United States. In the United States, there are no national laws requiring restaurants serve free drinking water to customers. but some communities do have local laws calling on businesses to provide water. Most restaurants throughout the country do extend the courtesy of complimentary drinking water.

There is no universal federal law in the United States or the United Kingdom that mandates a cup of water must be free. In the United Kingdom, "licensed premises" (places that sell alcohol, like pubs and some restaurants) are legally required to provide free tap water to customers. However, they are permitted to charge a nominal fee for the "service" or the use of a glass. In the United States, there is no national law requiring restaurants to serve free water. While it is a deeply ingrained cultural courtesy for almost all sit-down restaurants to provide ice water for free, businesses are legally allowed to charge for it if they choose. In water-scarce regions like California, restaurants are actually prohibited from serving water unless a customer explicitly asks for it. Some fast-food chains may charge for the cup itself (often 25–50 cents) even if the water from the soda fountain is technically free, as the cost covers the physical container and the labor to wash it.