💧 Water is life – and big business in Germany

Once again, I find myself at a German airport after security. Since it’s still forbidden to bring water through security, duty-free shops are more than happy to sell bottled water- it almost feels like their main source of income. Unlike in the US, where you can take a reusable bottle and fill it at public water fountains, the options in German airports are limited: either buy bottled water or refill your own at the bathroom sink.

This doesn’t stop at airports. In restaurants across Germany (and many other European countries), free tap water is rare. You can ask for it, but it’s not common and often not welcomed. Instead, bottled water (most Germans prefer sparkling!) is priced as high as soda or juice. On a hot summer day, the cost of water and other non-alcoholic drinks quickly adds up. Ironically, alcoholic beverages are often cheaper in comparison to other countries.

💡This raises an interesting cultural and economic question:
Should access to free tap water in public spaces and restaurants be a standard everywhere, or is bottled water simply part of the cultural norm we should accept?