Hotels and restaurants must serve regular water to customers
Hotels and restaurants must serve regular water to customers
Hotels and restaurants commonly place bottled water in front of customers, but providing a jug and glass on the table would be sufficient. It should be mandatory for establishments to offer plain drinking water to customers, and failure to do so can result in a complaint being filed with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Gurudas Nulkar and Aditi Deodhar, affiliated with the Centre for Sustainable Environment (CSE) at Gokhale Institute of Technology (Gokhale), are leading a campaign to reduce plastic usage and costs in city hotels. Consumers should have the freedom to choose if they want to consume bottled or plain water. Restaurants should not dictate this choice and emphasize that bottled water is healthier than plain water.
The number of restaurants not offering bottled water has been increasing. Bottled water can contain harmful chemicals from the plastic manufacturing process, posing potential health risks. The process of recycling plastic bottles requires significant resources and generates carbon emissions. Furthermore, plastic can only be recycled a few times before becoming unusable, contributing to environmental waste. Plastic waste does not decompose and breaks down into microplastics that enter the food chain, posing risks to human health.
As per the reports, hotels offering plain water should be appreciated, and the use of plastic bottles should be minimized. She emphasizes the importance of commending establishments that make this choice. It is essential for the FDA to conduct routine inspections and address customer complaints regarding the provision of plain water in hotels and restaurants. Regular visits to these establishments by the FDA would help ensure compliance with water provision standards.
