A Ski Resort Restaurant Fined €8,000 Over Tap Water

A restaurant in the French Alps has been fined €8,000 for refusing to serve free tap water with meals.

The case happened in Val Thorens (Savoie), at the high-altitude restaurant Les Aiguilles de Péclet, located at around 3,000 meters and mainly serving skiers during the season.

The investigation was carried out by the DGCCRF, through the local Savoie enforcement services. The DGCCRF is a French government watchdog under the Ministry of the Economy. Its inspectors check prices, menus, consumer rights, and illegal practices. They can inspect restaurants on site and issue direct administrative fines.

Inspectors found that diners eating at the restaurant were systematically told that tap water was unavailable. Staff only offered paid bottled water, presenting it as the only option. This was not a one-time error but a repeated practice.

That is illegal in France.

When you eat in a restaurant, you have the legal right to free tap water on request. It is called “eau ordinaire” or “eau en carafe.” The rule has existed for decades and applies everywhere, including ski resorts and tourist zones. Altitude does not change the law.

The authorities ruled that the refusal was deliberate and misleading for consumers. The €8,000 fine was issued as an administrative sanction and officially published by the government on December 30, 2025, which is part of the penalty.

In busy tourist areas, some restaurants still try to push bottled water, assuming visitors won’t know the rule or won’t push back. If you are eating in France and want free water, ask clearly for “une carafe d’eau.” That request is normal. Refusing it is illegal.