Global Campaigns News

UK: Bottled water market in crisis?

Talking Retail. By Sara Peason -
Have I missed the sales figures or are they somehow being carefully hidden from view? Exactly what is the impact on the bottled water industry now the trickle has turned into a torrent of requests: “a jug of tap will do just fine”.

It is ironic that almost by the same speed bottled water took hold, so its stranglehold on our wallets and consciences is diminishing equally as swiftly. How did the collective con of feeling the need to buy bottled water come about – was it just a modern version of the Emperor’s New Clothes fairy tale?

Like a virus it is now almost shameful to be seen to order water when all you want is some of the wet stuff to accompany a meal in a restaurant. Very quickly restaurant managers have accepted the inevitable although there is still a lot to be desired in way in which it is served. Plastic jugs and slightly opaque arty vases do not show off good old tap as well as they might.

But I think that restaurants have missed a trick. So many people like me are only now waking up to the painful truth we have wasted a considerable amount of money over the years on this unnecessary purchase.

Couple this with the underlying guilt many of us feels at how iniquitous our extravagance has been in direct comparison to those who have neither the access nor the financial might to have the same choices.

I for one would be prepared to make some sort of repatriation by donating 50p or £1 for the privilege of choosing tap water and for the money raised to be donated to those in far away lands where no such privilege exists.