"I think the government's decision to abandon mandatory free tap water has been met with relief across the hospitality sector," restaurant marketing expert Katarzyna Płachecka told public broadcaster Polish Radio.
She argued, however, that consumers may see the decision as reinforcing inconsistent service standards, adding that it is a sensitive issue from a branding perspective because guests increasingly expect simple, customer-friendly gestures.
"Restaurants that voluntarily offer free tap water as standard can turn that into a competitive advantage—and judging by what I'm seeing on social media, many are already doing exactly that," she said.
Under current Polish law, restaurants are not required to provide tap water free of charge and may include it on the bill or decline to serve it altogether.
Michał Owczarek has this report.
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