Do Restaurants Have to Give Free Drinking Water in India? Know Your Rights

Imagine going to a restaurant, and the waiter puts a packaged water bottle in front of you instead of water in a glass or a jug. Without you ever asking, you will be billed extra for that bottle. Finish reading this story, and next time you can confidently ask for free drinking water.

What does the law say?

India has a food safety watchdog called FSSAI, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India. Every restaurant, dhaba, and canteen needs a licence from FSSAI to serve food, and one condition of that licence is that the kitchen must always have potable water, water clean and safe enough to drink. In 2017, FSSAI made it clear that this safe water must be offered to customers free of charge. The government's consumer affairs department added that forcing you to buy a bottle instead is an unfair trade practice, a trick a business is not allowed to play on customers.

So is bottled water a cheating trick?

Not at all! A restaurant is allowed to offer bottled water, and it can even charge more than the printed price for it, because you are paying for the service too. The rule is simple: bottled water can be a choice, never a condition. If you politely say, "Please bring regular drinking water," the restaurant must serve it, filtered water in a clean glass or jug, at no cost.

What can you do?

Ask confidently, because the law stands behind you. If a restaurant still refuses, your family can keep the bill and complain to the food safety officer or the consumer helpline, 1915. Some customers have even won such cases in consumer courts!

So next time you eat out, remember - a glass of clean water is not a favour, it is your right.

Knowing your rights is just as important as knowing science, history or nature. Yaksha Prashna helps children understand the world around them through simple stories about everyday questions, general knowledge and useful facts. Discover something worth knowing every month with Yaksha Prashna – A Monthly Print Magazine for curious young minds.

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This story was originally published in August 2026 edition of Yaksha Prashna magazine.