Via https://unsplash.com/photos/person-wearing-grey-shirt-sitting-beside-table-DZX5brm64yg @whatsthatmeen TikTok/Lee Campbell Unsplash

If you’ve never worked in the service industry, it’s hard to fully understand just how chaotic things can get—especially when you’re juggling big tables, special requests, and multiple drink orders at once.

Most servers are used to rolling with the punches. But sometimes, it’s the little things that wear you down.

One popular TikToker who works in the industry recently vented about one of those things. And the commenters had a lot to say.

The Problem With ‘And Water’ Restaurant Orders, According To The Server

In a video that’s now been viewed over 85,000 times, TikTok creator Gina (@whatsthatmeen) explains why she thinks customers should stop this one thing: ordering an “and water”—as in, “I’ll take a Coke and a water.”

“Stop ordering the ‘and water,’” she implores right off the bat. “Nobody ever, ever, ever drinks the ‘and water.’”

She continues by explaining how tedious this gets when she has to serve a whole group.

“When you take it upon yourself to order ‘and water’ for the entire eight-top—sir, now I have to bring another tray,” Gina says. “Now I need someone to help me.”

And it’s not just adults she calls out.

“These little kids that automatically go, ‘I want a Coke and a water.’ What? No. That’s learned behavior,” she continues. “Young man, you are 6 years old. You do not want an ‘and water.’”

According to Gina, the waters usually goes untouched.

“That water is going to sit there and melt and become one with the table,” she says. “Nobody’s gonna touch it. It’s gonna be forgotten.”

She wraps the video with one final thought.

“It’s just a graveyard of ‘and waters’ across your table. Why do you need the ‘and water’? Nobody drinks the ‘and water,’” she says.

Commenters Overwhelmingly Disagree

In the comments section, a surprising number of people pushed back.

Many insisted they do drink the water—and that it’s a totally normal, reasonable thing to ask for.

“Girl I drink and water,” one person said.

“Every table should be greeted with waters,” another wrote.

“Not true. Always get a drink and a water. Always drink both,” someone added.

Still, fellow servers and bartenders chimed in with their own frustrations.

“When they throw ‘with lemon’ in there… it beyond pisses me off,” one said.

“As a bartender I have zero problem giving out waters, but it irks my soul when they don’t touch it and just let it condensate all over my wood bar top,” another commented.

https://www.tiktok.com/@whatsthatmeen/video/7517345289380924703

Free Tap Water At Restaurants Is A Standard In The U.S., But Not Everywhere Else

For American diners, asking for free tap water at restaurants is the norm. It’s not a legal requirement, but it’s a deeply ingrained custom.

In contrast, that’s not the case everywhere. Across Europe, for instance, you usually have to specifically request water, and even then it’s often bottled and not free.

In countries like Japan or South Korea, on the other hand, it’s common to find a cold pitcher of water and cups already waiting at the table—or to be handed one as soon as you sit down.

So in the U.S., the habit of ordering a main beverage plus a water has become second nature for a lot of people—whether they plan to drink it or not.

It might be a small headache for servers, especially when the water goes untouched. But the habit probably isn’t going anywhere anytime soon.

BroBible reached out to Gina for comment via email.

The post ‘I Always Drink The Water’: Server Says You Should Never Order The ‘And Waters’ At Restaurants. Here’s Why appeared first on BroBible.