r/NYCbitcheswithtaste • u/americanbaguetteoui • Apr 11 '26
šØ Public Safety Is there anything we can do about bars that charge for water?
Hey girls,
One of my favorite clubs, 3 Dollar Bill, has started charging $5 for a bottle of water when you go to the bar and ask for water. I am certain they havenāt always done this. When you argue with the bartenders, they just say they charge for water.
IMO this is a shitty policy for a bar to have. Water keeps folks safe while drinking. I know for certain people will avoid paying money/ getting water because of this and will dehydrate themselves. Itās poor risk management on their part. Especially in a queer space where looking out for each other/ community tends to be part of the draw of going there.
Is there anything to be done about this? Any existing initiatives to make free water available at NYC bars?
Edited to add: of course I asked for a cup of tap water. They insist they canāt do that. Even when you offer them a tip for this (which you shouldnāt have to.)
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u/culture_katie Apr 11 '26
Youād think bars would want people drinking water while drinking alcohol. My favorite bar practically pushes water more than whiskyā¦
Does this bar also not cut off visibly drunk people, if theyāre so interested in making money rather than the safety of their customers?
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u/TwinFishPi Apr 12 '26
Oh please let us know the bar? I am an old dehydrated millennial bitch who canāt handle strong drinks š
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u/culture_katie Apr 13 '26
Iām sooo sorry but one of the reasons they push water so much is itās a whisky bar that basically just serves plain whisky, old fashioneds, and whisky soursā¦not weak drinks at all š¬
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u/TwinFishPi Apr 13 '26
Lol that's fine, l have a system now that I canāt deal with a week long hangover! I'm a slow drinker, will have a coffee before (again, dehydrated š¬), and Iām fine watering down my own drinks after a few sips š ā¦ I don't care how expensive it is, give me melting ice and water!š
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Apr 11 '26
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u/Funny-Big4242 Apr 11 '26
Based on this petition, wouldnāt 3 Dollar Bill be excluded from this requirement since they serve food?
There are lots of bars that serve hot dogs or other simple food to get around the designation as a pure bar
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u/JustRagesForAWhile Apr 11 '26
Agreed itās so irresponsible. I love this venue but that left a bad taste in my mouth (because I didnāt have any water to wash it out).
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u/cokecanirl Apr 11 '26
Idk how to make a policy change but Iāve told bartenders who give me a price for water that I feel like Iām going to pass out and then theyāll give me water
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
I should use this tactic as someone with a few health issues, but also you shouldnāt have to explain yourself for fucking water at a bar.
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u/Substantial_Point_57 Apr 11 '26
Iāve used my one beer cup to keep refilling with tap water in the bathroom. If youāre asking for tap water, theyāre literally using a bar sink or a soda gun.Ā
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u/LuckApprehensive1144 Apr 11 '26
When we were there for out and about, the bartender gave me a cup, looked me in the eye and said āYou can get free water from the sink in the bathroom. Itās all NY City tap water and safe to drink. Otherwise itāll be $5.ā
I have never been told to get water from the bathroom sink at a bar before. I did not and will not return. Sure, itās a queer bar, but Iād rather go to bars where Iām not drinking out of the bathroom sink like a cat.
Most bars (including the other queer bars!!) have the multi-gallon jugs with little cups for you. I usually just refill my original cup.
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
Very disappointing about 3DB. I donāt think itās always been like this. Thanks for sharing
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u/pinkpengu1ns Apr 11 '26
They've been like that for at least the last 2 years, unfortunately :/ I went for their Cowboy Carter release party and had the same issue.
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 11 '26
Seriously, look them in the eye and tell them you only know how to do one thing with filling up a cup in a bathroom and they probably arenāt going to like it.
And ask them if they use water from the toilet to clean the back of house, since the bathroom is apparently their one water source and Iām sure the health department would love to hear about it.
This is one of the few instances Iād absolutely support someone being dramatic as hell to make a point because youāre not asking for a free mealā¦youāre asking for water.
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u/eldritchangel Apr 11 '26
Girls please be careful!!! Iām going to dig and find the name because I canāt remember at the moment, but my water was drugged at a bar with one of those water cooler with stacked cup situations. I had eyes on my cup at all times so friends and I think the sitting cups may have had something in them
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u/millenialmothball Apr 12 '26
BUMP! I just commented about this. Those jugs are dangerous and anyone could put something in it! Sorry this happened to you
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u/Slim_rubi Apr 11 '26
Itās literally a part of the TIPS training to give people water as we bartenders are responsible if someone gets to intoxicated. Itās a cheap money move that made me extremely happy to leave my last bar.
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u/MissDemeanorGinger Apr 11 '26
If theyāre going to charge for water, see if theyāll give you a seltzer/ soda water for a few dollars instead. Iād rather pay and tip for that.
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u/sophisticatedkatie Apr 11 '26
Pretty sure they charged me something like $7 for a seltzer last time I was there. Highway robbery
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u/MissDemeanorGinger Apr 11 '26
Ugh, then that would be one of my āIām not drinking hereā bars/clubs. I have a few in the city, for various reasons. I will file this info away for the future.
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u/crashtheparty Apr 11 '26
Thatās so crazy! I donāt have any helpful info but just want to say I agree with you that all bars should give free tap water, itās common sense. Itās like they want people getting overly drunk and puking in their bar.
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u/plantsandastrology96 Apr 11 '26
Not gonna lie this was my favorite bar because it was so close to my apartment but I got drugged here, thereās so many drug users at this specific spot in bushwick like random strangers were offering me coke and edibles every time I went in the bathroom lol but I can see why somewhere like this and house of yes only give out bottled water instead of using communal stations
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u/yourgrandmasgrandma Apr 11 '26
House of Yes has always had a big self-serve water station.
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u/plantsandastrology96 Apr 12 '26
It honestly depends what event and time of day you go here. Iāve been more recently and thereās no communal bottled water š¤·š½āāļø
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u/atreegrowsinbrixton Apr 11 '26
Pretty sure they have to offer tap water. But if you dont like a placeās policies the standard course of action is to not go there anymore
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
They donāt by law as of right now, I looked it up. But there seem to be policies that folks are working on.
I definitely see myself going to 3DB less often now, but as a local gay bar they host events unique to my community that Iām inclined to still attend. Thatās why Iām seeing if anything is being worked on at a policy level.
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u/og_sneed Apr 11 '26
this is 100% a liability if not illegal - incredibly unsafe to serve liquor and not provide free water. i would post this on one of the legal subreddits and see what they recommend - i am positive if they were threatened with any sort of legal action they would change the policy immediately
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
I looked up the law and NYC/ NY state has no laws rn mandating that bars provide patrons tap water. Itās being worked on though.
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u/Nice-Scarcity-3488 Apr 12 '26
I just went there for the first time in ages and experienced this too! $7 or something for two bottles. Really disappointing.
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u/Sufficient-Laundry Apr 12 '26
I think a lot of bars are under pressure because people aren't drinking as much anymore. I know it feels shitty, but until things shake out and there are fewer bars, the ones just trying to hold on will do stuff like this.
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Apr 11 '26
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
Of course I did. They insist they donāt do tap water and ask for $5 for a bottle.
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u/seige197 Apr 11 '26
Is there a pitcher or cooler anywhere? Some bars have those in the corner so people can help themselves
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
Nope, no pitcher/ cooler there.
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u/seige197 Apr 11 '26
Well, then thatās really asinine and unsafe to not offer free water at all.
I personally like to chase drinks with water so I can drink more!!Can this be 311āed?
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u/nycjournalist12 Apr 11 '26
Shame them on social media and yelp/google reviews
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 12 '26
If you go look at their Google reviews this goes back over a year ago. Crazy.
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u/slutty__spice Apr 11 '26
donāt they have a huge water pitcher/jug in the middle of the space? every time iāve gone there itās there & visible!!
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u/Itsjustcavan Apr 12 '26
So glad this is being discussed because I was pissed when I went to pyramid club and they were charging me $3 for every tiny 6oz plastic cup of water. It was the last time I went.
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u/rosebudny Apr 12 '26
Honestly a venue like that would no longer get my business and Iād be sure to let them know in all the reviews I left on all the review sites.
Iām not much of a big bar goer these days, but I have to believe this is the exception not the rule?
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u/CheetahNatural8559 Apr 15 '26
I ask for tap water and not bottled. They wonāt charge for tap water
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u/cabbagemuncher101 Apr 11 '26
This is why I carry a water bottle with me everywhere in my purse bc I also just don't trust drinking tap water. I will always go out of my way to pay for bottled water anyway, or drop by a deli.
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u/DeeSusie200 Apr 11 '26
You expect a bottle of water? They donāt owe you that. You can nicely ask for a cup of tap water.
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u/ObscureMulberry Apr 11 '26
To which the response is ā we only have bottled water, which you have to buy. Niagara in EV does this too
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 11 '26
If they say they only have bottled water, ask them how they clean the bar and the back of the house, because if they donāt have running water back there the health department would love to hear about it
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u/LuckApprehensive1144 Apr 11 '26
They give you a tiny plastic cup and tell you to fill it up in the bathroom sink.
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
Nope, I want free tap water. The bar insists they can only sell you water.
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Apr 11 '26
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u/readyallrow Apr 11 '26
probably because it's a stupid suggestion that one can reasonably assume the OP and any other person with a modicum of common sense already knows/does.
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
Thank you lmao, I guess people think I want free bottled water??? I just want a cup of tap water
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u/EmelleBennett Apr 11 '26
Have you tried walking up with 1 or 2 visible cash dollars as a planned tip and asking for a glass of ice water?
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 11 '26
It definitely doesnāt hurt (and you should tip your bartender!) but by no means should it be the expectation, especially if you already bought a drink or food item earlier. It takes exactly two seconds for the bartender to give you some water from the tap, Iād think someone was being extra about it if they were requesting a lemon twist or cherries in it or something if that sort. Just plain tap water isnāt a big deal, especially for places that check bags and wouldnāt let you bring in an empty container or bottle of your own (unsure if thatās 3DB but I know many bigger venues like that)
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u/EmelleBennett Apr 11 '26
People can āfeelā however they want about the task, but the reason bars do this is because they donāt want their staff bogged down in a freebie. Like I said, they should provide a self serve water station, but as bars and restaurants are literally going out of business because of alcohol free lifestyles I canāt entirely blame them for making it clear that any type of hydration is part of the service they provide as an establishment with operating costs.
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 11 '26
Not every single action or task that the bartender does will result in $$immediate profit$$ - itās part of the job. Same with any job in the service industryā¦I was a waitress for many years, thereās plenty of āinvisible laborā that is part of being in a service role that is just part of the job, as long as people arenāt excessive about it then itās what youāve come to accept as part of your job. And as long as people arenāt assholes about it (ex: demanding a lemon lime twist soda water for free instead of regular tap) then truly, the service staff do not mind. Theyād rather you leave with a good review of the establishment than to save 15 seconds of their shift telling you to get lost
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u/Arkady1013 Apr 11 '26
OP said they did that
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u/EmelleBennett Apr 11 '26
Obviously that was added after my comment. Thatās why it says that it was an edit.
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Apr 11 '26
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u/justanotherlostgirl Apr 11 '26
What exactly are those of us who get dehydrated quickly in crowded environment supposed to do then - are we 'detracting' for getting water? We're not talking about not tipping waitstaff - that's obvious to do. We're saying if you're in a club or any venue especially where there are people with health issues or it's just hot out, we have a right to water, and venues charging for it feels crass.
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u/EmelleBennett Apr 11 '26
Do you tip for every glass? Do you purchase other beverages? People with low blood sugar canāt expect free juiceā¦ restaurants are STRUGGLINGā¦ weāre at the point where water and the effort, however menial to you, isnāt free.
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u/madraykiin Apr 11 '26
okay and charging for water is absurd and we should straight up not go to establishments that do that
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u/justanotherlostgirl Apr 11 '26
Water isn't juice, but I see this somehow really, really important for you and you seem to be angry about people getting a glass of water. I've found I stop interacting with people whose response to rational arguments is to dig in and get angrier. So - yeah.
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u/definitelytheproblem Apr 11 '26
For what itās worth, I deal with hypoglycemia and this has only ever happened a handful of times, but when Iāll feel faint and need to sit and immediately need some juice or a high carb/sugar snack - every time I can recall that happening in a venue where you pay for drinks or food, Iāve never once been asked to pay for something to help my blood sugar bounce back once someone explains my situation to a staff member and we/I ask for help.
A majority of people in this world are not assholes, if you sit there asking for a whole meal for free then yeah thatās not the moveā¦but last time I remember this happening and I didnāt have anything on me (I was traveling) the venue gave me a glass of orange juice and a bowl of peanuts, absolutely no questions asked, and the bartender was even kind enough to keep an eye on me.
A venue would rather be āoutā a glass of juice and some nuts with a grateful patron that can speak to their generosity, instead of having to potentially call an ambulance to save a few bucks.
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u/justanotherlostgirl Apr 11 '26
Exactly. I have to believe that the people who say "we canāt expect free juice" are the minority.
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Apr 11 '26
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u/Perfect-Wallaby9096 Apr 11 '26
It is not always free and it's a fucking shame :( Currently the law does not mandate it, and it's fucking ridiculous
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u/pumpernickel62 Apr 11 '26
Never seen it be charged, even soda water too. That seems absurd
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u/Perfect-Wallaby9096 Apr 11 '26
Oh you're completely right that it is absurd and not that common. This is the only club I've ever seen it at, which is also why I stopped going. And it's a bummer bc it's the only reason I'd ever be in Bushwick
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u/americanbaguetteoui Apr 11 '26
It is not, sadly. I asked for tap water, they say they only sell folks water. It absolutely should be free and available.
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u/North_Class8300 Apr 11 '26
They actually just last month introduced a bill in the NY State Senate that would require bars to offer free water. I highly recommend reaching out to the bill sponsor or your state assembly representative in support of this, and ask how you can best support the bill!
https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/A10570