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CNA
21 hours ago
- Business
- CNA
Should tap water be free in Singapore restaurants? F&B operators weigh in
The debate about whether tap water should be complimentary in Singapore's dine-in food establishments is back in the spotlight, thanks to a Facebook post on Jun 12 by Workers' Party Member of Parliament Gerald Giam, who also highlighted a public petition on the issue. 'Some eateries charge as much for water as they do for sugary drinks. This unintentionally nudges consumers toward less healthy options, increasing the risk of obesity and diabetes,' he said in his post. 'In March 2025, I called for the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) to encourage F&B outlets, coffeeshops and malls to offer low-cost drinking water as best practice.' Mr Giam added: 'While I acknowledge that F&B establishments incur some cost to provide plain water, these can be recovered by offering plain water at cost. Importantly, it should be priced lower than sugary beverages to support healthier choices and sustainability goals. I continue to urge MSE to promote this as best practice across dine-in establishments.' The petition he cited, which was posted on in late May, urged the Singapore government to 'mandate that dine-in F&B establishments provide free-flow tap water to all customers at no additional cost.' 'In a country where tap water is clean, safe, and abundantly available, it is unjustified to restrict access to tap water, especially in establishments that already impose a 10% service charge,' the petition read. THE PRICE OF FREE TAP WATER Several restaurateurs CNA Lifestyle spoke to said that while they used to charge for tap water, they stopped long before the petition, mainly due to customer complaints. Among them is nasi lemak restaurant The Coconut Club. Chef-owner Daniel Sia said: 'It's more important that customers are happy.' Similarly, chain restaurants such as Swensen's and French bakery-cafe Paul said they've offered free tap water since opening. 'We believe in offering a welcoming and thoughtful experience, and providing complimentary drinking water is part of that,' said Paul's chief executive officer, Asia Pacific, David Yang. A spokesperson for Swensen's, a pioneer partner of the Health Promotion Board's Healthier Dining Programme, said: 'Serving tap water aligns with our ongoing commitment to support healthier choices for our guests." Still, while tap water is abundantly available in Singapore, it does come at a cost to restaurants. 'Utilities cost money and (when you offer free tap water), it often translates to reduced beverage sales, so it's an opportunity cost at the end of the day,' Sia explained. Yang pointed out that 'the cost, though not insignificant, is relatively minimal compared to the goodwill it generates'. While that may be the case for larger chain establishments like Paul and Swensen's, it is a harder pill to swallow for smaller, independent restaurants. 'On a good month, eateries like ours make about 10 to 20 per cent profit,' said the sole owner of a neighbourhood cafe who declined to be named. 'More often than not, we make a lot less, especially in this current economic climate. So we charge 50 cents for free-flow of tap water because every cent counts.' The cost, though not insignificant, is relatively minimal compared to the goodwill it generates. FILTERING THE COST Other restaurant owners who charge for tap water also requested anonymity for fear of public backlash. 'Business is already so bad, we don't want people to take this against us,' said the owner of a Korean restaurant. 'The restaurant business is tough. Our profit margin is small. In what other industry would making 10 to 20 per cent profit on a good month count as good business? But that's the norm for restaurants. Bigger restaurant groups may be able to absorb the cost, but utilities are just one of many overheads for small businesses like ours.' Another restaurateur pointed out that almost no establishments price tap water on par with soft drinks. 'No one in the right mind goes into business to antagonise the customer. Everyone knows the cost of tap water, so who's going to sell tap water in their restaurant for S$3 to S$4, which is the price of a soft drink in many restaurants?' Upscale restaurants that charge for water typically serve water pumped from a filtration system at S$3 per person, free-flow. For them, the concern is more about flavour than cost. Operations manager of Angie's Oyster Bar & Grill said: 'We understand some diners prefer water with their meal instead of wine or beer. However, tap water can negatively alter the delicate taste of live oysters. To ensure a pleasant dining experience, we serve unlimited premium Nordaq water. However, we do not want to profit from water sales. We decided that with water sales, 80 per cent of the proceeds will go towards The Helping Hand charity, supporting a good cause.' Ronald Kamiyama, managing partner and sommelier of The Cicheti Group, echoed similar sentiments. 'At our restaurants, we serve filtered water that uses a charcoal system that's not only sustainable, but part of what we pay also supports jobs for women in Sumatra who plant trees in the region.' Water filtration systems cost anywhere from S$1,000 to S$3,000 a month. 'When you factor in wear and tear, which at restaurants oscillate around S$50 to S$200 a month, plus human hours, plus a series of minor costs that aren't accounted for… it works out to a good amount of money,' said the chef-owner of a fine dining restaurant that does not charge for water. 'We absorb the cost in our menu pricing.'
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Health
- AsiaOne
'It's a basic service': Hundreds sign petition urging F&B outlets to provide free water
More than 900 people have signed a petition calling on the Government to require food and beverage outlets to provide free tap water to diners. They want restaurants already imposing a 10 per cent service charge to offer what they consider a "basic necessity" at no extra cost. The petition on which started in May 24, comes despite earlier concerns from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) about water wastage and the additional costs such a move could impose on businesses. Petition creator Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, told AsiaOne on Thursday (June 19) he observed how food and beverage outlets seem to be "encouraging" diners to buy drinks to "boost profit margins" - even though the Government has been urging Singaporeans to cut down on sugar in their diets. Dr Yee said: "The last straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I recently brought my family to an expensive buffet, about $60 per person. "And they had the audacity not to serve water and instead requiring us to pay an extra $5 for free-flow beverages. I thought it was going too far." According to the 2022 National Nutrition Survey, Singapore adults consume an average of 56g of sugar daily, with over half came from sweetened beverages. F&B outlets incur costs in providing table water The suggestion of water being made for free at eateries have been brought up in Parliament on both sides of the political aisle. In 2021, Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza made the case since Singapore's tap water is safe to drink. He questioned then "whether table water can be mandatorily made free-of-charge at F&B establishments". And during MSE's Budget debate in March, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam urged the ministry to work with eateries, coffee shops and shopping malls to provide free or low-cost drinking water as a best practice. But Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu argued there is no basis to mandate that F&B establishments serve tap water free-of-charge under the Environmental Public Health Act. "While Singapore's water is safe to drink straight from the tap, it is not free as food and beverage (F&B) establishments have to pay for the water," she said. "They also incur cost in providing table water such as cost of washing the glasses and containers and in serving the water." Additional costs to eateries 'very minimal': Dr Yee On this, Dr Yee said that he was not aware that the free water suggestion had been raised in Parliament as early as 2021. "I was a bit disappointed to find that it was sort of dismissed," said the 39-year-old. Dr Yee understands the concerns raised by the ministry and businesses, but added that the additional costs are "very minimal". He referred to the cost of portable water for non-domestic use in Singapore, which according to the Public Utilities Board, is at $3.24 per cubic metre. "If each customer drinks two cups at about 400 ml of tap water, the cost comes up to just 0.13 cents per person," he said. "This is negligible when compared to water used for cooking, washing, and other operational needs. "I feel something like this [eateries providing free water] is considered a necessity, a basic service." [[nid:650609]] chingshijie@
AsiaOne
2 days ago
- Health
- AsiaOne
'It's a basic service': Hundreds sign petition urging F&B outlets to provide free water, Singapore News
More than 900 people have signed a petition calling on the Government to require food and beverage outlets to provide free tap water to diners. They want restaurants already imposing a 10 per cent service charge to offer what they consider a "basic necessity" at no extra cost. The petition on which started in May 24, comes despite earlier concerns from the Ministry of Sustainability and the Environment (MSE) about water wastage and the additional costs such a move could impose on businesses. Petition creator Yee Yucai, a consultant at Singapore General Hospital's Internal Medicine department, told AsiaOne on Thursday (June 19) he observed how food and beverage outlets seem to be "encouraging" diners to buy drinks to "boost profit margins" - even though the Government has been urging Singaporeans to cut down on sugar in their diets. Dr Yee said: "The last straw that broke the camel's back for me was when I recently brought my family to an expensive buffet, about $60 per person. "And they had the audacity not to serve water and instead requiring us to pay an extra $5 for free-flow beverages. I thought it was going too far." According to the 2022 National Nutrition Survey, Singapore adults consume an average of 56g of sugar daily, with over half came from sweetened beverages. F&B outlets incur costs in providing table water The suggestion of water being made for free at eateries have been brought up in Parliament on both sides of the political aisle. In 2021, Member of Parliament Christopher de Souza made the case since Singapore's tap water is safe to drink. He questioned then "whether table water can be mandatorily made free-of-charge at F&B establishments". And during MSE's Budget debate in March, Workers' Party MP Gerald Giam urged the ministry to work with eateries, coffee shops and shopping malls to provide free or low-cost drinking water as a best practice. But Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu argued there is no basis to mandate that F&B establishments serve tap water free-of-charge under the Environmental Public Health Act. "While Singapore's water is safe to drink straight from the tap, it is not free as food and beverage (F&B) establishments have to pay for the water," she said. "They also incur cost in providing table water such as cost of washing the glasses and containers and in serving the water." Additional costs to eateries 'very minimal': Dr Yee On this, Dr Yee said that he was not aware that the free water suggestion had been raised in Parliament as early as 2021. "I was a bit disappointed to find that it was sort of dismissed," said the 39-year-old. Speaking to AsiaOne, Dr Yee said he understand the concerns raised by the ministry and businesses but added that the additional costs are "very minimal". He referred to the cost of portable water for non-domestic use in Singapore, which according to the Public Utilities Board, is at $3.24 per cubic metre. "If each customer drinks two cups at about 400 ml of tap water, the cost comes up to just 0.13 cents per person," he said. "This is negligible when compared to water used for cooking, washing, and other operational needs. "I feel something like this [eateries providing free water] is considered a necessity, a basic service." [[nid:650609]] chingshijie@
Metro
2 days ago
- Business
- Metro
Martin Lewis' MSE shares major update on £100,000,000 Mastercard compensation
Last month, Mastercard agreed to pay a total of £100 million in compensation to UK shoppers — but now, Martin Lewis's Money Saving Expert (MSE) warns claimants may have to wait before they receive any cash. A landmark lawsuit against the company, first brought by former financial ombudsman Walter Merricks almost a decade ago, was recently settled out of court for £200 million. Half of this total was then earmarked for consumers, with MSE saying 'millions are in line' to receive payouts of up to £70 each. Plus, as the case concerns processing fees charged to retailers — which were then passed on to shoppers in the form of inflated prices — you don't need to have ever had a Mastercard to qualify. However, in the latest edition of its newsletter, the consumer site explained: 'It could be months until the money is paid out, because a company called Innsworth – which helped fund the case – is now trying to challenge how these funds will be split.' This company 'puts up money to support big legal claims, in return for a share of any winnings' but says the Tribunal approving the settlement 'made a series of errors in its judgment' when deciding how much of it should go to them. As such, Innsworth has filed a judicial review to try and get a bigger cut, which will not only delay claims and payouts but could impact the amount people end up getting. Here's what we know so far. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Even though you can't claim yet, according to MSE, you'll be eligible to do so if you meet all of the following criteria: You lived in England, Northern Ireland or Wales for at least three months in a row between June 20, 1997, and June 21, 2008. Or , you lived in Scotland for at least three months in a row between May 22, 1992, and June 21, 2008. , you lived in Scotland for at least three months in a row between May 22, 1992, and June 21, 2008. You were aged 16 or over during those three months. During the same period, you bought goods or services from a firm selling in the UK – regardless of how you paid. You lived in the UK on September 6, 2016. You haven't previously opted out of the legal case – you would have needed to actively fill in a form to do so, so if this is the first you've heard of the case, it doesn't apply. You don't have to have been part of the legal action before now to be able to claim, and you won't be asked for proof of purchases made during the qualifying period. For those who died before being able to claim, representatives of their estate may be able to do so on their behalf. If you need further details, check out the full list of requirements here. The amount you'll get all depends on the result of the Innsworth court action as well as how many people end up applying. The MSE site explains: 'If the expected number of people claim – roughly 2.2 million based on professional estimates – each person will get £45. 'If fewer people than expected claim, the maximum each person will get is £70… due to a cap that was put in place to avoid people getting disproportionate payouts compared to the alleged loss they suffered. 'If many more people than expected claim, you may only get a few quid. However, this scenario is seen as unlikely based on representative polling and the views of the claims administrator.' Once the Innsworth challenge is resolved, people wishing to claim will be able to do so via the Mastercard Consumer Claim official website. While an exact timeframe for the compensation, which will be administered by legal services firm Epiq, has not been announced, MSE states that once the portal is made available, 'You should have at least a few months to apply using the 'simple online form'.' More Trending Details on what the forms will entail is also yet to be released, but based on previous group legal action, the consumer champion expects it'll involve self-certifying that you meet the criteria by providing personal details like your name, date of birth, and address. You'll likely then be asked to 'attest that the information you've given is true and correct to the best of your knowledge,' with the claims administrator potentially following up with random anti-fraud spot checks. MSE also warned that this scheme could be used by scammers 'as an opportunity to con you out of your money,' so you should beware of adverts, online posts, texts or emails mentioning the claim, and always check the official website before taking any action. Earlier this year, a Mastercard spokesperson welcomed the decision, saying in a statement: 'We will continue to focus on providing consumers and businesses with what they expect from Mastercard – a great payments experience, strong value and peace of mind.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. View More » MORE: Major UK high street bank could be put up for sale MORE: Full list of 55 NatWest branches that will close in another blow to high street MORE: Full list of 10 Santander branches confirmed to be closing this week Your free newsletter guide to the best London has on offer, from drinks deals to restaurant reviews.
1News
3 days ago
- Climate
- 1News
South Auckland storm repairs almost complete
Road damage repairs from extreme weather events almost two years ago is almost complete in south Auckland. In 2023, heavy rain on Auckland's Anniversary Day weekend and Cyclone Gabrielle caused severe flooding, and more than 2000 slips were reported to Auckland Transport on local roads, across the region. In the south, 30 complex slips needed repairing: nine minor (less than $250,000 to repair) and 21 major (more than $250,000 to repair). In a statement, Auckland Transport (AT) said their flood recovery team has repaired 83% of the slips. AT road asset maintenance and renewals general manager Alan Wallace said 25 slips have been fixed, and three more will be repaired in the second half of the year. ADVERTISEMENT These are Ararimu Rd, Cemetery Rd, and East Coast Rd. 'Last month, we completed the repairs to the second slip site on Kemp Road in Āwhitu, and Urquhart Road in Karaka – both substantial slips which closed the road," he said. Wallace said work involved the installation of a soil nail retaining wall and drainage improvements. Work to repair two slips on Kemp Rd began in February; the first involved building a timber retaining wall and repairs to the road surface, he said. The second involved installing a soil nail retaining wall and drainage improvements. Construction to re-establish the connection on Urquhart Rd began in April 2025, and was completed last month. He said work included the installation of new drainage across the road and the construction of a mechanically stabilised earth (MSE) wall to mitigate the slip. ADVERTISEMENT By the end of May 2025, 56% of minor slips, and all but one major slip in the south had been repaired. Only one major slip, Manukau Heads Rd, is still currently under construction. Construction teams have continued work on the general fill of the Manukau Heads site, switching to the use of crushed concrete because of the wet ground conditions. New rock armour on the face of the MSE wall now protects the road from further erosion. AT said the head of the slip has been trimmed back and was ready to be planted. "One of the two large stormwater pipes that will protect the road from flooding in the future has been installed." Since the 2023 weather damage, AT has fixed 1200 small slips across the region, but more than 800 bigger slips have required extensive investigation to inform sustainable and resilient engineering design solutions. ADVERTISEMENT LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
