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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

I never used to go around with a water bottle, let alone, grab a cup of coffee

741 replies

LittleBookofCalm · 13/10/2018 12:46

every time I went out.
what is it with people having to be constantly Slurping!

the world cannot cope with all the rubbish this causes.

OP posts:
AlexanderHamilton · 14/10/2018 14:29

What Antigon was describing sounded a bit like a hydroboil.

continuallychargingmyphone · 14/10/2018 14:32

How do slurpers cope with continually needing to pee, to paraphrase my own username? Grin

OftenHangry · 14/10/2018 14:34

@Ahhhh.

@Antigon yeah. And lates face it, sinks are near as well as per regulations.
I don't think I have ever seen a commercial machine without one of these (yellow circle). Easy peasy to use. That's where water for tea comes from.

I never used to go around with a water bottle, let alone, grab a cup of coffee
thenightsky · 14/10/2018 14:35

continuallychargingmyphone I asked that question yesterday on this very thread and still haven't received a reply. I only need to drink a small cup of tea and 50 mins to an hour later I'll be busting. And, there are rarely public toilets anywhere these days.

OftenHangry · 14/10/2018 14:35

@AlexanderHamilton ahh. I had to google it. Got it

GloomyMonday · 14/10/2018 14:46

I think the mistake you're making op is in seeing someone enjoying a takeout coffee and judging them for their inability to go an hour without a drink, the rampant consumerism, the waste of money, the waste when actually it might just be the first one they've bought in ages.

Even if bought regularly, so what? As long as it's a reusable cup, or recycled, they can waste their money on whatever they want. Maybe they really are too busy to sit down for half an hour. Maybe they'd just rather be doing something else more productive. Maybe they've been up all night with a baby and need the caffeine, or are treating themselves on their way to a 12 hour shift or pretty much anything.

It's a new phenomenon because a decent, readily available coffee is a relatively new thing. Who would have wanted the styrofoam cup of builders tea that was the only thing you could get to takeaway in the 70s?

And the pensioners don't need takeout because they've got hours of free time on their hands, they're probably not rushing anywhere.

youarenotkiddingme · 14/10/2018 14:54

Totally agree re the waste.

But I always had a sports bottle of water with me as a child too.

I think the difference I've seen is people are more spendy nowadays and don't see buying a drink as unnecessary costs.

I think places like costa etc should offer a bigger discount for using a reusable cup or heavier tax on drinks that produce waste.

I have a chilly bottle and although a big investment payout it's saved me a fortune and saved a lot of unnecessary waste.

Loonoon · 14/10/2018 15:00

For the record when I referred to Ivan in Pret on the Strand I anonymised him (as I do everything on here). His name wasn’t actually Ivan, the line was more for illustrative purposes/light hearted comic effect. It might not even have been Pret..or even the Strand...but someone in a coffee shop somewhere definitely refused to wash out a coffee cup one day recently. And DD hadn’t washed it out herself as she had been in and out of hospital appointments all day.

GreenandBlueButterfly · 14/10/2018 15:01

How do slurpers cope with continually needing to pee,

I simply don't need to pee very often. I can easily drink a little of water/ coffee and don't go in the next 2 to 3 hours. I either have a huge bladder or very strong muscles. But I have friends who need to go more often and they just know where the best toilets are inside shopping centres. I suppose it's easier when you live in a big place.

Antigon · 14/10/2018 15:03

@AlexanderHamilton @OftenHangry

It appears what I was referring to is called a Pitcher Rinser:

m.youtube.com/watch?v=DGEpEi79lQ0

I see them in cafes, but it seems people buy them for their homes too 😮

AlexanderHamilton · 14/10/2018 15:04

Never seen one of those before.

Cobrider · 14/10/2018 15:06

It annoys me too, especially in Waitrose where everyone seems to ditz around with a coffee in one hand. It’s not my business and it’s irrational I know.

OftenHangry · 14/10/2018 15:10

@Antigon i know these from pubs and bars. Nice that they are in cafes too

JassyRadlett · 14/10/2018 15:11

CurlyhairedAssassin has hit the nail on the head! Its the "I'm so busy wannabes " and it is also a trend. If they're not being oh so busy they have to have a coffee in hand at all times , it's look at me I'm oh so healthy with my bottle of water! Glad someone else gets it.

I honestly think the vast majority of people don’t care what others think about their public drinking habits as much as you think they do.

JessieLemon · 14/10/2018 15:12

Nobody needs to drink 2L of water. We need 2L of liquid including that in food such as fruit veg, soups and other beverages.

Speak for yourself. Plenty of people do need to drink a lot of water.

I’m one of them. I have a bladder condition that means I need to keep my urine as dilute as possible at all times, so I usually drink 2-4l per day or I’m in acute agony and need morphine!

Lots of people enjoy drinking lots of water as they feel better for it, more energy, clearer skin. Some people just enjoy it. Get over it.

SoyDora · 14/10/2018 15:14

I honestly think the vast majority of people don’t care what others think about their public drinking habits as much as you think they do

Agreed.

Loopytiles · 14/10/2018 15:18

It’s odd to assume that people carrying coffee or water are doing so because they wish to look busy or health-conscious to strangers!

BellyDancer124 · 14/10/2018 15:28

OP your post is crazy 😂 water is so good for you, your skin your hair your blood thickness etc are you mental to not understand why people are sipping water whilst out and about? We don’t all have access to tap water.. some people have long commutes/work long hours etc? Shock this is the weirdest post ever lol

northlaine · 14/10/2018 15:35

YABU to be annoyed at the quantities other people want to drink - it's none of your business! YANBU to be concerned at our throwaway culture / single use plastics / single use cups. Lots we can all do to raise awareness & take a look at all the other types of single use plastic we regularly buy - not just drinks containers.

continuallychargingmyphone · 14/10/2018 15:38

I don’t think it’s a weird post. I do think the same as the OP.

I have no desire to go back to the days of one small glass of water at lunch being it in terms of drinks quotas during a school day but at the same time it’s a bit much!

LuckyDiamond · 14/10/2018 15:38

Good quality tea, coffee, filtered chilled water and an assortment of milk (soya, almond, cows) in glass bottles are available free and my work who also supply free large water bottles and lidded hot drinks reusable cups.

Still people wank around with Starbucks and plastic bottles.

MaisyPops · 14/10/2018 15:50

When I was at a festival, instead of plastic disposable glasses you had to buy a plastic beaker and then that was your cup for the festival. Each bar stand you went to they'd rinse it on a pressure tap (some sort of push down, water blasts the cup thing) and everyone had their cup.
It was great. Much more sensible than lots of cheap throw away classes.

I think the whole must have a cup of coffee at all times is a bit unfortunate as for some of my friends they talk about needing to save and how lucky me and DH are but they spend easily £4-5 a day on take out coffee because somehow it's essential for their commute. I have to admit, when we visit their areas it seems to be a 'busy people in busy city' thing. Near us 'slightly ran down town centre and/or pretty marlet town' doesn't seem to suffer as much with the avid coffee to go folk.

Cambalamb · 14/10/2018 15:51

I agree OP. Obviously some people do need to drink loads for medical reasons but there is a definite trend going on, anyone can see that.

cookiesandchocolate · 14/10/2018 15:54

I definitely notice if I haven't drank 3 litres of water in a day.

You say your post was light hearted but you sound really aggressive in replies.
The coffee thing is a trend. I have a reusable cup I use when I dash out the house at 7.30am with 2 kids in tow so I can have a caffeine fix on my 30 minute commute.
Water is essential too as it wakes me up.
Each to their own.

Cambalamb · 14/10/2018 15:57

I guess it's the availability of good coffee at stations etc. Years ago it would be a grey cup of some awful instant so you either had it at home or waited till you got to work!

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