Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Anyone else see lots of people buying bottled waters?

259 replies

lovesthosebeeps · 11/08/2021 19:53

Like those 1 or 2 litre multipack bottles?

I've just been to Tesco express (it's tiny) and two separate customers were complaining that there wasn't any big bottles of water about

I thought that was a coincidence, but thinking about it, I keep seeing lots of people in Asda and Aldi doing this too!

I mentioned it to the guy at the till and he said he'd seen an increase for sure, though he wasn't sure why. Last time he saw it was during the first lockdown and they ended up restricting the amount you could buy at once anyway

I know people like bottles water for various reasons, and I have a friend who's DS won't have anything else due to his autism. But surely this is unusual?

OP posts:
Shapesorted · 11/08/2021 21:03

We've just bought a load as we're going camping, maybe lots of similar holidays this year?

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 11/08/2021 21:04

I drink bottled water, because I enjoy cordial with sparkling water. We usually have several bottles. It wouldn’t be the end of the world to put tap water with it though. Lidl had plenty of small and large bottles today.

goose1964 · 11/08/2021 21:04

We need to buy bottled water when my daughter-in-law visits as our water makes her feel ill, otherwise why?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
Zhampagne · 11/08/2021 21:05

Ocado claim that when they temporarily stopped delivering bottled water during the first lockdown in spring 2020 it created the capacity to make six thousand additional deliveries a week. I thought that was staggering.

heidbuttsupper · 11/08/2021 21:05

I buy bottled water in bulk every week. I hate the tap water where I am

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/08/2021 21:06

My husband has drunk bottled water since I met him 33 years ago.
He’s noticed shortages of the kind he likes in the shops for several months now, no idea why.

54321nought · 11/08/2021 21:09

Even if you normally drink tap water, every home should have about 3 days supply of bottled water in storage. That is just common sense. If you have children, it would be negligent not to have.

I dont know why people are buying more now. Home stores do need refreshing regularly, but not necessarily all at once.

Unless the sight of empty shelves is reminding people to refresh their stores

54321nought · 11/08/2021 21:10

@MrsSkylerWhite

My husband has drunk bottled water since I met him 33 years ago. He’s noticed shortages of the kind he likes in the shops for several months now, no idea why.
Environmental vandalism
worriedatthemoment · 11/08/2021 21:13

We buy bottled water weekly normally and I haven't been able to get any for weeks on my shopping delivery

mindutopia · 11/08/2021 21:14

I would imagine it’s due to all the extra people camping at the moment and being unnecessarily anxious about where they’ll find water nearby in the campsite.

We have a cabin and whenever we go (it’s about a 15 minute drive off a road then a 10-15 minute walk from from where we can leave the car). Only water supply is a spring another 10 minutes walk away. Sometimes we take those big 5 litre waters because it’s just easier than going to the spring and hoping there’s water. People who don’t normally camp probably don’t realise water is readily available.

Sparklingbrook · 11/08/2021 21:17

There's a shortage of bottled water on the shelves around here and we are not anywhere remotely touristy and no campsites, anywhere.

I think it's to do with the lorry driver shortage coupled with a bit of panic buying.

Lukki · 11/08/2021 21:17

I buy in bulk from Costco a couple of times a year, I drink brita filter most of the time, but when I really feel like I can't drink bottled water always starts me drinking again. I hate myself for the waste but I need it. I suspect the recent stuff might be to do with camping there seems to be a lot more people camping/campervans this year for the holidays

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 11/08/2021 21:18

I buy it sometimes in the summer for freezing and taking out with me.

HalzTangz · 11/08/2021 21:18

@lovesthosebeeps

Like those 1 or 2 litre multipack bottles?

I've just been to Tesco express (it's tiny) and two separate customers were complaining that there wasn't any big bottles of water about

I thought that was a coincidence, but thinking about it, I keep seeing lots of people in Asda and Aldi doing this too!

I mentioned it to the guy at the till and he said he'd seen an increase for sure, though he wasn't sure why. Last time he saw it was during the first lockdown and they ended up restricting the amount you could buy at once anyway

I know people like bottles water for various reasons, and I have a friend who's DS won't have anything else due to his autism. But surely this is unusual?

This isn't unusual in my house. I buy the 1.5ltr multipacks. I drink a bottle a day, my daughter (22) drinks a bottle a day, my partner a bottle every two days (he also drinks Coke zero 1 ltr daily) so buy that in multipacks too.
WingingItSince1973 · 11/08/2021 21:22

I've noticed this too. Maybe preparing for the next heatwave we are supposed to be getting?

Mojoj · 11/08/2021 21:25

Not here. In Scotland. Our water's smashingSmile

HelpingJane · 11/08/2021 21:31

every home should have about 3 days supply of bottled water in storage. That is just common sense. If you have children, it would be negligent not to have.

Why? I've never known anyone to do this. We have had water issues before (burst pipe etc) and we just went and bought some water.

It was fine Smile

Echobelly · 11/08/2021 21:33

I saw a load at Aldi the other day. Every time we go to Costco, big packs of small water bottles are the main thing we see being bought - never really got why.

dementedpixie · 11/08/2021 21:34

@54321nought

Even if you normally drink tap water, every home should have about 3 days supply of bottled water in storage. That is just common sense. If you have children, it would be negligent not to have.

I dont know why people are buying more now. Home stores do need refreshing regularly, but not necessarily all at once.

Unless the sight of empty shelves is reminding people to refresh their stores

Your idea of negligent is not the same as mine!
museumum · 11/08/2021 21:35

We bought some recently for camping as the tap water was awful. Tasted of chlorine.

dementedpixie · 11/08/2021 21:35

@Mojoj

Not here. In Scotland. Our water's smashingSmile
I'm in Scotland and there's been a shortage of bottled water in supermarkets near me. I dont often buy it
Sparklingbrook · 11/08/2021 21:36

@HelpingJane

every home should have about 3 days supply of bottled water in storage. That is just common sense. If you have children, it would be negligent not to have.

Why? I've never known anyone to do this. We have had water issues before (burst pipe etc) and we just went and bought some water.

It was fine Smile

I agree. I have never kept 3 day's supply of water in the house (how much would that even be? Are we talking drinking/washing?).

I don't live anywhere in danger of a tornado, earthquake or imminent war breaking out or anything.
In the unlikely event of the taps running dry, I'd go and get some from the shop or a relative/friend.

Lovelydovey · 11/08/2021 21:39

We don’t normally buy it but did buy some earlier in the week for our road trip round the country - large bottles to refill our reusable bottles for in the car and hotel rooms.

MrsSkylerWhite · 11/08/2021 21:42

54321nought

MrsSkylerWhite
My husband has drunk bottled water since I met him 33 years ago.
He’s noticed shortages of the kind he likes in the shops for several months now, no idea why.

“Environmental vandalism”

Huh? Confused

DeathByWalkies · 11/08/2021 21:43

There are well documented shortages of lorry drivers for various reasons - Brexit being a big one.

Given that people have a perfectly good alternative source of water known as a tap, I think they're very wise to prioritise stocking pasta and loo roll over bottled water.