Friday 28 March 2008

"It's the law..."

Some crank today came up with a new law about drinking water. We do not have free drinking water available. The taps we have are either, the toilet, hand wash sink or pot wash sink. You don't want to drink water from there.

But this woman said that "It is the law that all restaurants have free drinking water". I explained the above, but she continued that it was "The law". Is this the law? I'm pretty sure it isn't.

She was also one of those helpful, but unhelpful customers. Towards the end of the night, the cleaners turn the bins round, so customers should just leave their rubbish on the tables. Some customers like to be helpful and dispose of their own rubbish, but that isn't possible at night. But, some decide they will use the empty, clean, with no bin bag in, bins.

14 comments:

James (UK) said...

Hi,

Had a look over at the DEFRA website, at http://www.defra.gov.uk/foodrin/index.htm but even though I also thought I'd heard that it was indeed the "law", I couldn't find anything on there about it.

I've been brought up to clear up after myself, and have always "bussed" my tray over to the bins in MacDonald's etc., but even I'm not that stupid that I would dump everything into a bagless bin! ;-)

I've always thought Starbucks could do with one of those tray holders on wheels, so you could put your tray and dirty cups on it, rather than just leave them on the tables.

Al said...

I think that is the law in some cases that free drinking water must be available but it's defintely not for every restaurant and certainly wouldn't cover the likes of Pizza Hut, McDonald's et al.

I wonder if those customers used the bins without the bags because they were really a bit thick or they just wanted to be a bit malicious.

Sometimes the bin we use in the photo lab doesn't have a bag in it (when the cleaners even bother to empty it that is) but I'll still use it until I can get hold of one. That doesn't bother me because it's mainly paper waste or used film canisters and I know I'll be the one to clean it up afterwards.

James (UK) said...

Al, whilst it crosses what passes for my mind at the moment, you mentioned a while back that people often ask you for empty film canisters... what's the best "recycling" purpose you've heard them being used for?

I know they are good for keeping screws etc in and stuff like that, but I wondered if anyone had said they wanted them for something else... like perhaps to keep their collection of rare bird's eggs in etc.

Joe said...

It is a requirement under the Licensing Act 2003 that if a place serves alcoholic drinks for consumption ON the premises, that they must also make available a free source of water.
It doesn't apply unless you have an on-licence.

Al said...

James, I tend not to ask (for fear that I won't want to know, or be subjected to a lenghtly and not entirely intersting speech) but it's usually people with the Scouts and suchlike who take them. Presumably they use them to build something or something like that anyway.

James (UK) said...

Hmmm... yeah, Scouts would fit in with the "match holder" use I found on here... I suppose they are nice little waterproof containers... perhaps Scouts also use them to keep their drug stashes dry too or similar. ;-)

Anonymous said...

You're not dead then ?

Pizza Hut Team Member said...

No Keith, not dead I'm afraid!!

Unknown said...

Any news on the UK about PastaHut?

I just read about it.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2008-03-25-pasta-hut_N.htm

Julio
Mexico

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Anonymous said...

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Anonymous said...

most stores r equiped with a dispenser for water on the fountain dispenser however refrain from using it cause it will burn out the o ring inside so u wont have either drinks and its now illegal use the sink its the same water but did u know that it is illegal to not have toilet paper in the bathrooms!

David said...

God help us, people will be getting on the bus and asking where the water dispenser is any day now.

Anonymous said...

Pizza Hut has to offer tap water before we sell bottled.....i read the head office/media release back in April-Support Manager