Ziay!

Dan

On a recent trip to Europe, I was struck by the fact that most restaurants frown on giving you a glass of tap water, even if you ask (and even though their tap water is clean and tastes fine). Instead, they make you pay a lot of money for bottled water. In Amsterdam, restaurants charge 2 euros (about $2.50) for a 200 ml bottle of water -- enough for one small glass, or about half a can of soda.
<br><br>Do Europeans just not drink much water? Or just not in restaurants?

James B

I'd like to take a different approach in answering this. I think geographical location and higher availability of other drinks probably is a bigger reason that water is not consumed as much by people in certain regions, including Europe. I believe and many visitors have commented that children drink less water and more soda in USA. This is primarily due to the fact that soda companies advertise a lot, making it more attractive. Secondly, SODA IS ATTRACTIVE, and according to a few medical experts it's even addictive (yes, caffeine is addictive to some extent). <br />
<br />
Secondly the cold weather in upper northern hemisphere in general is more of a reason that ppl drink less water and more of other drinks. For example if you are from a tropical country or from a very humid place, you would probably & naturally be drinking more water rather than if you are from a country like Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Finland.<br />
<br />
Another reason is that people being less immune to impure water (like tap water) and being more dependent on bottled water makes the water less affordable and less available. If you need to pay extra or need to work harder to get the commodity, you may resort to cheaper commodity or a near by commodity.<br />
<br />
Another reason I also feel is the commute using cars rather than walking or cycling. If you walk more to commute (like walk to train stations, walk a few blocks to get groceries, etc.) then you are more likely to drink water when compared to driving to every place you go and exert yourself much less. In many other countries people walk, walk and walk for several small things.<br />
<br />
Lack of education and awareness is also a reason for not consuming enough water. Not many people (except for few educated ones)know that 80% of our body is water. Even if they knew, ppl forget that fact easily and resort to "other drinks".<br />
<br />
There are simply several reasons or combination of reasons for not consuming enough water by the people in general.<br />
<br />
Finally, after having said all this,<br />
Beer Happens!

vhines200

There's a general belief in Europe (and in fact elsewhere in the world, such as China) that it's unhealthy to drink water with a meal because it dilutes the digestive juices. Wine is OK because it stimulates digestion, and mineral waters are also considered digestives.<br />
<br />
In general, Europeans are much more concerned with the digestive process than Americans.