Germany: Takes third option and buys bottled water. Part of the reason is that carbonated water is really popular, and home carbonators are usually kind of difficult/annoying to clean properly. Also, restaurants often won't serve tap water due to greed.

[–] Jomn@jlai.lu 28 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

I'll never understand countries where restaurants don't serve tap water for free... It feels so greedy (as you say) and doesn't make me want to eat there...

[–] arrow74@lemm.ee 9 points 2 weeks ago

It was a big struggle for me in germany. I have a condition that makes swallowing food very difficult and have to essentially "push" food down with a lot of water.

I would easily need to buy 2-3 .75l bottles per meal, so instead I bought 1 bottle and brought a reusable water bottle to every restaurant. No one complained, and I did always buy at least a drink.

But if you just let me have tap water, or even have tap water after purchasing a drink I could have enjoyed a meal without rationing my water.

[–] freeman@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago

I mean I'll happily pay for tapwater, as long as it is chraper than the cheapest other beverage. Thats because many (good) restaurants (not the tourist traps) mostly make their profit with the drinks and not with the food menues. The margin is just a lot bigger on drinks.

[–] madjo@feddit.nl 8 points 2 weeks ago

The biggest brand of home carbonators (Soda Stream) is an Israeli brand. Just something to think about.

[–] starlinguk@lemmy.world 8 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I drink Sprudelwasser with dinner and the rest of the day it's just tap water. We live in an incredibly hard water area so tap water is basically mineral water.

[–] Kissaki@feddit.org 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

When you drink hard water, are you getting stoned? 😏

[–] Gerudo@lemm.ee 4 points 2 weeks ago

You do have to ve mindful of kidney stones, so in a way, yes.

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I never order tap water but I thought, restaurants have to give it for free?

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 3 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Not in Germany they don't! They can and will refuse to serve it at all. And the cheapest drink on the menu is often sweet soda, instead of something healthy.

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I knew a guy back in the days who always ordered "Hahnenwasser" as he called it and it was free. Maybe this changed or it's regional. I know the cheapest drink has to be without alcohol and I'm pretty sure water is never more expensive than soda

[–] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Hahnenwasser literally means tap water. The tap is called "Hahn".

[–] lugal@lemmy.dbzer0.com 3 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I know, it's just that most other people call it Leitungswasser

[–] jenesaisquoi@feddit.org 0 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

That's a north/south difference in German. Leitungswasser in the Saupreisn areas, Hahnenwasser in the Bergjuden/Schluchtenscheißer regions.

[–] rustydrd@sh.itjust.works 3 points 2 weeks ago

It's a generational thing, too, though. At my parents' place, they'll look at me like I lost a limb when I drink tap water. Meanwhile, all the homies and homettes drink nothing but tap water.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I've never been to Germany but this has to be affordable there if its affordable anywhere in the world:

Get a clean keg, fill almost all the way with water, put in the fridge and connect to co2 cylinder at 35-50 psi. 35 will take 1-2 days to carbonate and you can turn it down for serving. higher will usually be faster. shaking the water keg with the co2 attached can have it done in a minute or two. basically if you can already dispense a keg you can make infinite carbonated water for pretty much nothing

you can also get bags of mineral amendments from a brewing shop to replicate your favourite brand or spring.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Your fridge fits an entire keg?

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 2 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

one of them is a somewhat normal residential fridge and can fit a 20L on the left side if you take out the drawers and shelves on that side. The other is just a kegerator I got from a small brewery that went out of business and just replaced the lines and the taps.

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 4 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

Your fridge has a "left side" with separate drawers from the right side? That's gigantic.

[–] Grass@sh.itjust.works 0 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

no the shelves are normal except they are half width and anchor on 3 of 4 corners. the drawers and shelves can be side by side, stacked, or spaced out. one side has all the shelves, the other just barely can't have a shelf above the keg. total width would fit two kegs, maybe with the co2 nested between but it's more convenient to put other stuff in using shelves on half

[–] rumschlumpel@feddit.org 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

How wide is your fridge? I have 48cm (on the inside) to work with.

[–] biegoditch@lemmy.cafe -1 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago)

If only these idiots could stop making plastic bottles. Fucking earth murderers.