Recently, Americans have been fond of traveling to Europe, but they have discovered a cultural difference: in Europe, restaurants generally do not provide drinking water readily, and the drinking habits of people there differ from those of Americans. This topic has attracted attention from individuals on both sides of the Atlantic.
According to CNN, a tourist from Texas dining at a restaurant in Germany was asked by the server what drink she would like, and she requested water. The server found this request odd and ended up giving her a 2 Euro bottle of soda water, which she found hard to accept.
She said, “In America, when you enter a restaurant, a large glass of ice water is usually placed on the table as soon as you sit down.”
Looking around, she noticed that the other patrons in the restaurant were all enjoying wine and beer – water was nowhere to be seen.
An American living in Florence, Italy, also expressed that Americans seem to have a natural inclination to constantly drink water, “while in Italy, finding someone carrying a water bottle is like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
In response to this topic, Stavros A. Kavouras, a nutrition professor at Arizona State University, originally from Greece and living in the US for 20 years, was interviewed by CNN.
Kavouras pointed out that there are indeed differences between Europe and America when it comes to drinking water. He mentioned that if you ask for water in Germany, you are likely to receive soda water. “Because if a regular glass of water is served to customers in Germany, they might refuse it, so why bother serving water to customers?”
Kavouras explained that in Europe, it is normal to pay extra for a liter of bottled water during dinner. While this may surprise Americans, it is commonplace for many Europeans.
Interestingly, the recommended daily water intake differs between the US and Europe. “In the US, women are advised to drink 2.7 liters of water per day, men 3.7 liters. In Europe, these figures are 2.0 liters for women and 2.5 liters for men,” said Kavouras.
However, Kavouras added that data shows that lower socioeconomic status Americans consume less water, and those able to travel to Europe do not represent the majority of Americans, “these people are more educated, wealthier, and have a higher socioeconomic status”.
For Americans traveling to Europe, Kavouras suggests not relying too heavily on viral social media posts. Additionally, because each European country has different customs, it is beneficial to research the country you are planning to visit and understand the local habits. “You can learn how to ask for carbonated water and tap water in the local language.”
Kavouras also recommends buying bottled water at supermarkets or grocery stores, as it is usually less expensive than in restaurants. Moreover, carrying a water bottle with you throughout your vacation is advised, as tap water in most European cities is safe to drink. You can also request a bottle of water be filled for you at hotels, cafes, and restaurants.