Report Published on 22 Jun, 2009
Health not a driving factor in bottled water consumption
Most people have a vague sense that bottled water is healthier than tap water but don’t believe it makes much difference, according to researchers.
A small, qualitative study by open access scientific journal BMC Public Health observes that convenience and taste, not health, are the main motivating factors for choosing bottled water. The study, however, was limited by the small sample size (23 adults aged 18-53), and possibly by selection bias, as individuals with particularly strong views on bottled water could have been more likely to volunteer.
Bottled water demand has outstripped every other type of non-alcoholic beverage to the point where it has completely replaced tap water for some consumers, the researchers noted.
The majority of participants reported drinking limited amounts of bottled water (0.5-3.5 litres a week). Earlier studies indicated that the perceived purity and safety of bottled water were its big draws, along with taste.
“It seems obvious that people who would normally drink tap water would be motivated to buy bottled water when tap water is unavailable,” the researchers noted. “Convenience is a motivating factor determined by the consumer’s situation, not by the consumer’s beliefs about bottled water.”
Source: BMC Public Health