Why Do American’s Drink So Much Bottled Water?
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When I was a kid, bottled water didn’t exist. We drank from a faucet. Then the French said “American’s are so stupid, they would pay for bottled water!” and Evian was born. I joke, but American’s drink more water than coffee, milk or beer. Why do we pay $1.00 for 12 ounces of something we can get almost free? Is it the taste? Do we really believe it’s more pure?
I believe it’s something else. Convenience! It’s much easier for people to just grab a bottle out of the cooler than it is to spend time pouring water into a glass. We also like how cold the water is. Bottled water just seems to be chilled better than it is if it’s coming out of the faucet.
I believe I have a solid solution. Save the bottles that you use. When you aren’t feeling lazy, get the energy to fill the bottles up with water from your faucet or filtered water pitcher. Then put them in the fridge for convenience. Then grab one on your way out the door. I swear you won’t be able to tell the difference. I am saving tons of money as well as the environment by doing this.
6 Comments
Matt
May 29th, 2008
at 6:07am
In my house we use the same bottles. We have a filter on the fridge and we just fill them up and freeze em over night.
My family isn’t environmental, just cheap
More on Bottled Water ~ Thinking Outside The Cubicle
May 29th, 2008
at 8:22am
[...] in October, so I’d like to bump the attention back to the top once more. I also appreciate OzTech taking a look at the subject this morning as [...]
Tony
May 29th, 2008
at 6:35pm
I heard somewhere that re-filling drink bottles can be dangerous to your health. Can’t remember exactly why…something to do with the trace elements in the plastic manufacturing process bleeding/leaching into your drinks. Be careful!
Michael Palecek
May 30th, 2008
at 5:41am
The problem with reusing bottles is that the plastic is made to decompose. It is an environmental feature built in so the bottles do not sit in landfills for hundreds of years. But it also means that the plastics begin to breakdown very quickly.
Jeff
May 30th, 2008
at 8:50am
At the International Bottled Water Association, we appreciate your honest look at the industry. The bottom line on bottled water is convenience and choice, just as you have said. Bans and regulations, currently cropping up in cities across the U.S., are the result of politicians scrambling for answers to what is a more comprehensive, complicated problem than simply bottled water. Unfortunately, such regulations are misguided attempts to combat the problem of global warming, climate change or landfill reduction.
Thanks again for the post. Please visit our site, BottledWaterMatters.com, for more information.
oztech
May 30th, 2008
at 10:04am
Yeah, I don’t agree with the taxes the government puts on the bottled water like they did in Chicago. People are gonna buy bottled water period, regardless of whether it’s 10 cents extra or not. I buy bottled water when I’m out, and I grab one on the go. I’m not totally against bottled water. I just think that when people are home, they can drink from the faucet instead of being wasteful and reaching for that bottle.