Yes, for a safe anesthesia process, you must be strictly fasting (no food, no water) before the surgery.
Must Be Completely Stopped
From 8 hours before your surgery, you should not eat or drink anything, including water.
Why Is It Mandatory?
Since stomach muscles relax under general anesthesia, entering surgery on a full stomach carries the risk of food and fluids escaping into your respiratory tract (lungs). Because this creates a vital risk, this rule is absolutely uncompromising.
Exception: If there is medication given or approved by your doctor to take in the morning (e.g., blood pressure medication), you can take it with only a tiny sip of water.