College Bans Bottled Water

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

www.delish.com/food/recalls-reviews/ban-on-bottled-water-causes-controversy

College Campus Controversy Over Bottled Water Ban

Over the years, college students have stood together for what they believe in, from civil rights to anti-war policies to the more recent protests against the unequal distribution of wealth, otherwise known as Occupy Wall Street. But no where in history have students banned bottled water. Until now.

The bottle water ban, which started on just a few campuses, has now spread nationwide to more than 20 universities. The colleges have either completely banned the use of plastic bottles altogether, or some have taken a more limited approach with partial bans. This last week, NPR reported that the University of Vermont ended their contract with Dasani, owned by the Coca-Cola company, despite the introduction of their new "plant" bottle.

Support from the bans comes from an organization called Ban the Bottle, a non-profit group which raises awareness about the economic and environmental costs associated with using plastic bottles. The group claims that eight glasses of water a day costs each person 49 cents annually, whereas drinking from plastic containers costs $1,400 per year. Other messages are used to educate consumers on the health risks. According to the Ban the Bottle website, plastic bottles contain antimony — a chemical that in low doses causes depression and dizziness — but that in large doses can even lead to death. While Ban the Bottle highlights the health issues tied to PETs, the chemicals in plastic, their main goal is to promote environmental sustainability.

Last September, the bottle battle made national news when students at the College of Saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minnesota, protested in favor of water bottles on campus. The campus's college Republicans protested to bring bottled water back, even handing out bottled water when their school administration decided to rid the plastic containers from the vending machines. Instead, the campus decided to install 31 "hydration stations," costing the institution $20,000. Their goal was to make it easier for students to refill their reusable bottles. Chairman of the Minnesota College Republicans, Ryan Lyk, released a statement to the press that said, "Just as the government should not ban plastic bottles in America, a school administration should not ban the sale of plastic water bottles on their campus."

The controversy over bottled or tap is not limited to the students and college administrations. Manufacturers are seeing the movement as a threat. To counter that, they have come out with their own video on YouTube stating that the students have "misinformation" about the plastic bottles. One of their arguments is that bottled water is a good alternative to the more sugar-laden beverages they would normally reach for.

Bottled water is big business. According to NPR, the industry took in $10.6 billion in revenue in 2010 and they saw about five percent growth in 2011. But the industry is concerned this movement will impact sales in 2012.

The main question that is on their minds and others who are opposed: What happened to freedom of choice?

What do you think? Is it right for a college administration to ban bottles?

[Deleted]

It is right and it is good.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Whatever. Most college students probably take the attitude that "I'd love to see them enforce it".

[Deleted]

I think a student should be able to drink whatever beverage they purchased at the local convenience store, but that doesn't mean that schools have to sell them on campus.

Yes, bottled water > Mountain Dew

but tap water > bottle water

[Tennesseer]

Good for the schools in not selling bottled water on campus. Refill/hydration stations are an excellent idea.

[cme1201]

Feb 14, 2012 10:27:58 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Whatever. Most college students probably take the attitude that "I'd love to see them enforce it".

The University of Florida is a non-smoking campus, anywhere on campus. The college police issue citations day in and day out at a rate of $50.00 per occurrence, 2 years ago they gave out over 60,000 the first year last year they gave out 15,000.

The schools can and do curb bad actions if they are serious.

What do you think? Is it right for a college administration to ban bottles?

Since when does right/wrong come into play with a business model? As you have stated many, many, many times college is for indoctrination into the Democrats mindset, why do feel it's time to bring right/wrong into the picture?

[reasonfreedom]

Feb 14, 2012 10:29:22 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

I think a student should be able to drink whatever beverage they purchased at the local convenience store, but that doesn't mean that schools have to sell them on campus.

Yes, bottled water > Mountain Dew

but tap water > bottle water

tap water > bottle water? Maybe if you are using a super filter. Unless your using well water with a softener, your drinking sewage that is blasted by chemical cleaners which doesn't filter out most of the prescription drugs people are peeing out.

[reasonfreedom]

Feb 14, 2012 10:38:53 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:27:58 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Whatever. Most college students probably take the attitude that "I'd love to see them enforce it".

The University of Florida is a non-smoking campus, anywhere on campus. The college police issue citations day in and day out at a rate of $50.00 per occurrence, 2 years ago they gave out over 60,000 the first year last year they gave out 15,000.

The schools can and do curb bad actions if they are serious.

What do you think? Is it right for a college administration to ban bottles?

Since when does right/wrong come into play with a business model? As you have stated many, many, many times college is for indoctrination into the Democrats mindset, why do feel it's time to bring right/wrong into the picture?

Or they just learned how to hide it better, that is what we did in High school.

[floridayankee]

Feb 14, 2012 10:23:31 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

The group claims that eight glasses of water a day costs each person 49 cents annually, whereas drinking from plastic containers costs $1,400 per year.

Personally, I could really care less what people spend their money on.

Other messages are used to educate consumers on the health risks. According to the Ban the Bottle website, plastic bottles contain antimony — a chemical that in low doses causes depression and dizziness — but that in large doses can even lead to death.

That would be "potentially" toxic compounds in plastic bottles. If it was dangerous, the 'almighty' government would swoop to the rescue and save all us idiots from certain doom.

The controversy over bottled or tap is not limited to the students and college administrations. Manufacturers are seeing the movement as a threat. To counter that, they have come out with their own video on YouTube stating that the students have "misinformation" about the plastic bottles. One of their arguments is that bottled water is a good alternative to the more sugar-laden beverages they would normally reach for.

This will not come down to 'pick a water source'. Banning water bottles from campus will likely lead to more sugary drinks being sold. Just what our obese society needs.

Bottled water is big business. According to NPR, the industry took in $10.6 billion in revenue in 2010 and they saw about five percent growth in 2011. But the industry is concerned this movement will impact sales in 2012.

Of course it is. Let people spend their money on what they damned well please and quit trying to control people's every decision.

The main question that is on their minds and others who are opposed: What happened to freedom of choice?

Apparently, some people feel we're all idiots and 'they', with their superior intellect, must control the choice of others.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2012 10:41:32 GMT -5 reasonfreedom said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:29:22 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

I think a student should be able to drink whatever beverage they purchased at the local convenience store, but that doesn't mean that schools have to sell them on campus.

Yes, bottled water > Mountain Dew

but tap water > bottle water

tap water > bottle water? Maybe if you are using a super filter. Unless your using well water with a softener, your drinking sewage that is blasted by chemical cleaners which doesn't filter out most of the prescription drugs people are peeing out.

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

[ride]

Couls care less what they do or do not ban. Bottled water is "empty " water, it has nothing in it. I prefer my well water which contains nutrients.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Feb 14, 2012 10:38:53 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:27:58 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

Whatever. Most college students probably take the attitude that "I'd love to see them enforce it".

The University of Florida is a non-smoking campus, anywhere on campus. The college police issue citations day in and day out at a rate of $50.00 per occurrence, 2 years ago they gave out over 60,000 the first year last year they gave out 15,000.

The schools can and do curb bad actions if they are serious.

Meh. I guess I just came up differently. First of all, bottled water is not a 'bad action' (nor, btw is smoking OUTSIDE unless you're littering). But either way, when I was growing up, the police could cite you-- IF they could catch you. I guess it wouldn't be hard to run down a smoker, but I think I might find one of these campuses and bring a case of bottled water and sit down on a bench and crack one open and enjoy. "College police" Citations??? Ha! That's a good one.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

It's funny that wherever you find bastions of liberalism, you find people trying to micromanage your life who are deathly afraid that conservatives want to micromanage their lives...

[floridayankee]

Feb 14, 2012 10:55:39 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

Not in Pinellas County, FL you won't. They just did away with fluoridation of their drinking water.

Guess we're trying to rebuild the old school southern image.

[jkapp]

Feb 14, 2012 10:56:19 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

I've never understood bottled water at all. I simply hold onto an old bottle or an aluminum water bottle and refill from the nearest tap. Who knew that cheap is the new, "politically correct?"

Right...save $0.65 on their bottle of water, yet pay the $120 per month iphone bill and the $15,000 a year for tuition at the campus. Yeah, they are all about "cheap" at the college campuses

[thyme4change]

There are a lot of things you can not sell on campus around here - porn, cigerettes, alcohol. But somehow ASU students have managed to stay drunk and horny and filled with nicotine.

It doesn't ban bringing water bottles onto campus - just selling it. It is their property, they are free to choose what commerce is available.

[thyme4change]

I'm actually happy to see the rebirth of the drinking fountain. And if it has a place where you can easily fill a bottle - even better! Especially if it is cold. I often feel trapped into buying water because all the drinking fountains are broken.

I'm no germaphobe, but I don't really like having to fill my bottles in the bathroom. Often times the sinks are shallow, and it is just kind of difficult. The whole thing is kinda weird. I would rather have a place that has the high rounded tap that they use to fill jugs of water in restarants. The stream comes out steady, cool and high, and the bottle fits right under it.

[floridayankee]

Feb 14, 2012 11:34:54 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

What I would love to know is what is wrong with refilling bottles from the tap in the bathroom? Why a 20K expenditure at a time when staff is being cut at schools throughout the land?

Probably the same issues people have with pumping breast milk in the bathroom.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2012 11:37:58 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

I'm actually happy to see the rebirth of the drinking fountain. And if it has a place where you can easily fill a bottle - even better! Especially if it is cold. I often feel trapped into buying water because all the drinking fountains are broken.

I'm no germaphobe, but I don't really like having to fill my bottles in the bathroom. Often times the sinks are shallow, and it is just kind of difficult. The whole thing is kinda weird. I would rather have a place that has the high rounded tap that they use to fill jugs of water in restarants. The stream comes out steady, cool and high, and the bottle fits right under it.

This. I don't bring food or drink into a bathroom. I know my toothbrush is in there and it is just me being squeamish, but you're just going to have to give me this one.

A "hydration station" is just a drinking fountain with enough room to fit a bottle under the tap + marketing.

[Tennesseer]

Feb 14, 2012 11:11:55 GMT -5 floridayankee said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:55:39 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

Not in Pinellas County, FL you won't. They just did away with fluoridation of their drinking water.

Guess we're trying to rebuild the old school southern image.

Mountain Dew mouth?

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2012 11:05:58 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

It's funny that wherever you find bastions of liberalism, you find people trying to micromanage your life who are deathly afraid that conservatives want to micromanage their lives...

I love the conservative argument about regulation.

When the federal government does something they argue it should be up to the states.

When the state government does something they argue it should be up to the local government.

When the local government does something they argue it should be up to the private organizations.

When the private organizations do something they argue it should be up to the individual.

When the individual does something they argue it is up to God and you are going to hell.

[Deleted]

"A "hydration station" is just a drinking fountain with enough room to fit a bottle under the tap + marketing. "

I am part of a group that rehearses at St. Benedicts once a week and I have used the hydration station there. Yes, it is essentially a drinking fountain with enough room to refill a bottle. It even has a counter to track how many bottles of water have been "saved" (yes, completely marketing).

However, it also has more filtering than a typical fountain. At least for water in our area, there is a big difference between the taste of tap water, drinking fountain water, and the water from the hydration station. Personally, I can't tell the difference between the water from the hydration station and an Aquafina.

[floridayankee]

Feb 14, 2012 11:54:35 GMT -5 @toughtimes said:

Another thing. What is it with the high falutin' language? What is the difference between a "hydration station" and a water tap or water fountain? It reminds me of this traditional story:

www1.umassd.edu/sustainability/news_umd_2010_water.cfm
We're just be replacing US bottled water jobs with German owned Brita water filtration units. Nothing to see here.

[thyme4change]

Another big thing for me is temperature. I'm one of those ugly americans that like my drinks COLD. In the winter I drink water that is room temperature - but in the summer, I drink it to cool me off. It is friackin hot here. Because our pipes are likely above ground, the water comes out of the faucet pretty hot (we once lived all through June without a hot water heater - we just took our showers in the afternoon and the water was hot enough.) We actually have to let the water in our bathroom run for 30 seconds-ish so it cools down enough to put our hands in it (especially when the kids were little and sensitive.) So, if that snazzy hydration station in post 28 cools the water below 80 degrees, then it is awesome! I don't care about the filter, etc, as much as the temperature.

[reasonfreedom]

Feb 14, 2012 10:55:39 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:41:32 GMT -5 reasonfreedom said:

tap water > bottle water? Maybe if you are using a super filter. Unless your using well water with a softener, your drinking sewage that is blasted by chemical cleaners which doesn't filter out most of the prescription drugs people are peeing out.

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

I did plenty of research and I know you are right some are tap water. One word FIJI. Just so you know Fluoride is a poison.

[Mkitty is pro kitty]

The main question that is on their minds and others who are opposed: What happened to freedom of choice?

Well if they don't like it, they can go to another university. Oh wait, that trick only seems to work with corporations. Never mind, continue on with your manufactured outrage over trivial things. Any hints on the outrage du jour tomorrow? FREEEEEEDOOOOOOOM!!!!!1!

It's funny that wherever you find bastions of liberalism, you find people trying to micromanage your life who are deathly afraid that conservatives want to micromanage their lives...

It's funny that wherever you finds bastions of conservatism, you find unabashed hypocrites trying to micromanage your life who are deathly afraid that liberals want to micromanage their lives... Oh, make sure your Facebook is clean, big daddy wants to control your life outside of the workplace too.

[973beachbum]

Feb 14, 2012 10:55:39 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:41:32 GMT -5 reasonfreedom said:

tap water > bottle water? Maybe if you are using a super filter. Unless your using well water with a softener, your drinking sewage that is blasted by chemical cleaners which doesn't filter out most of the prescription drugs people are peeing out.

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

Oh no! now you went and did it!

Where's Virgil?

[thyme4change]

Well if they don't like it, they can go to another university.

Or they can walk 5 feet off campus to the nearest stop&shop and buy a bottle of water.

They aren't outlawing water, they are just telling their vendors not to sell it. You won't get a Paul Blart beat-down if you step on campus holding Aquafina.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Yep, this trend is starting across the university where I work. It's happening at the main campus, but has not yet gotten to the medical center where I work. Personally, I think it's a great idea.

Normally, I refill bottled water from the Millipore filtered water from our lab. Water that pure is pretty flat tasting, but I can't drink out of the faucets due to the particulate matter in it, from the deteriorating water system in the dental school.

I imagine by the end of this year, the water stations will be available everywhere on campus.

ETA: It's mostly a trash problem on campus. Plastic bottles are the large bulk of the campus's trash and when you have to pay to haul it away, they start looking for other ways of decreasing those costs. In fact, I believe that the newest class enrolled at the university received free water bottles to use at the hydration stations that they've set up on campus.

[Deleted]

Feb 14, 2012 12:49:45 GMT -5 reasonfreedom said:

Feb 14, 2012 10:55:39 GMT -5 @craftysarah said:

Do a little more research. You do realize that many brands of bottled water *are* tap water, right? And I'll take mine fluoridated, thanks.

I did plenty of research and I know you are right some are tap water. One word FIJI. Just so you know Fluoride is a poison.

Ha. Indeed it is, if you get enough of it. I'm pretty sure you would die of water intoxication before you would get that much fluoride from tap water.

You should know that there is BPA in the dental composite they will use to fix your teeth when they all rot due to lack of fluoride.

Everything is dangerous if you google it hard enough.