The Tap water crisis for pubs

It’s got nothing to do with the current hot weather though, in fact it’s not a lack of water that’s the problem, rather an excess of it.

Did you know that it is estimated a third of soft drinks consumed in the on-trade consist of tap water? Even more worrying that figure is on the rise, which means you are set to give away more and more free drinks.

There are a number of reasons why ordering a glass - or indeed a jug - of tap water has become acceptable these days in the way it wasn’t a decade ago (and the recession is a key one), but whatever the catalyst was, it is clear something needs to be done to address the situation now.

Significantly, soft drink companies need to accept that whatever they are offering, it’s not what consumers want any more.

It is worth pointing out here, that clearly there are brand owners out there trying to address this problem but publicans need to play their part too.

The on-trade has to get behind new and exciting propositions, we need to start promoting soft drinks in venues properly and we need to deliver a non-alcoholic drink with the same love, care and attention that goes into a good cocktail or pink of cask ale.

I realise no one gets into this game for a love of lemonade but if you don’t start looking after soft drinks your profits will be going down the drain as well as the tap water.