'They don't serve you enough water in Europe': Americans develop strange belief that Europe 'makes you dehydrated'

JR Atkinson • Writer and Editor

Apr 12, 2024 8:00 PM EDT

Americans are obsessed with water. Between Stanley cups, and bottle filling stations, to that bottle that holds scent cartridges that make your water smell good… we're always getting nifty with our H20. And for good reason! Water is essential to not only survive but thrive. But does that apply when we're abroad? Apparently not, according to a vocal few on the website formerly known as Twitter.

As an American who has spent long chunks of time in Europe, I will say I relate. At every restaurant, cafe, and pal's house, people will bring you buckets and buckets of free agua. But across the pond, things seem a little more scarce. There's wine and espresso aplenty, but a tall glass of water… you have to seek it out. It doesn't immediately find you like it does in the States. But is that true, or is it just another American delusion? Commenters had a lot to say about it.