I guess America does not actually run on dunkin...

[ratheripped.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to get back into running and on my jog today I was getting to the point where I was about to keel over and pass out if I didn't rehydrate soon. I figured I could just walk into a highland ave dunkin and get a quick cup of tap water and be on my way. Apparently they demanded "25 cents for the cup". Are you kidding me? I've never heard of such bullsh*t - is this some sort of sick work around? I thought it was was illegal to refuse someone tap water for free.

Can someone help me out here? I usually go to that dunkin all the time and now I'm honestly thinking about straight up taking my caffeine addiction business elsewhere.

Comments

[m00n.livejournal.com]

I thought it was was illegal to refuse someone tap water for free.

I think this is only true for alcohol-serving establishments. So if you're out running and you really need a drink, stop at a bar instead. They'll probably serve it to you in a reusable glass and they can't charge you for it (though, depending on the bar, they may sneer at you). Last time I did this, at an otherwise shady looking bar I'd never otherwise patronized in Chicago on a very hot day, the bartender was very nice about it and even gave me ice, too.

People can try to justify this through economic arguments and "if we did it for you we'd have to do it for everyone" arguments to their heart's content, and they would be technically correct. But in practice I think this just makes DD a bad neighbor in much the same way that it does for businesses to refuse to let anyone use their restrooms. Sure, it may not directly benefit their business to provide free cups with water in them, but it's fundamentally mean-spirited of them not to do it.

[tober.livejournal.com]

In some jurisdictions (MA probably included but I'm not sure) tap water must be free at restaurants[1] for restaurant patrons who are ordering food[2]. An obligation to provide water to someone who isn't buying anything seems unlikely.

[1] I am not entirely certain whether DD constitutes a "restaurant" for these purposes. Table service might be required.
[2] And some jurisdictions go even further by requiring that tap water be given by default to patrons who didn't even request it.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Bars are, as far as I understand it, required to dispense it to people who are not otherwise buying anything. I believe the thinking is that this encourages people to bring a designated driver.

[gruene.livejournal.com]

It's also useful when you're with friends who want to keep drinking and you're done for the evening. Generally it encourages sobriety, which is a public good.

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

I had a different experience at a bar/club in Dallas in 1994. I was kicked unconscious by a moshing crowd at a Lemonheads concert (WTF?) and some random dude dragged me out. My friends told me that he carried me to the bar to try to splash cold water on my face and they wouldn't give him any, even with a bruised and battered unconscious girl in his arms. Another random stranger paid for the water.

Not sure what the moral of this story is, but wanted to say that some bars don't give free water.

[m00n.livejournal.com]

Almost all of the laws governing the sale and distribution of alcohol are state laws. Consequently there is little, if any, similarity between the liquor laws of Texas and the liquor laws of Massachusetts.

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

Damn, what bar was that?

[joylewis.livejournal.com]

It was some club in Deep Ellum that I doubt is still there!

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

What jurisdictions are you sure about, and do you have cites?

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

"I think this is only true for alcohol-serving establishments."

Do you have a cite?