Man, that's hard. When I go there I try to follow etiquette closely, it's their custom and I want to follow it, and the woman may have been a bit of a Karen.

However, tap water should be free. Anywhere. Maybe I just hiked a mile to get there. Maybe I'm just thirsty. 7 euro to drink water is simply extortion of your tourists. If that's etiquette then it's wrong.

I was at a restaurant in Italy and they kept bringing us bottles of mineral water. I go back to the restroom and see the waiter refilling the bottle from the tap them tried to bill the table for 7 bottles of mineral water. I disputed the check, we shouldn't have to pay full price for tap water. There was nashing of the teeth until I said that is seen them refilling the bottle.

Italy, the Nestle of nations

That’s mental. It’d be illegal in many countries. In the UK any place that sells alcohol has to give free water.

I've asked for water from poor villagers while hiking (I'm from India) and they have filled my bottle without expecting anything in return.

Italy's restaurant industry and justice system seems like a dick.

I don't think it should have been a problem to provide her with tap water (rather than mineral water which is not the same thing), especially since she offered to pay for it. Is there something wrong with the tap water?

In Berlin for eg its tough to get tap water. You ask for it and get it 20mins later after a 2nd request. It's more see as a task for something that customer wants but is not directly tied to making income.

(I don't want a yes but reply). Just a comment.

Them refusing to fill a glass with tap water is actually insane. As long as the water is potable. Maybe it's my american-ness showing, but this is a human requirement. She was staying there for a week and they already had her money. You can go a week without food, but not water. And they were even already providing the food! Let's imagine this was a space resort... We'd all be outraged if they denied her oxygen, or charged her separately after arriving, right!?

I understand that my boycott will be considered insignificant, but I will never, ever spend a single € in Italy following this ruling. And don't you dare mention the term "etiquette" when referring to basic essential human needs...

It's considered a breach of etiquette to not want to be forced to pay for water? A lawsuit over being refused tap water at a restaurant in a non-emergency scenario seems a little silly, but refusing tap water also seems a little silly unless it isn't potable.