From Our Petition:

“This would be easy legislation that could impact the health of many people, and reduce hospitalizations” – Jessica G.

“It’s nonsensical to charge money for tap water. And our tap water is some of the best in the world!” – Irvin A.

“Its a safety issue.” – Bennett W.

“I hope establishments not providing free tap water get their liquor license revoked.” – Reuben M.

“Supporting this so that all states in the US can follow suit. It’s criminal that you have to pay for water when having a good time. Our money is being gauged at all level while going out, so having free water would be nice.” – Kevin V.

“Profit over public safety is unacceptable, and this is the easiest way to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations from dehydration, etc.” – Julia P.

“Hydrate or diedrate” – Skyler B.

“I live in NYC and perform at venues around the city as a drummer in a couple of rock bands. Accessible water is a serious safety issue, not just about fan experience. And a water station requirement wouldn’t impose a financial burden on bars, nightlife venues, or large events. NYC tap water that costs less than one cent per gallon. Paper cups cost less than five cents each. Please deliver this petition to all council members — let’s make this happen!” Alex T.

“I’m an EDM fan and work in public health, so I know very well how important accessible and free water sources are! Water keeps people hydrated and diminishes the harmful effects of heat and alcohol, allowing people to stay safer and more comfortable during a night out. Water stations would also free up bartenders from having to provide water, so they can focus on serving actual drinks to bring in revenue for venues and reduce wait times for patrons. It’s a win-win for everyone!” Alicia J.

Reddit Response to EDM.com Story “NYC Nightlife Could Soon Be Required to Offer Free Water Stations”

“This is such an incredibly good idea. Wild that it doesn’t already exist as a requirement.”

“Other states do this!”

“Can’t believe this isn’t already a law. The last time I was at Pier 17 for a sold out concert on a 95 degree summer day and there were at least 7 people who passed out from heat. $13 water bottles with the audacity to ask for a tip.”

“Matter of fact, make it a nationwide mandate!”

“The chance of getting water is sllllim. Asking for water is like asking for gold. I already paid for something, just turn on the tap and I’ll drink it like a dog if I have to.”

“Solid proposal. All these clubs know a large chunk of their clientele is engaging in an activity which causes them to physically exert themselves and sweat, sometimes for hours on-end. Providing a few water fountains should be the bare minimum.”

“y’all go to clubs that don’t have free water??”

“Free water should be required at every food and beverage establishment in the city, state and across the country. Common sense, negligible cost and a safety precaution”

“Everytime NYC does something that is normal in California, I get so confused. As a Californian that moved to Brooklyn, the city feels… behind the times in a lot of spaces. This is an excellent measure and should definitely pass — let’s stop being naive when it comes to club and festival culture…”

“I’m surprised that places don’t do this, if only so bartenders don’t have to deal with it. I worked at a high-volume bar in college, and we had pitchers of water at the corners because not having to pour it for people saved us an incredible amount of time.”

“Friggin good. Every venue everywhere should have free water available. It is extremely easy to do, costs the venue virtually nothing and it is highly irresponsible for them to not make water available. The fact that some places charge $6-$9 for water is just unconscionable. I’ve Even been to places with bathroom.attendants that ensure that you won’t refill your purchased water bottle with the sink water.”

“This former Dancesafe officer wholeheartedly approves. Been recommending this to anyone who would listen for over 25 years.”

“In Australia I’ve never been to a bar/rave/nightclub where the water wasn’t free and readily available. Quite surprised to learn that’s not the case world wide.”

“It’s about damn time. $7+ for one bottle is just absurd.”

“It’s actually unhinged that this wasn’t required before”

“I’d assert the community is willing to pay a nominal price increase for a ticket if it meant water was freely available and accessible for all.”

Reddit Response to Guardian.com Article: Partygoers are pushing for clubs to offer free water: ‘It costs as much as a beer’

“I’m a lawyer in the NYC area and did a deep dive once. Shocked to learn that providing water in a public business setting often comes down to local (not even state) regulations, and NYC has no requirement to provide free water at a bar or restaurant…. Which seems fucking wild to me, considering a bar needs to have a running tap hookup and NYC probably has the best tap water in the country.

“I have been to multiple clubs in NY that only have bottled water as an option that you must pay for. Bar should be legally required to give you a free cup of water if you ask, when I asked got told “bottled water only”

“The fact that there’s still clubs that won’t just give you a glass of tap water is insane to me. Let people be responsible and hydrate”

“anywhere that serves alcohol should be legally required to provide free water tbh”

“It’s law here in Australia. I couldn’t imagine a club/bar without a whole massive free water area. Even raves under bridges or in warehouses are sure to have a tap/sink, pump, or barrels of water.”

“In Texas they had to start offering free water especially during the summer since the heat was causing people to pass out.”

“All of the good venues in NYC have free water – Nowadays, Mansions, Bossa, etc. Every good DIY party I’ve been to has a water station. The ones without free water are generally the very basic, shitty venues you wouldn’t want to go to anyway. Interestingly the photos in this article are from venues with free water stations.”

“If the venue doesn’t have free water that’s a good sign that they don’t care about their patrons and should encourage you to search for better. There are a lot of great venues that care about the crowd experience in NYC.”

“I couldn’t imagine being anywhere in DC or Baltimore and not have water provided at no cost at the bars and clubs. People just wouldn’t go to those establishments and they’d go out of business fast.”

“Most NYC venues have been to, any of the bartenders will give you a glass of water no problem. But there are some where that is not the case, and ive seen it happen in overcrowded af venues and that is absolutely despicable.”

“The most common bad situation i’ve seen though is: no easily accessible water fountain, everyone crowds at the bar, and wait time at the bar ends up being like 30mins. Of course I would caution anyone in this situation to go straight ot the bathroom and drink up from the tap and fill a bottle there. but it absolutely is an extremely dangerous situation especially for people who are too fucked up to figure this out”

“Actually in favor of this, water shouldn’t be the same cost as a beer, tf?”

“You have to pay for water? That’s insane. Every bar has lots of glasses and taps. I’ve never paid in my life.”

“It’s a law in places like Portland, Oregon to provide free water at venues and clubs. I still am shocked when I go to shows in other parts of the country (including when I went to NYC this year) and I’m realizing I need to hold on to my empty alcohol cup to get restroom sink water – which in turn is almost always hot as to discourage people to do so. It should be as easy as walking to a water keg/tap and grabbing a small cup there.”

“I don’t live in America. By law anywhere that sells alcohol in my country has to also provide free tap water.”

“New Zealand used to have a problem with this, specifically in stadiums where bars would sell water. They’d go so far as to only have hot water taps in the bathrooms so that people couldn’t fill their used beer cups from the taps and skip the $6 price.”

“As MDMA became more popular and summer festivals got bigger, there were more instances of severe dehydration, heat stroke, and alcohol-related issues and the law was changed. Now, as a condition of holding a liquor licence, any establishment which provides alcohol must also have free water available to any patrons.”

“The secondary benefit to this is that to implement this at large concerts and festivals, most large venues have a water station separate to the bar, which hugely improves traffic flow since people wanting water aren’t queuing at the bar, and makes people drink more water since water towers are often more centrally located (a tower connected to 10 taps via a hose can be placed anywhere, a staffed bar can’t). Most nightclubs now have a filtered tap off to the side of the bar so that anyone wanting water again skips the line to the bar.”

“I can’t imagine that there has been any downside to this policy for anyone. Fewer problems with patrons, shorter lines at the bar for the more expensive drinks, fewer news stories about injuries and drunken issues, all for the incredibly small cost of installing a tap or building a makeshift water tower. At most festivals, Red Bull jumps at the opportunity to sponsor the water tower and cover it in branding and provide Red Bull branded compostable cups, so it probably makes money for the event. It seems like a kind of policy that has had literally no political tradeoff or downside to it.”

“Never been to a club that didn’t have water.  Thats actually nuts to me. Seattle takes care of their people”

“Water from the gun to a cup should be free AT EVERY VENUE. From a strictly harm reduction standpoint they’re creating a dangerous environment for patrons by not offering an option to water. I get charging for a bottle of water, but in no scenario should a bottle cost more than $5.”

“This should be standard at every venue, bar, club, party. Period.”

“I honestly can’t believe there isn’t already a law requiring free tap water to be available. We do have that requirement for restaurants and it makes sense in this setting too.”

“All establishments that serve alcohol should be required to provide free water”

“Where I live it’s a legal requirement to provide water if you sell liquor in a bar for free as well as have washrooms on site.”

“I assumed this was standard. I mean just from a business perspective it seems like a crazy liability to have people passing out from dehydration.”

“Even my fraternity was required to have food and water available at any of our bars that served liquor at a party. It was usually just a loaf of off brand wonder bread, but we did comply with that.”

“I visit San Diego frequently and I love that just about every bar has an ice water dispenser.”

“Which makes complete sense. If you are business in a first world country, the bare minimum you should do is offer free tap water and a bathroom. Especially if your establishment sells alcohol.”

“In many states any place that serves alcohol must serve free water.”

“I went to a music festival with a friend who made her dump her water claiming it was due to liquor board regulations. She mentioned regulations also stated they had to give free water and threatened to contact the liquor board if she didn’t get free water. We were given free water bottles other people we’re paying for the entire time.”