Nothing like a bit of tokenism from the government!

Easier than funding new railway lines to be finished as fast as road tunnels and freeways.
Easier than introducing container deposit legislation.
Easier than energy demand management and mandating a mass rollout of interval meters or smart meters for time-of-use billing.
Easier than putting a 24 hour inbound bus lane on Victoria Rd all the way from the Gladesville Bridge to the city, rather than proposing to duplicate the Iron Cove Bridge to facilitate more car flow.
As for knocking bottled water, many spring water purchasers would alternately have bought a juice or soft drink if no water was supplied, so therefore the savings in plastic or greenhouse gas are heavily exaggerated.
Shall I go on.

I remember a time when you couldn't get a drink of water in a Supermarket or anywhere. If you were thirsty you were forced to buy softdrink if you wanted to or not. Hotel clubs and restuarant staff would look at you as if you were trying to be difficult if you requested a drink of water. You were told they didn't serve it. Eventually, because of public demand as people became more health concious water started to become publically available in shops, hotels and restuarants everywhere.
Personally I don't care if it's so called health spring water or just plain tap water as long as it remains readily available when you have been out for three hours or more and just want a drink of water not softdrink or alcohol.

ISbtiopomf - completely agree with you, I don't understand the outrage about bottled water. I'd much rather buy a bottle of water than soft drink for myself or my kids.

We'd generate just as much landfill etc - I actually refill a bottle at my workplace, I have no idea how old the bottle is, months I would guess.

In the past, if you wanted water, you couldn't get it if you didn't carry a bottle yourself, and where were you going to fill it if it ran out and you were out and about.

Yes, there are bigger things to worry about - methinks a lot of the protesters just wish they had thought of the idea of bottling water and are incensed someone else is making money.

If it was so bad, no one would buy it!

When bottled water first started being sold I laughed my ass off. I cant believe how stupid people are. Even funnier is how people justify buying it. If I'm paying for a drink it better have some caffeine, sugar or at least bubbles.

Ah, the most hydrated generation in history we are. It's been great for dentists too! None of that pesky fluoride in the water that's so bad for business.

I'm waiting for those little cans of oxygen to become mainstream.
http://www.failedsuccess.com/index.php?/weblog/comments/canned_oxygen_flavored_air/

Can even be useful in your terrorism survival bag!

Houellebecq,

You could apply your logic to coffee as well, why do you pay $4.00 for a cup of coffee when for 1 teaspoon of coffee and 2 spoons of sugar which would probably cost you about 30cents you could have coffee at home? I have no wish to lug a bottle of water around with me when I go shopping, the same as you probably don't want to carry a coffee flask around with you. If the water they sell is overpriced, so is the coffee, but it's convenient.

Well, I don't drink coffee. But coffee apparently varies a lot in quality, and has to be kept hot. It doesn't flow out of the taps in public toilets either. Tepid water is probably a lot more drinkable than cold coffee.

I don't really feel the need to drink more often than I am near a toilet or sink in my day to day life