KUWAIT CITY, Sept 17: The Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of State for Youth Affairs, Muhammad Al-Aiban, issued a ministerial decision obligating restaurants and cafes to provide filtered water for free to customers if they request it, and not to force them to buy bottled water when ordering food or meals, reports Al-Qabas daily. The decision also obliges all restaurants and cafés to install a special filter for the water provided to the consumer, in accordance with the requirements put in place by the official authorities regarding water quality and filter installation. The following is the text of the decision:

-- Article One: Restaurants and cafés may not force the consumer to buy bottled (mineral) water when ordering any type of food or dietary meals.

-- Article Two: Restaurants and cafés must provide the consumer – upon request – water supplied by the Ministry of Electricity and Water to the restaurant or café.

-- Article Three: The restaurant and café are obligated to install a special filter for the water provided to the consumer, in accordance with the requirements of the official authorities regarding water quality and filter installation.

-- Article Four: Every provision that conflicts with the provisions of this decision shall be repealed.

-- Article Five: All officials – each within his jurisdiction – must implement this decision and it will come into effect from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette.