Your Health

The fact that anyone would want to ban or regulate a healthy and safe option like bottled water is really absurd. An easily accessible, calorie free option for hydration is critical for an on-the-go society, particularly for individuals with special needs, such as the elderly, individuals engaged in sports, individuals participating in outdoor events, and individuals on the road.

The Centers for Disease Prevention and Control notes the importance of accessible hydration. They explain: “To help you and your fellow travelers avoid diarrhea, the most common travel-related illness, and other food- and water-related problems, purchase commercially-bottled water to drink and to brush and rinse your and their teeth. In areas where chlorinated tap water is not available or where hygiene and sanitation are poor, drink beverages made with boiled water, such as tea and coffee, or unopened bottled or canned beverages. Remember that water on the outside of cans or bottles may also be contaminated. Therefore, dry wet cans or bottles before you open them and wipe clean surfaces which your mouth will directly touch. … Playing ball, hiking a trail, or flying to a distant land, you’ll need water to drink. Wherever you get your drinking water (a private well, a public water system, or a stream next to your camping site), it’s important to know that it’s clean, because clean means free of germs that can cause water-related illnesses. Take the necessary precautions before you drink: check with your water supplier and make sure it is following the state standards concerning clean water, drink commercially-bottled water if reliable safe tap water is unavailable, and purify water from a lake, river, or stream.”

CDC also notes serious health problems associated with exposure to extreme heat and inadequate hydration. It recommends keeping hydrated with low-sugar (or no sugar), non-caffeinated drinks during extreme heat to avoid adverse health implications. Such calls highlight the important value that bottled water has at public events, where individuals are outdoors in the heat. Yet some government officials are removing bottled water from such events with bans and calling on people to bring their own water. What are individuals to do, if they don’t happen to bring water? They may be forced to drink caffeinated or sugared drinks given no other option—unless regulators decide to ban those too! That is not only silly, it’s unfair and not the healthiest option for some people. What about elderly people on restrictive diets? Surely, they should have ready access to bottled water!

Bottled water is also a valuable assistance to people fighting obesity or simply wanting to avoid a few extra pounds. Children in particular benefit when vending machines allow that option. Yet again, regulators may eventually tell children and the rest of us that we won’t have that option. Hopefully, they won’t also take away freedom to choose the other beverages as well.