UK consumers who are too embarrassed to ask a pub or restaurant for a glass of tap water or a refill of their empty bottle are helping to fuel the rising tide of discarded single-use plastic drinks bottles, according to a new survey.
Only a quarter of people admitted to knowing their legal rights when it comes to asking for a glass of tap water, while a third admit to feeling awkward when asking for water for a reusable bottle even if they are buying something else, according to research commissioned by environmental charity Keep Britain Tidy and Brita UK, a manufacturer of filter jugs.
Licensed premises such as bars, restaurants and theatres are required by law to provide free drinking water on request in England, Scotland and Wales, although they can charge for the use of a glass. Consumer dependence upon disposable plastic bottles while out and about causes damage to the marine environment while increasing the volume of litter on our streets, the charity said.
The YouGov survey found that 57% of people believe businesses that serve food and/or drinks should be required to provide free drinking water to the public. 59% say they would be more likely to use a reusable water bottle if tap water refills were more freely available in places such as shops, airports and parks.
Despite this, 71% of respondents felt uncomfortable asking for free tap water without buying something else and more than a third (37%) felt awkward asking for it in a reusable bottle even if they were making a separate purchase.
“This report demonstrates that the British public want greater access to tap water when out and about,” said Keep Britain Tidy chief executive Allison Ogden-Newton. “Topping up a glass or refillable bottle would encourage us to stay healthy while helping to reduce littering in our streets, parks and beaches, which is all good.”
At present, Britons use 7.7bn single-use plastic water bottles a year but only a limited number are recycled.
An accompanying report, compiled by Keep Britain Tidy’s Centre for Social Innovation, recommends that community water schemes in place in cities such as London and Bristol should be made available everywhere.
The amount of waste from single-use plastic bottles in London has risen out of control, according to a recent report from the London assembly environment committee. It is calling on the mayor to consider introducing a deposit return scheme and provide free tap water as an alternative.
