there is no obligation to supply tap water" to guests [1]. Italian restaurant etiquette generally views requesting free tap water as improper, especially when bottled water is offered [2].
Unlike England and Wales, where licensed venues must provide free drinking water if asked, Italy has no such legal requirement. The EU Drinking Water Directive encourages free tap water but does not mandate it for member states [1, 3].
Media outlets reported the Supreme Court ruling on May 26-27, 2026, highlighting the final legal stance on the issue in Italy [1, 2, 3]. The ruling ends the tourist’s pursuit of compensation and confirms that hotels in Italy can lawfully refuse to serve tap water to guests.
