What is the consequence of ordering water in a German restaurant without specifying 'still'?
Answer
The order will almost certainly result in carbonated water arriving at the table
The strong cultural entrenchment of sparkling water as the default refreshment means that ordering conventions reflect this expectation. If a patron in a restaurant requests only a glass of water without explicitly adding the qualifier 'still' (to request uncarbonated water), the near-certain outcome is that the server will deliver carbonated water, commonly referred to as *Sprudel*. This practice confirms that, in the standard dining setting, effervescence is the expected baseline condition for water service, reinforcing the notion that bottled, carbonated water is the established norm unless explicitly countermanded by the customer.
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