The bar in the Bernese Oberland annoys the guests: 8 francs for a liter of tap water!

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Blick Reader reporter Beatrice T.* (38) is upset. She ordered tap water for herself and her family to dine at the Allmendhubel restaurant in Mürren BE over the weekend. The price of the jug: 8 francs. The tap water on the bill was called “Mürrenwasser”.

“This price has not been announced and is too high,” said Zurich Oberlander angrily. He was willing to pay for tap water, as is customary elsewhere. “But if we had known it was 8 francs, we would have ordered something else.”

Investment increases the price

Christoph Egger (53), manager of Schilthornbahn AG, which runs the Allmendhubel and other on-site restaurants, confirms the price when asked by Blick. This is mandatory in all restaurants of the company.

Egger explains: “The tap water doesn’t just flow out of the faucet. The municipal water supply only feeds the village of Mürren.» At around 3,000 meters above sea level, companies have to transport every liter of drinking water in tanks by cable car from Mürren. “This takes up to two hours a day during the season,” explains Egger. is doing.

This summer Schilthornbahn AG is building three kilometers of pipelines and reservoirs for three million francs to directly supply drinking water to companies. The project is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2023. “This eliminates daily commutes and overtime for our employees,” concludes Egger. Price “It’s definitely on our menus for 7-8 years”.

labeling issue

In this context, the industry association Gastrosuisse states that guests should be “clearly informed” about the possible price of tap water and that this should be stated transparently on the menu. In addition, tap water must be clearly distinguishable for the guest from mineral and spring water.

This does not seem to be the case for the artificial term «Mürrenwasser». “Mürrenwasser is not a brand,” admits Egger. However, the water is filled into reusable bottles marked “Schilthorn-Piz Gloria”. Mürrenwasser is right next to Valserwasser on the drinks menu. For Beatrice T., it was not clear that it was tap water.

Mürrenwasser is available here for free

Swiss catering companies are free for tap water, except in Ticino, where tap water must be provided free of charge with the meal, according to the canton’s hospitality law. The price of tap water is primarily determined by the service fee. This justifies the higher prices in the mountains and, in the case of Schilthornbahn, the higher prices at its restaurants in Mürren. But 8 francs a liter?

“Mürrenwasser” is also available free of charge in the village. For example at Hotel Regina. “Water is an essential element in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, as the name of the valley suggests,” Chairman Peter Vollmer (77) tells Blick. That’s why there’s a free “Mirrenwasser” (that’s what it’s called there) on the dining tables and in the rooms, and it’s especially appreciated by families.

But Regina has other purchasing costs: the source of the Murren water is just 100 meters from the hotel.

*Name known to editors

Source :Blick