星空传媒

Lifestyle

    • Americans on TikTok are outraged about European tap water. Here's what's really going on

    Tap water in Europe has become a hot topic on social media over the past year. (SbytovaMN/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource) Tap water in Europe has become a hot topic on social media over the past year. (SbytovaMN/iStockphoto/Getty Images via CNN Newsource)
    Share

    American Helene Sula vividly remembers the first time she discovered tap water was a different ball game in Europe.

    Sula, from Texas, was at a restaurant in Germany. When the server asked for her drink order, Sula requested water.

    鈥淭hey kind of scoffed at me like, 鈥榊ou can get water. But why would you?鈥欌 Sula recalls.

    She remembers glancing around and realizing everyone else in the restaurant was enjoying glasses of wine and pints of beer 鈥 no water to be seen.

    Sula repeated her water order and the server demurred. But, when the water arrived, it wasn鈥檛 the giant glass of free tap water, sloshing with ice, Sula was expecting.

    Instead, she was served a single glass liter bottle of sparkling water, accompanied by a tiny drinking glass and 2 Euro price tag.

    Sula couldn鈥檛 believe it.

    鈥淚n the U.S., you sit down at the table and you鈥檙e given a huge glass of water with ice and it鈥檚 not even a question 鈥 it鈥檚 just plopped on the table. No matter if you鈥檙e at a fancy restaurant or a casual restaurant, you鈥檙e going to get a huge free glass of water,鈥 Sula tells CNN Travel.

    A few years later, when Sula and her husband relocated to Germany 鈥 the couple observed another water-related cultural difference.

    Whenever they went out hiking, biking or walking the city, Sula and her husband would pack large water bottles 鈥 sometimes even CamelBaks, a type of water backpack (鈥淪o we can drink water at every possible moment,鈥 Sula explains).

    Meanwhile their European friends often went without water entirely, holding out until they decamped to a bar that evening 鈥 and even then, they鈥檇 usually opt for wine instead. Sula couldn鈥檛 believe it.

    鈥淚 just figured, maybe Europeans just don鈥檛 get as dehydrated as we do,鈥 says Sula, still audibly baffled after several years living in Europe.

    Understanding European water habits

    If you鈥檙e thinking: 鈥淲ait, this is just one person鈥檚 opinion and it鈥檚 a pretty broad generalization,鈥 you鈥檇 be right. After all, there are many different countries within Europe, each with their own culture, dietary habits, traditions and water-drinking habits.

    And of course the U.S. isn鈥檛 a cultural monolith either. Sure, some Americans take pride in their enormous Stanley cups and undertake water-related daily challenges, but others would always opt for soda if given the choice.

    And while many Americans are conscious of the environmental impact of plastic water bottles, others actively eschew water from the kitchen faucet and keep their fridge stocked with bottled water.

    Nevertheless, Sula isn鈥檛 alone in her observations. U.S. travellers sharing hot takes on European tap water consumption (or lack thereof) has become a bit of a social media trend over the past year or so.

    Take TikTok user br3nnak3ough, who in summer 2023 uploaded a video depicting her friends downing large bottles of water, overlaid with the text: 鈥淯s the moment we can find water because Europeans don鈥檛 believe in water.鈥

    This video been viewed 10.9 million times and attracted 13,800 comments 鈥 both from Americans in agreement (鈥淚 was so dehydrated when I went lol, the heat + lack of ac and water/ice had me dying..鈥) and Europeans vehemently disagreeing (鈥淲hat are you talking about鈥)

    Meanwhile, Rob Murgatroyd, an American living in Italy, recently uploaded a TikTok commenting that the difference between U.S. and Italian water consumption had 鈥渂lown his mind鈥 since moving to Florence.

    鈥淲here I come from, we鈥檙e practically wired to drink water non-stop, as if it鈥檚 our main gig, while here in Italy, spotting someone with a water bottle is like finding a needle in a haystack,鈥 Murgatroyd captioned the video.

    There are TikToks marveling at the size of European water glasses, Instagram Reels chronicling the often ill-fated quest to order a jug of tap water in a European bar and posts on X bemoaning paying for bottled water in restaurants.

    Sula, who chronicles her life abroad on the blog Helene in Between, has weighed in on the great European tap water debate a couple of times 鈥 including at the end of last year:

    鈥淭ap water is not free at (European) restaurants,鈥 Sula asserted in a November 2023 TikTok video. 鈥淎nd if you do get it, it comes in a miniscule glass.鈥

    Plenty of commentators were dismissive: 鈥淚t鈥檚 free. They鈥檝e seen you coming from a mile off,鈥 read one response.

    Others echoed Sula鈥檚 experience, adding that while tap water is usually available 鈥 bottled mineral water or bottled filtered water is more commonplace in many European countries.

    鈥淚 think it鈥檚 a really interesting conversation,鈥 says Sula. 鈥淭he world can feel very small sometimes, because we鈥檙e all online and it鈥檚 such a global society now 鈥 so I think it鈥檚 interesting to have these conversations, to talk about the differences.鈥

    A water expert weighs in

    To get a sense of what鈥檚 really going on beyond just the anecdotal evidence, CNN Travel called up Stavros A. Kavouras, a professor of nutrition at Arizona State University. Kavouras is director of the university鈥檚 Hydration Science Lab, which focuses on the impact of hydration on health and performance.

    Kavouras is also a Greek expat who鈥檚 lived in the U.S. for 20 years, so he鈥檚 pretty well placed to comment on transatlantic culture clashes.

    First off, Kavouras emphasizes the myriad of differences between the countries that comprise the European continent. He highlights, for example, the contrast between 鈥淣orthern European foods versus French, Italian, Greek cuisine, and dietary preferences.鈥

    鈥淚 don鈥檛 like the generalizations,鈥 says Kavouras, who says while it鈥檚 tempting to set up a Europe versus the U.S. dichotomy, it doesn鈥檛 usually stand up.

    Kavouras also points out that Americans who visit Europe (and post about it online) don鈥檛 represent the majority of the U.S. population.

    鈥淚t鈥檚 not the average American,鈥 says Kavouras. 鈥淭he skewed population that you see coming to Europe 鈥 they are people that are more educated, wealthier, higher socioeconomic status鈥︹

    This is relevant, states Kavouras, because there鈥檚 data to suggest Americans of lower socioeconomic status drink less water.

    But after laying down these parameters and qualifications, Kavouras agrees there are some potential differences between the U.S. and Europe when it comes to 鈥渨hat people drink, what people like, and how hydrated they are.鈥

    鈥淔or instance, if you go to Germany and you ask for water, you get sparkling water. That鈥檚 the default,鈥 Kavouras says. 鈥淎nd so if you served tap water in Germany, to every human, people would be like, 鈥極h, I don鈥檛 drink this water.鈥 So why would you do it?鈥

    Kavouras also notes that paying a few euros extra for a liter glass bottle of water at dinner is more accepted in Europe than the U.S. While Americans might be shocked, it鈥檚 something many Europeans wouldn鈥檛 think twice about, says Kavouras.

    He suggests Americans perturbed by the extra cost could look at it as 鈥渢he equivalent of the American tip that you have to pay guaranteed 17 to 25% nowadays in the United States.鈥 (Tipping culture in Europe is quite different 鈥 and usually involves much smaller percentages)

    As for whether Europeans are generally more dehydrated than Americans, Kavouras says it鈥檚 interesting that there鈥檚 a difference between the dietary guidelines for water intake in the U.S. and Europe.

    鈥淚n the United States, the guidelines are 2.7 liters for females, and 3.7 liters per day for men. And in Europe, the equivalent numbers are 2.0 and 2.5,鈥 he says. 鈥淪o these are the guidelines 鈥 it doesn鈥檛 mean this is what people drink 鈥 but this is what is recommended.鈥

    And as for the American TikTokers joking about tap water served in tiny 鈥渟hot glasses鈥 in Europe, Kavouras suggests this could be part of a more general difference between the US and the rest of the world.

    鈥淚 mean, you know the stereotype 鈥 the US does it bigger for everything 鈥 cars, houses, everything is bigger, servings in restaurants鈥tc. I think it might be a little bit of that,鈥 says Kavouras 鈥 adding the same applies for the 鈥渢he water carry containers that Americans carry around.鈥

    Kavouras always finds it amusing when he spots his colleagues coming into work with 鈥渁 tiny barrel of water, like there鈥檚 no water in the building.鈥

    Giant water containers are 鈥渦nnecessary鈥 in Kavouras鈥 opinion. That said, Kavouras advises everyone should find a way to ensure they鈥檙e well-hydrated throughout the day 鈥 whether they鈥檙e working in an American office or walking around a European city.

    鈥淲ater is a critical component of every healthy diet. So being adequately hydrated, it鈥檚 very important, especially in the summer,鈥 he says.

    Advice for Americans

    If you鈥檙e an American traveller heading to Europe this summer and panicking about the water situation, Kavouras advice is to, first off, take all the viral social media posts with a pinch of salt.

    It鈥檚 worth researching the specific destination you鈥檙e heading to, and finding out what鈥檚 the norm there 鈥 rather than assuming every country in Europe is the same. Familiarize yourself with the words used for sparkling, still and tap water in your destination鈥檚 language, so you can make sure to order your preference.

    And if you want to skip bottled water at restaurants, Kavouras suggests staying hydrated by stocking up at a grocery store instead: 鈥淏ottled water is not as expensive if you plan a little bit and buy the water from the supermarket, versus buying it always in restaurants.鈥

    And Kavouras鈥 final piece of advice? Pack a reusable water bottle in your suitcase and carry it with you throughout your vacation 鈥 not only on your travel days.

    鈥淭ap water in most European cities is potable, it鈥檚 safe, and you can drink it,鈥 Kavouras says.

    Many European cities have fountains across the city where people can stop and hydrate. Hotels, cafes and restaurants will usually fill up your bottle for you if you ask.

    鈥淏ring an empty water bottle 鈥 it really doesn鈥檛 have to be a gallon,鈥 says Kavouras. 鈥淛ust bring a normal size water bottle so you can refill it whenever you have a chance."

    CTVNews.ca 星空传媒

    The eight sons of Richard and Sarah Harvie from Gormanville, N.S., are believed to be the most siblings from one family, from either North America or the British Commonwealth, to serve in World War II.

    A 30-year-old northwestern Ontario woman has been charged with arson following a structure fire Thursday night, police say.

    One person is dead after the driver of a pickup truck hit a bench where two people were waiting for the bus in Surrey Saturday afternoon, police have confirmed.

    opinion

    opinion Tips on managing your financial stress

    Financial strain can be an uncomfortable burden to bear, especially if you feel that you're doing as much as you can and are barely managing to stay afloat. Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew shares some tips for managing financial stress and digging your way out of debt.

    A Toronto police officer has been arrested after allegedly stealing three bottles of alcohol from a store.

    Canada

    • One person is dead after the driver of a pickup truck hit a bench where two people were waiting for the bus in Surrey Saturday afternoon, police have confirmed.

    • The federal government is providing $1.2 billion to help build a new hospital complex on the James Bay Coast, easing residents鈥 fears that construction wouldn鈥檛 start this year.

    • The eight sons of Richard and Sarah Harvie from Gormanville, N.S., are believed to be the most siblings from one family, from either North America or the British Commonwealth, to serve in World War II.

    • A massive fire broke out in downtown Langley Saturday morning, destroying a restaurant and forcing several other businesses to close.

    World

    Politics

    Health

    Sci-Tech

    Entertainment

    Business

    Lifestyle

    • Travelling on a budget can be stressful, but there are ways you can ensure you're getting the best deal on flights as the holiday season approaches.

    • A five-seat sushi counter located inside another restaurant is the latest Vancouver eatery to receive a Michelin star.

    Sports

    Autos

    • A Pickering, Ont., student going to college to be a mechanic is shocked the engine in his two-year-old car will not be repaired under warranty after the dealership claimed he had been 'over-revving' the engine.

    Local Spotlight

    Chantal Kreviazuk is set to return to Winnipeg to mark a major milestone in her illustrious musical career.

    From the beaches of Cannes to the bustling streets of New York City, a new film by a trio of Manitoba directors has toured the international film festival circuit to much pomp and circumstance.

    A husband and wife have been on the road trip of a lifetime and have decided to stop in Saskatchewan for the winter.

    The grave of a previously unknown Canadian soldier has been identified as a man from Hayfield, Man. who fought in the First World War.

    A group of classic car enthusiasts donated hundreds of blankets to nursing homes in Nova Scotia.

    Moving into the second week of October, the eastern half of Canada can expect some brisker fall air to break down from the north

    What does New Westminster's t蓹m蓹sew虛tx史 Aquatic and Community Centre have in common with a historic 68,000-seat stadium in Beijing, an NFL stadium and the aquatics venue for the Paris Olympics? They've all been named among the world's most beautiful sports venues for 2024.

    The last living member of the legendary Vancouver Asahi baseball team, Kaye Kaminishi, died on Saturday, Sept. 28, surrounded by family. He was 102 years old.

    New data from Greater Vancouver and the Fraser Valley shows a surge in supply and drop in demand in the region's historically hot real estate market.

    • The calculus of predicting an election and identifying its key battlegrounds is complex enough in any race, but observers of the British Columbia poll this month are facing a pair of unknown quantities that make the math even more confounding.

    • One person is dead after the driver of a pickup truck hit a bench where two people were waiting for the bus in Surrey Saturday afternoon, police have confirmed.

    • A massive fire broke out in downtown Langley Saturday morning, destroying a restaurant and forcing several other businesses to close.

    • The Ontario Science Centre is set to launch two temporary satellite locations in other parts of Toronto, which could let visitors access some of its interactive exhibits while a full interim location remains at least a year away, CTV News has learned.

    • Leo Campana's stoppage-time goal gave Inter Miami a 1-0 win and left Toronto FC's playoff hopes hanging by a thread Saturday.

    • An investigation is underway into a fire and explosion that took place Saturday night in northeast Calgary.

    • Emergency crews are on scene of a multi-vehicle collision along northbound Deerfoot Trail near 17 Avenue Southeast.

    • Nanton RCMP are on scene Sunday morning at a serious single-vehicle crash at the intersection of Highway 533 and Range Road 118.

    • Ontario Provincial Police say a man has died after striking obstacles on the St. Lawrence River while driving a personal watercraft.

    • The annual RBC Race for Kids raised $830,000 in support of a historic redevelopment for eastern Ontario's largest children's hospital.

    • Alexandre Look, a 33-year-old Montreal native, was among the concertgoers who were murdered a year ago Monday at the Supernova music festival during a brutal assault on Israel carried out by Hamas militants. He is among at least eight people, either Canadian citizens or with ties to Canada, who died during the Oct. 7 attacks.

    • Police released the identities of the mother and daughter who were killed after a fire tore through a 160-year-old building in Old Montreal on Friday.

    • Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a pointed reply on Saturday to Quebec Premier Fran莽ois Legault's suggestion that half of the asylum seekers already settled in Quebec should be forcibly moved to other provinces.

    • The Saskatchewan Roughriders have clinched a playoff spot thanks to a win over the Edmonton Elks.

    • Highway 39 near Warburg was closed Saturday after a serious crash involving a motorcycle and a van.

    • An estimated four billion birds will navigate man-made environments as they travel south from North America during fall migration. Tens of million of them will die en route due to human-created hazards.

    • RCMP in Sussex, N.B., are asking the public for help locating a missing 61-year-old woman from Wards Creek, N.B.

    • New Brunswick singer-songwriter David Myles is set to go on tour this November after the release of his new album 鈥淒evil Talking."

    • A broken wastewater pipe has prompted Halifax Water to ask Quinpool area residents to reduce water usage while crews make repairs Sunday.

    • It鈥檚 1998. Google was just born, and dial-up was the primary way to connect to the Internet. New sites were being developed daily on any number of topics, from recipes to shopping. David Yanciw, however, was thinking big - big things, that is.

    • Communities outside of the perimeter aren鈥檛 immune to the housing and affordability struggles seen in Winnipeg.

    • As many as 25,000 employees could hit the picket lines as early as Tuesday morning, making it the second-largest strike in Manitoba鈥檚 history.

    • The Saskatchewan Roughriders have clinched a playoff spot thanks to a win over the Edmonton Elks.

    • Saskatchewan's two major political parties made campaign stops in Moose Jaw Saturday with both promising to invest into the city if elected on Oct. 28.

    • A wind warning was issued for parts of southern Saskatchewan, with gusts of up to 100 kilometres per hour (km/h) possible in some areas on Saturday, Environment and Climate Change Canada says.

    • The Huron Ontario Provincial Police said they responded to a 鈥渄owned airplane鈥 just after 11 a.m. Saturday.

    • Police say they were called to the area of Simcoe Street and Market Street around 1:30 a.m. Saturday for a report of an assault.

    • The Oktoberfest Parade is fast approaching and organizers are urgently seeking volunteers to fill the role of sign carriers.

    • The Saskatchewan Roughriders have clinched a playoff spot thanks to a win over the Edmonton Elks.

    • The Saskatchewan Teachers' Federation hosted a virtual election forum on education Thursday evening, giving candidates in the provincial election a chance to share their thoughts and answer questions on issues teachers find most important.

    • A permanent memorial at the site of the 2018 Humboldt Broncos bus crash is about to be a step closer.

    • NEW

      NEW

      The London Knights continue to get players back from NHL training camps but while the roster takes shape, wins have been tough to come by in the early season.

    • Standardised testing is a great way to see how local students measure up to provincial averages, and following the pandemic, educators had their work cut out for them getting kids back up to speed.

    • OPP are seeking assistance in their search for a 30-year-old man last seen in Orillia.

    • Provincial police are investigating a collision along Highway 400 in Tay Township Friday afternoon.

    • More than a thousand residents attended the Town of Innisfil's inaugural 'InnisFALL' festival on Saturday, which celebrated the spirit of fall with live music and entertainment at Innisfil Town Square.

    • Bubi鈥檚 Awesome Eats, located on University Ave West took to social media to announce the closure on Friday.

    • Currently, County Road 18 is closed between Briton Road, and Rizzo Nicola Drive while police investigate.

    • The calculus of predicting an election and identifying its key battlegrounds is complex enough in any race, but observers of the British Columbia poll this month are facing a pair of unknown quantities that make the math even more confounding.

    • Police on Vancouver Island have made an arrest in the case of a 78-year-old woman found dead in her home almost two years ago.

    • NDP Leader David Eby is promising to offer a $75-million loan forgiveness program to entice doctors, nurses and heath professionals to expand health-care services in rural British Columbia.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • NDP Leader David Eby is promising to offer a $75-million loan forgiveness program to entice doctors, nurses and heath professionals to expand health-care services in rural British Columbia.

    • Three young suspects have been arrested in connection with a swarming attack on a teenager in B.C.'s Okanagan last week 鈥 and authorities have asked the public to stop circulating disturbing videos of the incident.

    • While the summer may be over, construction season in Lethbridge is not.

    • Lethbridge police executed dozens of warrants and laid numerous charges in another targeted enforcement project in the downtown area.

    • A person was airlifted to hospital following a serious crash in Taber, Alta., on Friday morning. Taber RCMP responded to the scene on Highway 864 around 10:30 a.m., for a crash involving an SUV and a semi-truck.

    • A drug raid on a home on the Far North Attawapiskat First Nation last week resulted in two local residents being charged and more than $50,000 in suspected narcotics, including methamphetamine, being seized.

    • The Ontario College of Family Physicians has presented awards to 750 doctors based on comments from patients, including eight physicians who are part of the Group Health Centre in Sault Ste. Marie.

    • Two teens, ages 14 and 19, have been charged with arson in connection with a July 14 fire in Cat Lake First Nation that destroyed $500,000 in construction materials.

    N.L.

    Shopping Trends

    The Shopping Trends team is independent of the journalists at CTV News. We may earn a commission when you use our links to shop.聽Read about us.

    Stay Connected
    Follow CTV News