Bottled Water and Global Warming

This blogger has posted variously on the value of bottled water compared to tap water in addition to stating that the latter is not only equally safe and often is a far cheaper substitute in most of the Us and other places with secure piped water. The most recent post on the subject stated broadly that the the alignment of the costs ought to ensure that the cost of disposal of plastic bottles used for water should be borne by the consumers.

An elaborate article by Alex Williams in the New York Times shows instead that the argument made by the environmental lobbies that bottled water contributes to global warming is leading to stealthy consumption and avoidance of the product. As if this needs to be stated again, bottled water consumers should save their guilt and use their good nature to campaign for a carbon tax. This would ensure that the externality generated from their consumption of bottled water is paid for in the cost of the product. Guilt is unlikely to lead to a reduction in consumption of a product that has now surpassed coffee and milk in sales within the US. Try a well-designed carbon tax!