WE SHOULD STOP DRINKING BOTTLED WATER

The US is by far the largest consumer of bottled water, and despite sales dropping this year so far sales in 2008 topped 8.6 billion gallons. Should we stop drinking bottled water?

We should stop drinking bottled water

Yes, because... The Damage To The Environment

 

The bottles themselves are a major damage to the Environment. Using a lot of plastic or even glass in some cases, a lot of it being thrown in general waste bins, and not being recycled does a lot of damage to the environment.

The water also as a lot of product mileage with some of the bottles being transported from the other side of the world, for example Evian being shipped from France to America, with the bottle potentially being produced in the States anyway.

 

Although the bottles damage the enviroment, most people make an effort to recycle bottles wherever possible! Bottles are also being thinned so less plastic is used in the production of bottles, Between 2000 and 2007 there was a 26% decline in the amount of plastic used[1]

  1. ^ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bottled_water#Waste

 

Vote on this point: The Damage To The Environment

Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No

We should stop drinking bottled water

Yes, because... What Is The Point?

 

In countries like the U.K, the Republic of Ireland and the US, what is the point? The tap water is perfectly safe and has less metal content and in some cases being purer.

A lot of bottled water is in fact filtered tap water. A high profile case of a Coca-Cola branded bottled water proving this. Dasani was actually purified tap water.[1]

  1. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3550063.stm

 

Bottled water is useful when there isn't a readily available tap like on a long train journey or when hiking. People rarely use it as an alternative to tap water in everyday life.

 

Vote on this point: What Is The Point?

Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No

We should stop drinking bottled water

Yes, because... waste of bottles

 

if we refill our bottles with tap water we will help save the enviroment

 
 

We should stop drinking bottled water

 

No, because... The Taste and Potential Health Benefits

Studies also show that if water sits in plastic bottles for an extended period of time, carcinogens can seep into the water from the plastic.

 

Although it is not the case for all bottled water, the majority is sourced from springs, or naturally filtered environments, and therefore in a lot of people's opinions tastes much nicer, with a distinct taste! In some cases vitamins and minerals are added into the water meaning there are potential health benefits involved with drinking bottled water.

 

Vote on this point: The Taste and Potential Health Benefits

Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No

We should stop drinking bottled water

 

No, because... The Potential For People To Lose Their Jobs

A job isn't a charity donation. What about all the poor people who relied on keeping Auschwitz open for a living? Exactly.

 

A lot of people prefer to buy bottled water and in doing so are keeping people in jobs. The bottled water industry is a multi million pound industry. Why should we stop drinking bottled water and put these people out of a job?

 

Vote on this point: The Potential For People To Lose Their Jobs

Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No

Vote on this debate: We should stop drinking bottled water

Absolutely Yes
Strongly Yes
Mostly Yes
Partially Yes
Neutral
Partially No
Mostly No
Strongly No
Absolutely No