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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:
buckeejit · 11/08/2021 21:45

I'm amazed how many people regularly buy bottled water when we have drinkable tap water . Why wouldn't you just buy a filter if it tastes bad? I feel pretty guilty about the environmental impact on the rare occasion i but bottled water.

tarnishehalo · 11/08/2021 21:45

@OldTinHat

Yep, I always buy 2ltr bottles of water. LOTS of them. Tap water where I live is like drinking a mashed up chalk. I've bought them since I was 12 and now I'm on the cusp of 50 🥳
Me too, our tap water tastes of Dettol, I like Buxton's Still 🙂
NordicBerry · 11/08/2021 21:47

There are difficulties with deliveries at the moment. Bottled water is low value and bulky. Off course shops will prioritize other items.

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MrsSkylerWhite · 11/08/2021 21:47

buckeejit

I'm amazed how many people regularly buy bottled water when we have drinkable tap water . Why wouldn't you just buy a filter if it tastes bad? I feel pretty guilty about the environmental impact on the rare occasion i but bottled water.@lovesthosebeeps
Ours is in glass bottles. As I understand it, glass can be recycled forever more.
Some tap water is horrible. My mums in a London suburb tastes awful.

jay55 · 11/08/2021 21:49

I ordered a cheap 2 litre bottle from sainsburys in my delivery, and they gave me a 4 pack of 1.5litres instead. Apologies for being a part of the problem.

ReviewingTheSituation · 11/08/2021 21:49

The thought of all those plastic bottles just makes my heart sink.

Tap water can be filtered, or left to stand, which improves the taste - nowhere in the UK is tap water 'undrinkable'.

I'm no eco warrior, but I just can't fathom disposing of some of the quantities of plastic quoted on this thread. And yes - I know plastic bottles are recyclable, but that's not without cost to the environment.

WeatheringStorms22 · 11/08/2021 21:51

I think it's just the time of year...campers, UK holidays, days out etc.

We rarely buy bottled water but have bought several recently due to camping and day trips.

Hdhdjejdj · 11/08/2021 21:53

Bottled water should be banned.
Drink tap water, filtered if necessary. Use a chilly bottle if you need to take it out and about.
Idiots.

aerosocks · 11/08/2021 21:55

A fool and his money are soon parted.

All those millions and millions of plastic water bottles. And I bet they don't all get recycled. As another pp said, environmental vandalism.

JacketSpud55 · 11/08/2021 21:55

I buy it to put in the water dispenser in my fridge as tape water causes limescale on the dispensing nozzle. The tank holds 6 litres and it gets finished most days, I buy the 17p bottles from Lidl or Aldi

N4ish · 11/08/2021 21:57

It’s lorry driver shortages and Brexit not preppers or campers.

I would feel incredibly guilty if I bought bottled water, the environmental footprint of it is really awful as it’s so heavy to transport. And that’s before thinking about all the plastic waste.

Maybe this shortage will do some good if it makes more people go back to tap water.

RampantIvy · 11/08/2021 21:57

@ReviewingTheSituation

The thought of all those plastic bottles just makes my heart sink.

Tap water can be filtered, or left to stand, which improves the taste - nowhere in the UK is tap water 'undrinkable'.

I'm no eco warrior, but I just can't fathom disposing of some of the quantities of plastic quoted on this thread. And yes - I know plastic bottles are recyclable, but that's not without cost to the environment.

I agree. Luckily our (Yorkshire) tap water is very drinkable, so we only use bottled water if our water supply is interrupted.
kowari · 11/08/2021 22:04

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 heard 4 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking rice or similar, very basic hygiene like toothbrushing.

EvenRosesHaveThorns · 11/08/2021 22:11

The climate crisis in a nutshell

kowari · 11/08/2021 22:15

You can store tap water in PET bottles (like fizzy drink ones) for emergencies, you just need to add a tiny amount of bleach (would need to look up amount).

TakeMeToKernow · 11/08/2021 22:19

I saw this! I stopped in a Aldi on the way home (in a posher area than I would normally shop) and was like “woah, they really don’t like the tap water round here”. The man in the queue behind me was explaining his three multipacks to me (him, his wife, his DS). I didn’t really want the conversation (didn’t start it and was probably absently gazing at all the unnecessary plastic) so didn’t ask why. Assumed maybe there was a water problem at his house. But then saw multiple others loading packs into cars.

IncessantNameChanger · 11/08/2021 22:22

I normally buy 2 of 17p cheapo Tesco 2l ones for the car every now and again in case I get stuck on the motorway.

Haven't been able to get it for months so I just refill them now and again and hope it's not going to kill me if it's a bit stale and I do get stuck.

The shelves for water in every shop near me is always empty now

TableFlowerss · 11/08/2021 22:29

It’s no wonder the planets in the state it is…. Imagine the amount of plastic for something you can get out of your tap for free…. 🙄

TableFlowerss · 11/08/2021 22:30

I don’t mean people buying the odd bottle for access when out and about - I mean those that will only drink it…

Zoomoff · 11/08/2021 23:05

Quite apart from the environmental impact, my monthly water rates are £66 (in Wales too, hardly renowned for its droughts!) - no way am I going to pay extra for bottled water for normal everyday drinking. Yet I see people buying several of the 2L multipacks regularly even in winter. Our local tap water tastes fine so I really don't see the need for buying that much bottled.

It's true what they say about fools and their money.

Twillow · 11/08/2021 23:16

There's also a shortage of tonic water. It's not preppers or panic buying, it's a delivery issue.

Disrespected · 11/08/2021 23:19

I don't overly like tap water. Nor does my ds. We buy the 40packs in Costco. So far no shortages. But then again we don't drink much water. :/

Hdhdjejdj · 11/08/2021 23:21

What do you drink @Disrespected ?

54321nought · 11/08/2021 23:21

@Disrespected

I don't overly like tap water. Nor does my ds. We buy the 40packs in Costco. So far no shortages. But then again we don't drink much water. :/
how can you justify the environmental impact? How can you justify the example you are showing your child?
Disrespected · 11/08/2021 23:22

Fizzy :/ squash and tea.

In the squash and tea tap water is fine. But so rarely drink a bottle or glass of water. Never have find it doesn't quench my thirst. Altho I'm sure that's just me.