Some laws in Alberta can be a bit nuanced and need to be read carefully, as they contain caveats. This is one of those laws.
Are restaurants legally obligated to give you free water in Alberta?
The answer is no, a restaurant in Alberta does not legally have to give you free water.
They do not have to provide water, and if they do, they are allowed to charge for it.
However, if the restaurant is a licensed establishment (they serve alcohol), they are legally obligated to provide a non-alcoholic beverage as an option, but they still do not have to provide it for free.
In Summary
- A restaurant that does not serve alcohol: Does not have to provide water, and if they do provide water, they may charge money for it.
- A restaurant or other establishment that serves alcohol: Must provide a non-alcoholic beverage option (does not have to be water), and can charge for it if they choose to.
In either instance, there is no legal obligation in Alberta to provide free water.
For reference: The full Alberta Liquor licensing handbook PDF can be found here
