Priceless

Growing Up Paying for Water

June 22, 2019 – Weekend Miser

Previously there were many praises on Prague for how amazing their guac was but now there is a turn for the worse. Paying for water is a doozy! After some digging there is a semi understandable explanation.

Basically the cost and normality of buying food in bulk in the United States make it so affordable to charge $3.00 for sides and zero for water. The sides you expect to pay for because it is an extra and Americans are used to paying for extra things, but water is a right.

Another difference between the United States and Europe is the amount of time that people spend in the restaurants. If it is an American place the waiter will practice efficiency and want to get you in, fed and out as fast as possible. After the customary 50 minute mark there is an exchange of looks between your host, waiter and the alpha of your party. Side note, if you don’t know who the alpha is, its you. Regardless, it doesn’t cost American restaurants much to give 2 glasses of water which is average. In Europe if you are there for the rest of the night then that is completely normal. That being the case they can’t just give you free drinks for 3 hours so they charge.

So in order to combat this issue, there is no ice and if you want cheaper water you can get tap water but for the most part you pay for water. Another things is they like sparkling water, which definetly is not free and comes in glass bottles.

Since water is a public good though, they have fountains like in this photo that are free for anyone to drink from, or play in. This shows a baby getting a little rinse after playing in the park with moms all laughing around her.