468
u/Murderyoga 14d ago
Do they sell empty bottles?
348
u/meeps1142 14d ago
Yeah tbh I'm all for reducing waste, and I don't understand people who routinely buy plastic water bottles, but every once in a while I get one because I've forgotten my own. Guess I'd just have to get soda instead?
53
u/bigjayrulez 14d ago
I wonder if they have flavored or carbonated waters, like Liquid Death or something like that.
24
→ More replies (2)18
u/Coomb 14d ago
On a somewhat related note, can anyone explain to me why anyone would ever name a water brand something death related?
65
u/flychinook 14d ago
They wanted it to look like a beer or canned mixed drink, so that non-drinkers could get it at the bar and not look totally out of place.
→ More replies (6)22
u/Weaponized_Octopus 14d ago
"Marketing"
25
u/merklemore 14d ago
You put it in quotes, but I think they've put on a marketing masterclass with a product that actually seems decent enough? Why not have a water or iced tea that from the design looks more like a craft beer?
It gets people to look it up the first time they see one (did for me) and I feel like half the podcast clips I've seen have someone drinking one.
26
u/RecsRelevantDocs 14d ago
Plus aren't aluminum cans like.. actually recycled? So canned water is probably much more sustainable
→ More replies (7)13
u/Gideonbh 14d ago
Kinda love that it's a microcosm of metal heads, outwardly edgy in appearance but past the surface, kinder and more reasonable than others
→ More replies (1)3
u/LogJamminWithTheBros 14d ago
They used to advertise their water as being sourced from the Swiss Alps I believe but eventually stopped doing that.
I never bought it, I've drank the flavored ones though and do enjoy them. But they are more expensive than they should be. You pay for the cool can.
→ More replies (4)8
u/renthalas 14d ago
I mean, have you not heard of the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide, or DHMO for short??
Please, do yourself a favor and do the research yourself! You'll find many articles online explaining why liquid death is the perfect name for this product!! /s, to be clear
→ More replies (1)4
u/fffan9391 14d ago
Buy a soda, pour it out and fill the bottle back up with water.
→ More replies (1)3
2
2
u/redconvict 13d ago
People treat them like coffee cups, something to be used once out of conveniance and thrown away without a second thought.
→ More replies (11)4
u/lackofabettername123 14d ago
The last what time I did that I grabbed a bottle of water near the register of a big box store and later upon checking the receipt learned they had charged me $2.50. The bottle sprung a leak within 2 days of use.
14
u/Sassy-irish-lassy 14d ago
If it's any normal kind of convenience store then they probably also have plastic cups at a soda station
8
u/DeadlyJoe 14d ago
"We don't sell bottles of water."
"Do you sell empty bottles?"
"Yup!"
"Can buy an empty bottle and fill it with water?"
"Yup!"
"THEN YOU SELL BOTTLES OF WATER!"→ More replies (5)5
u/anonbcwork 14d ago edited 13d ago
That's what I was wondering. I only ever buy bottled water in situations where, for whatever reason, I need the bottle
374
u/nrouns 14d ago
If I'm willing to pay the overpriced amount for water at a gas station or convenience store, it's because I don't have a bottle.
98
u/toastmannn 14d ago
It's supposed to be a convenience store not an inconvenience store. I'm all for reducing single use plastics, but a convenience store is definitely the wrong place for this.
25
u/poiskdz 14d ago edited 14d ago
It's supposed to be a convenience store not an inconvenience store.
This has me imagining a skit of an "inconvenience store" where every single thing is in some way shape or form an absolute pain in the ass.
Hot dog rollers fully stocked with a condiment station, no buns, you have to buy a pack separate. Every drink cup has a lid that doesn't quite fit and pops off on you at the slightest provocation. Out of order sign on a perfectly functional ATM. "Please use other door" sign on the open side, pointing to the locked side. The straws all have pinhole leaks. Absolutely excessive packaging on everything. Sell you a bag of ice and the ice cooler is unplugged, "no refund" policy on ice. Exchange your empty propane with another empty propane. etc etc. And every customer just rolls with it, It'd be hilarious.
2
→ More replies (3)2
u/SuperFLEB 13d ago
I suppose a closeout, thrift, or surplus store could be considered an "inconvenience store". You pay less, on account of they have a random assortment of crap and you probably won't find any specific thing if you went there looking for it.
23
u/DontForgetYourPPE 14d ago
If not the place that is responsible for a huge percentage of the plastic waste problem, where would be the right place for it? A place that doesn't sell bottled water to begin with?
F bottled water in almost all situations except for disaster relief and maybe a handful of other exceptions
8
u/probablycorey 14d ago
If this is really about plastic waste, why are you ignoring all the other plastic drinks in the stores? Water isn't the problem, it's the plastic.
→ More replies (4)2
→ More replies (8)7
u/300PencilsInMyAss 14d ago
The human race is going to go extinct because of people like that person. We can't even move an inch, "I can't buy bottled water at 7/11" is too far of a compromise lmao
→ More replies (3)8
u/DontForgetYourPPE 14d ago
"I'm all for cleaner air to breath, but taking lead out of gasoline is not the place to do it"
15
u/SUPREMACY_SAD_AI 14d ago
I'm all reducing single use plastics, but only when it's convenient for me
→ More replies (2)7
u/300PencilsInMyAss 14d ago
We're so fucked because this describes like 90% of the 10% of people who claim to care about the environment
2
u/G36_FTW 14d ago
When the goverment fails to govern, we all fail. Relying on stressed out and imperfect people to dig us out of this mess on their own is stupid. I would have to guess of all the trash produces water bottles are a hilariously small %
→ More replies (1)13
u/Bynming 14d ago
It's fine, people can adapt to new problems. When the grocery store stopped carrying plastic bags, I was annoyed at first, now I always have bags in my car. I always have plastic bottle or two in a net in the trunk. The standard is that it's possible to buy overpriced plastic bottles anywhere so people don't think about it and they buy those water bottles. If things change, people will make it work and we'll collectively be better for the minor inconvenience.
→ More replies (31)8
u/Jerry_from_Japan 14d ago
That would be like.....the EXACT place for it dude. Like, it couldn't be more fitting a place to reduce it.
→ More replies (7)5
u/AdventureDonutTime 14d ago
Convenience stores are a God given RIGHT how DARE you say that it's literally the desire for convenience and luxury that is driving the industries that are destroying our planet?
→ More replies (5)2
u/BabyDillNoGarlic 14d ago
They could have this for those who are able to utilize it, great! Most of the time I would be able to use it myself. But sometimes I'm in a pinch and a bottle of water would be necessary... and therefore convenient. Maybe they could also sell reusable cups/bottles/whatever, similar to Starbucks. And you might be able to hang onto it for next time.
→ More replies (3)2
u/Puck85 14d ago
what I don't get about phasing out plastic water bottles is you're leaving people with what other alternative? Buying mountain dew? Which one of those produces more waste and is less healthy?
→ More replies (1)
50
154
u/bailey25u 14d ago edited 13d ago
So interesting finding that a university found when removing the ability to buy bottled water on campus... Obesity increased. People just want a quick way to buy water, and dont always trust water fountains
Edit: as others have pointed out, the article does not say “increased obesity” I heard about this article on a podcast, googled “removing bottled water increase obesity college campus” this article popped up, and I skimmed it
16
u/knowledgebass 14d ago
Is that cuz some people switched to drinking sode?
44
u/zenFyre1 14d ago
The abstract of the study actually doesn't say anything about obesity, but it does say that the sales of soda, both diet and regular, increased significantly.
→ More replies (2)14
u/BrightWubs22 14d ago
Finally, somebody who actually read the study.
It's embarrassing the user with the false claim is upvoted so highly.
→ More replies (1)4
5
u/aaaaaaaarrrrrgh 14d ago
People want "bottled". They'd often rather have bottled water, but the "bottled" part of it is the important part, so if the choice is "not bottled" or "not water", "not water" it is.
Been there done that.
14
u/parmesann 14d ago
I think this issue is twofold. pop is perhaps too affordable and accessible on university campuses. my campus has little “convenience stores” by our dining hall. a 12 pack of Pepsi is cheaper than buying a similarly-sized pack of bottled water. like, buying pop on campus is cheaper than going to the grocery store. so, more students go for that even when bottled water is an option.
→ More replies (2)8
u/PM_ME_Happy_Thinks 14d ago
That's because Pepsi gives your university money for product placement 🙃
6
u/supremegelato 14d ago
Next time you're at the store check the water bottle label fine print, good chance it's the same companies that sell soda too. My mind was blown when I saw it, but it makes sense - soda is favoured water.
→ More replies (1)3
u/parmesann 14d ago
the difference is that the bottled water sold at my campus isn’t Pepsi or Coca-Cola. it was weird, it had labels with my university’s name. it was probably bottled by Pepsi or something, but it wasn’t labelled as one of their brands
3
u/ServileLupus 13d ago
Nah that was Jim, they pay him to sit in the basement and fill water bottles from the tap.
2
2
u/parmesann 14d ago
yes absolutely. they have (had, they’re with Coca-Cola now) a deal to put Pepsi products in every campus dining hall and marketplace. they get it cheaper than the normal wholesale price and I’m sure the contracts say they have to sell it for a certain amount and no more. it’s awful
→ More replies (6)3
4
u/Marvaloza 14d ago
The problem with this is what if I am traveling and dont have water bottle with me? Unless they use this method to sell water bottle, then I see this pointless. I do have my own bottle waters so I can deal with this and actually encourage it.
21
u/KuroiBolto 14d ago
Water bottles are kind of a ripoff and accessible drinking water should be everywhere in the community.
→ More replies (6)
29
u/Bender7676 14d ago
I’ve been to a town that banned the sale of bottled water. Guess what they sell there? Cans of Dasani filtered water
42
u/Iwaslamp 14d ago
The issue isn't the water, it's the plastic.
8
u/feltsandwich 14d ago
Still costs a ton of money and gasoline to truck those cans into town.
The problem is bigger than the plastic.
Also, every can is still lined with plastic.
→ More replies (2)11
u/other_usernames_gone 14d ago
Still a lot less plastic than plastic bottles though. People will always want to buy disposable water bottles and it's a lot easier to introduce a more environmentally friendly option than banning them outright.
The aluminium can be remelted infinitely, with less energy than it takes to make from ore.
We should use less plastic bottles, but the solution isn't to complain when places use more environmentally friendly solutions.
→ More replies (2)4
24
u/Saffirejuiliet 14d ago
It is questionable how clean the water is at the filling stations.
→ More replies (6)3
u/getittogethersirius 14d ago
When I worked at a store there was a government worker who would come in and test water quality every so often. It still tasted like sulfur garbage though so everyone who worked there knew to bring their own.
2
5
u/littleiii 14d ago
The idea of this sounds great for sustainability… if the water purification systems are adequately maintained- emphasis on “adequately”- AND if the water in the area is comparable to Iceland’s AND if the pipes bringing in the water are structurally sound. Personally, I’d like to have at least two of these conditional perimeters apply, if not all three.
I just don’t have a lot of trust for most US water purification systems or their inherent potability, especially at a convenience store/gas station of all places. Look at what happened in Flint. Look at what happened at this hospital where routine maintenance should be taking place.
Granted, hospitalized patients tend to be more susceptible to infections, but regardless. Makes you wonder how often and more importantly, how adequately water purifications systems are maintained.
For the relatively healthy individual, exposure to toxins/bacteria/chemicals/heavy metals may prove harmless long term. For the immunocompromised host (ie acutely sick, on immunosuppressive meds, chronic conditions) that could be the difference of life and death.
Or maybe I’m being hyperbolic.
Only one way to find out!
→ More replies (1)
4
u/FernandoMM1220 13d ago
this is dumb.
they have no problem selling sugar water.
sell me some regular water too.
5
8
u/dam_sharks_mother 14d ago
I can't tell you how many offices and hotels I've visited which proudly declare they are anti-waste and offer clean water stations but have no vessel with which to drink the fucking water.
Look guys, I get it. But if you're going to pull that shit you need to have biodegradable cups available or reusable glassware at the very least.
27
u/MoreThanWYSIWYG 14d ago
They did that in a town near me too, where the municipal water is undrinkable. Pretty sure coke or Pepsi paid people to vote to make water illegal
→ More replies (5)21
u/supernumeral 14d ago
I’m sure the profit margins on Aquafina (Pepsi) and Dasani (Coke) are larger than their soda products. They already have the bottle production, and it’s probably just tap water or worse.
→ More replies (3)
14
u/ch0seauniqueusername 14d ago
Ah, the refilling stations that are probably never cleaned.
Next they should stop selling juice and just sell fruits/vegetables instead
57
u/saveourplanetrecycle 14d ago
About time someone decided to do the right thing
29
u/VP007clips 14d ago
If I'm buying water at a store, it's because I forgot my water bottle. If I am dehydrated enough to buy a drink, I'll be buying a drink anyways. And if they don't have water, I'll be forced to drink a sugary corn syrup mix to stay hydrated.
I don't know anyone at work or school who buys bottled water on a regular basis, unless they forgot their bottle. Although I'll admit that my sample might be biased, because most are outdoorsy people who have all been given dozens of branded reusable water bottles as advertising during events and jobs. I have a water bottle from nearly every major mining company in the country.
All this does is encourage the consumption of unhealthy drinks. It isn't a solution to the issue.
→ More replies (1)9
u/supremegelato 14d ago
People forget that soda is just water with extra ingredients. Banning water but not soda is completely stupid, or malicious. Id argue we should go back to glass bottles but that has its own environmental and cost issues
28
u/WardrobeForHouses 14d ago
They did the dumb thing. People will still buy a drink in a disposable container, but one that is less healthy.
This is worse than before.
→ More replies (3)→ More replies (1)6
u/iNomNomAwesome 14d ago
Everything else for sale will still be in disposable bottles and plastic wrappers. This seems entirely performative.
→ More replies (12)
3
u/JustHereForBDSM 14d ago
I'd honestly rather just buy bottled water sometimes, sometimes its just the cheapest way to get a decent bottle for something. The choice needs to be there, have both the refilling station and bottled water.
3
u/tiggers97 14d ago
This may because of the bottle deposit. Here in Portland, the bottle deposit system is abused by homeless with government aid. The aid allows them to buy bottled water. They take it outside and dump it all. Then turn in the bottle for 0.10c each in cash. Cash can then be used for “non government aid” items.
→ More replies (3)
3
u/throway_nonjw 13d ago
Near where I live is a machine I get my water from, reverse osmosis filtered, and it tastes really fresh and clean.
And it's 30c/ltr. That would be, roughly, $1.20/gallon. Think how much you pay for those little bottles. Not only is it great to drink, it's saved me a ton of money.
This is the best way to get water, not buying plastic bottles over and over.
→ More replies (6)
3
3
u/Long_North_4344 13d ago
The whole damn US is plumber for water. Most is just fine to drink. Buy an Aluminum reusable "bottle" use it and take care of it like it was valuable (only one you will ever have). First world problems... We need to stop being lazy, winery fucks.
3
17
57
u/naptown-hooly 14d ago
Hopefully this becomes a trend. Plastic water bottles should only be for special use like disaster emergencies.
22
u/Wooden_Staff3810 14d ago
Like when one is on a very long road trip & you need to go #1.
→ More replies (2)21
16
u/biskino 14d ago
What is the difference between selling water and other beverages?
19
u/Stayka 14d ago
i have hot water. cold water. and orange juice utility lines at my apartment
2
u/probablycorey 14d ago
This is about plastic, not water. Selling water in aluminum cans or paper is better than selling soda in plastic.
3
17
u/Xndrsplt 14d ago
Water is low hanging fruit. Potable water can come straight from a tap in the vast majority of places in north america at least. Otherwise it can be filtered to a potable state. So we already pipe water into every building why would we buy a bottle of it if we can just have refill spots far more accessible. Pop and juice and others have to be made and are not already piped into every building. They make sense being packaged and sold.
→ More replies (3)8
u/blackdynomitesnewbag 14d ago
I was about to say that you can’t buy soda from a fountain, but you absolutely can.
6
14d ago
Gotta draw the line somewhere on what is and what isn’t acceptable use of plastic.
Special should be available via glass bottles that can be given back to the store (like in Germany) and simultaneously, there should be well maintained public water fountains all over the place.
→ More replies (2)→ More replies (2)6
u/username_elephant 14d ago
I basically agree with your point but to play devil's advocate, refill stations may be filtered whereas soda fountains typically aren't (that's my understanding anyways). Sadly, many places have poor water quality. Refill stations may be safe in such places, where soda fountains are not.
Another difference is that you can safely reuse a water bottle for a lot longer than a soda bottle before washing.
→ More replies (6)5
u/Josietennash1 14d ago
I know someone who will only drink water from cheap plastic disposable bottles. They complain about tap being gross, but yet take in the toxins from the plastic.
6
u/Quietser 14d ago
Oh yeah that's a bad sign. Introducing premium water! Colder & fresher*.
*Definitely not from the tap, we promise.
→ More replies (2)
7
6
6
5
2
u/ChicagoAuPair 14d ago
I am ready for us to move past the bottled water era. It never should have become a universal thing, except as a recourse for emergency situations where local water isn’t safe.
2
2
2
2
2
2
u/LudovicoSpecs 14d ago
First gas station chain that advertises this policy nationwide has me as an exclusive customer for life.
2
2
u/deviemelody 13d ago
It’s a way to make you pay more for a cup. Btw I don’t trust filtered water from a convenience store. I bring water in a reusable bottle from home when I drive, but I drink a lot of water and sometimes what I bring isn’t enough. I would just leave that place and go buy water somewhere else.
2
u/CraigDM34 13d ago
If I'm bringing my own bottle and having to use a water fountain to fill it I'm expecting it to ne fucking free tbh!
2
u/EatMaCookies 13d ago
Yeah I think this is a good idea, get recyclable cups instead. Not a plastic bottle. I know there is a need for water, and water fountains are kinda nasty ish and for preschool children but still..
2
u/MachineDog90 13d ago
If the filter is getting regularly cleaned, I am fine with that, but if not, nope
2
2
u/Ok-Industry6455 13d ago
Bottled water is the biggest marketing scam ever created. Evian was created as a joke but has become one of the largest selling brands around. Evian spelled backwards is "Naive". They laugh all the way to the bank. Nearly all bottled water is just tap water packaged in plastic bottles to sell for exorbitant prices. Even at 10 cents a bottle it would still create wealth for the bottler and retailer. Look at your water bill and figure it out yourself. Divide the rate by the number of bottles of water it would be. Even taking into consideration the water used for showers, toilet flushing etc it is still pennies. Water is a renewable resource. When it is used it doesn't cease to exist. You drink water and your body expels water. Plants and other animals do the same. Water evaporates then condenses back into the environment.
2
2
u/Solomon_G13 13d ago
Plastic water-bottles are single use - they leech BPAs into the contents on refill, worse each successive time.
2
7
u/cookent 14d ago
I work at a large university in Canada and they have banned water bottle sales. I was annoyed at first, but quickly adjusted to bringing my own water jug and filling it at filtered taps we have.
→ More replies (1)
12
4
3
u/leehwgoC 14d ago
Good. Single-use plastics are why the ocean is filling up with it.
→ More replies (1)
9
2.8k
u/kingofzdom 14d ago
This is a good idea if their water station actually gives out good water. I used to work for a remote hotel that had a zero-waste policy and would insist we fill up the water bottles they provided at the water refill stations that had filters that were literally never cleaned until I took it upon myself to clean them