To buy a mineral water bottle is always a choice, not a necessity.

Mineral water V/s Regular water. It has happened with most of us but let us go through the situation, one last time shall we??

Sitting at a swanky restaurant/hotel/cafe you have started your meal and you ask for water (not, order for it!). You would expect to have drinking water to quench your thirst right? NO. What you get is a curt and crisp ‘hotel management’ trained reply that in the establishment, THEY ONLY SERVE MINERAL WATER. You are undecided because you want water to drink and the place in question doesn’t pose hygiene threats. SO WHY ORDER MINERAL WATER? You ask that you want regular water. Now, the negative reply comes with a JUDGEMENTAL look at you. You don’t want the hassle in front of your friends and family nor do you want to look cheap (for which the look was intended) so you go ahead and order it anyways. A fancy looking and well packaged bottle arrives that is supposed to make you feel like YOU ARE HAVING NECTAR OF THE GODS!!

Please say NO, the next time you face the same situation. Unless you have doubts regarding the hygiene of the place, in which case why would you go there anyways, do not perpetrate the evil. Every restaurant and hotel is supposed to have a purifier  and should be able to give you regular drinking water. If they say it is their policy then do mention that you will report them for denying customers drinking water unless they pay. It is time we put an end to this.

Mineral water or packaged drinking water for some is a lifestyle choice and they prefer consuming that. Well and good, exercise the choice but do stand up if you see a scenario like the one mentioned happening around you. Clean drinking water is a very basic necessity and if that cannot be provided then the reputation and the quality of the place is in question. Spread the word and do not give in. There have been experiences of people who have been denied but when they have raised questions, they have been obliged with drinking water from purifier.

If you have a misconception that not wanting to pay for the mineral water bottle is cheap then please clear it. Unless you wish otherwise, a glass of regular water is beyond money and status. It is something you would offer a stranger of you thought they needed it. So when you can make a food bill for the eating joint your capacity for payment is not a topic in question here.

Next time take the call to do what you think is right and stick to it. There are establishments in Vizag which will flat out, refuse you regular water and there are those that keep clean water bottles if you want to fill and take away. The tiffin centres here have a pure drinking water dispenser and glasses put out to drink as much as you want. So if a small idli/dosa centre where your maximum bill would not exceed Rs.200 can give you water then you ought to ensure fancy places can do so too.