Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

blogs.wsj.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

81–90 of 143 posts

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#81

Post by HelloMcFly »

nilkn wrote: post #50
semi-extrinsic wrote: post #6

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apart from signalling that you have too much money and don't give a crap about the environment, why would anyone drinking just water buy bottled water every day instead of a Camelbak or Nalgene or Bobble bottle once a decade, and then drink tap water? Or even a Bkr if you're very fashion conscious? Is US water quality really that bad? Edit: and if you need sparkling water, why not get a Sodastream or equivalent?

La Croix is sparkling water with very subtle natural flavoring. As for Sodastream, I've seen lots of folks say that they did the math and found that it wasn't any cheaper in the long run -- or was just barely so -- once you take the cost of the CO2 into account. There are still environmental reasons to get a Sodastream, of course. But if it's not any cheaper and requires learning to use a new contraption and making s…

I had a Sodastream, but I just didn't like it as much a La Croix. The cost difference isn't large either (I pay about $6.75 for a case of 24 La Croix at Costco). The biggest decider for me is simply counter space. The Sodastream crowds my counter, and I don't have a convenient place for it in the cupboards.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#82

Post by Practicality »

AlexandrB wrote: post #26
Practicality wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable" You pretty much explained why many of us drink bottled water, since our supply is not reasonable. :)

> You pretty much explained why many of us drink bottled water, since our supply is not reasonable. :) Citation needed. Some choice quotes from Wikipedia[1]: 'The Environmental Protection Agency regulations for tap water are "actually stricter than the Food and Drug Administration regulations for bottled water."' 'A study of drinking water in Cincinnati, Ohio, discovered that bacterial counts in bottled water were of…

Ok. While I am not going to give out my city, their water report says that their average chlorine level is 0.5 mg/L. The bottled water I drink has a full water report that simply says "not detected" for chlorine.

Perhaps I am just "sensitive" but something in the tap water gives me headaches.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#83

Post by tbabb »

Practicality wrote: post #82
AlexandrB wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You pretty much explained why many of us drink bottled water, since our supply is not reasonable. :) Citation needed. Some choice quotes from Wikipedia[1]: 'The Environmental Protection Agency regulations for tap water are "actually stricter than the Food and Drug Administration regulations for bottled water."' 'A study of drinking water in Cincinnati, Ohio, discovered that bacterial counts in bottled water were of…

Ok. While I am not going to give out my city, their water report says that their average chlorine level is 0.5 mg/L. The bottled water I drink has a full water report that simply says "not detected" for chlorine. Perhaps I am just "sensitive" but something in the tap water gives me headaches.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nocebo

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#84

Post by bluedino »

evan_ wrote: post #40
bluedino wrote: post #8

Restaurants have to be mad about this.

Most nicer restaurants will offer you bottled water if you ask for water. Sometimes they won't even offer tap and you have to specifically request it, and the waiter will roll their eyes at you. (I've only seen that once, but still)

It would have to be a pretty fancy place in the US to offer fancy water, that they charge for by the bottle. But most of your places will give you water for free, and the waiter will roll his/her eyes because at $2.50 a person, a table of four that only gets water just knocked $10 off their bill and 2-3 dollars off the tip.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#85

Post by wnevets »

hannob wrote: post #9

Good news. Now they should switch to tap water and it'll also be a win for the environment. (To anticipate answers: Yes, I know, in the US water often contains large amounts of chlorine and doesn't taste that good. And in poorer countries tap water is often undrinkable. But there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable, which is true for large parts of europe at least.)

the beverage industry has done a great job marketing the idea that the US water supply isnt clean, at a 1000% markup of course.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#86

Post by camiller »

firebird84 wrote: post #47
hannob wrote: post #9

Good news. Now they should switch to tap water and it'll also be a win for the environment. (To anticipate answers: Yes, I know, in the US water often contains large amounts of chlorine and doesn't taste that good. And in poorer countries tap water is often undrinkable. But there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable, which is true for large parts of europe at least.)

In the US if taste is your problem put a filter on it. If you don't live in Flint, MI, this should be good enough.

My tap water (Omaha, NE) is ok for most things including drinking, although in the spring the chlorine content goes way up. For drinking, my wife likes the pur filter in the fridge, but I use a special hot filtration process to improve the flavor.

For making beer, I will typically use RO water purchased from the grocery in 5 gallon refillable jugs and build back the mineral profile I want for the particular beer style I'm brewing that day.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#87

Post by webkike »

usaphp wrote: post #64
Naritai wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Drinkable" and "Tastes like the water tasted where I grew up" are very different things. There is not one flavor of water any more than there is one shade of white. There's no evidence that the water OP refers to is actually not drinkable.

To be exact - It smells like water from a swamp. Hard to satisfy your thirst by drinking that nasty smell

If your water is literally smelly than it is either something wrong with your pipes or psychosomatic. I can't imagine that the entire city of San Diego is distributing water that has an odor. I have never had this problem in San Diego. I would suggest calling the city if this is truly a problem.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#88

Post by maxxxxx »

usaphp wrote: post #27
hannob wrote: post #9

Good news. Now they should switch to tap water and it'll also be a win for the environment. (To anticipate answers: Yes, I know, in the US water often contains large amounts of chlorine and doesn't taste that good. And in poorer countries tap water is often undrinkable. But there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable, which is true for large parts of europe at least.)

I recently moved to San Diego from New York, the tap water here is unbearable to drink, it tasted horrible, like you are drinking mold, filters don't help that much, still tastes horrible. I won't drink that, never mind giving it to my kids

In LA the water often tastes bad. I use a Brita filter which makes thing a little better but it still isn't great.

I miss the water in Munich...

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#89

Post by tbabb »

usaphp wrote: post #27
hannob wrote: post #9

Good news. Now they should switch to tap water and it'll also be a win for the environment. (To anticipate answers: Yes, I know, in the US water often contains large amounts of chlorine and doesn't taste that good. And in poorer countries tap water is often undrinkable. But there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable, which is true for large parts of europe at least.)

I recently moved to San Diego from New York, the tap water here is unbearable to drink, it tasted horrible, like you are drinking mold, filters don't help that much, still tastes horrible. I won't drink that, never mind giving it to my kids

If "funny tasting water" upsets you, then sugary drinks-- which kill thousands of people through obesity-- should scare the daylights out of you.

Re: Consumers are switching to water as they avoid sugary beverages

#90

Post by joesmo »

hannob wrote: post #9

Good news. Now they should switch to tap water and it'll also be a win for the environment. (To anticipate answers: Yes, I know, in the US water often contains large amounts of chlorine and doesn't taste that good. And in poorer countries tap water is often undrinkable. But there's no good reason to buy bottled water if your water supply is reasonable, which is true for large parts of europe at least.)

How can one know if the water is reasonable in the US? We certainly cannot trust the local governments tasked with this job. Recent events in Flint and hundreds of other places in the US show that, if you can afford it, bottled water is at least safe compared to the local tap water (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/01/19/erin-brocko...). I guess it's either that or get out the science kits every day and test your own water. Which I'm sure takes a lot more time and money than buying bottled. Basically, drinking tap water in the US is a huge gamble and it's not worth it. You don't have to leave the country to get third world water. It's everywhere here. Then again, much of the US is third world if you judge by such criteria as clean water and healthcare access.
Post reply on HN