After a recount, the measure, which bans the sale of bottles of water smaller than 1 litre, was approved by an 81-vote margin – 403 to 364.
One year ago the same meeting had voted against the ban – a bylaw which had been passed two years’ earlier but overturned as ‘unenforceable’ by the attorney general.
The bill is subject to the approval of the attorney general and will not go into effect until 1 January.
Residents who have opposed the ban say it makes no sense to target bottled water and not sugary bottled beverages such as soda and juice. Concord resident Adriana Cohen said: “Plastic packaging is here to stay, there are tens of thousands of products on the market sold today that contain plastic, why single out one of the most healthiest beverages.”
The International Bottled Water Association said it was disappointed with the decision.
“This ban will deprive residents of the option to choose their choice of beverage, students the ability to select a healthy option for hydration, and visitors, who come to this birthplace of American independence, a basic freedom gifted to them by the actions in this town over 200 years ago. It will also deprive the town of needed tax revenue and harm local businesses that rely on bottled water sales to keep their doors open,” IBWA said.
The trade group also said it is reviewing the situation and is keeping all options open.
Writing in the Boston Herald, Michael Graham, summed up the silliness.
“When Concord’s Town Meeting voted to ban the sale of bottled water, one of the ban’s supporters told her fellow Condordians: ‘We’re not gonna solve all the problems of the world, but this is our one chance to make a really huge statement to the world.’
“And she’s right, they made a huge statement: ‘Hello, World! If you’re looking for the dumbest voters in the United States of America, you found us!’. ”
If you think this bottled water ban is mad, then you might need to know that the vote and recount took so long, there was insufficient time to discuss another piece of regulation for Concord, a proposed law on keeping cats on leashes when outside…
Source: Boston Globe/The Wicked Local Blog/Boston Herald
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