Should water bottled be banned?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on January 07, 2026
Reasons to ban bottled water Plastic bottles require oil, water and environmental costs of transporting. This use of oil and plastic contributes to global warming, carbon emissions and is unecessary. Banning bottled water will encourage people to choose sustainable alternatives – refillable water.
Why banning bottled water is bad?
The American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) published the study “The Unintended Consequences of Changes in Beverage Options and the Removal of Bottled Water on a University Campus,” which concludes that bans and restrictions on bottled water sales lead to more consumption of unhealthy beverages and plastic waste.
Would banning plastic water bottles help or hurt the planet?
And since then, consumption has increased by 65%, meaning Americans need over 28 million barrels of oil to fuel their plastic water bottle needs for one year. But banning plastic bottles altogether can have unintended consequences. That means burning more fossil fuels and creating more pollution.
What would happen if we banned plastic water bottles?
Banning bottled water would reduce waste and protect the environment. About 70% of plastic water bottles bought in the United States were not recycled in 2015, which means the majority end up in landfills or in the oceans, harming the ecosystem and poisoning animals.
What would happen if we stopped using plastic?
If we eliminated plastics from our lives, we’d save hundreds of marine species from entanglement and plastic ingestion. Plastic can also negatively impact our health – some of the compounds and chemicals found in plastic, such as BPA, have been found to alter hormones or have other potential human health effects.
What are the pros and cons of bottled water?
Top 10 Bottled Water Pros & Cons – Summary List
| Bottled Water Pros | Bottled Water Cons |
|---|---|
| Use of bottled water can be quite convenient | Excessive production of unnecessary waste |
| Good way to store water | Bottled water can be expensive |
| Important in case of emergency | Not even necessary in many regions |
Which country has banned plastic bottles?
In 2002, Bangladesh became the first country to ban thinner plastic bags. Morocco had announced a nationwide ban on the production and plastic bag use in 2016. As per the Moroccan industry ministry, the country was using around 3 billion plastic bags, making it the largest consumer of the item after the US.
Which country uses most plastic?
Japan is also the country with the most plastic packaging waste per capita in the world behind the U.S., according to the U.N. NAFTA countries produced 19 percent of the world’s plastic in total, but the equivalent of 141 kg per capita in 2019 – the highest per-person toll.
Why can’t we get rid of plastic?
The packaging sector is responsible for almost half of the plastic in the world. Almost a third of all plastic packaging leaks out of collecting and sorting systems and ends up in soil and the ocean. Additionally, plastic degrades into fine nano-sized particles that are harmful to animals and stay in food chains.
Can we survive without plastic?
Plastics are so much in use and in demand that we human beings cannot live without them for even one hour.
Are there any companies that are banning bottled water?
It is a question that keeps popping up when searching for bottled water. While there are many companies and big brands that are leaping big in this sector, a few industries are advocating for banning of bottled water.
Why are they banning bottles of mineral water?
I often hear of arguments saying bottles of mineral water should be banned. The logic of banning bottled water is that it is a strong commitment to reducing single-use plastic which has high environmental costs. However, others argue it is a rather drastic measure which only tackles small part of the problem.
What are the pros and cons of banning bottled water?
Pro 1 Banning bottled water would reduce waste and protect the environment. About 70% of plastic water bottles bought in the United States are not recycled, which means the majority end up in landfills or in the oceans, harming the ecosystem and poisoning animals.
What happens if there is no bottled water?
The International Bottled Water Association noted, “research shows that if bottled water isn’t available, 63 percent of people will choose soda or another sugared drink – not tap water.” [ 27] In Spring 2013, the University of Vermont banned the sale of single use plastic water bottles on campus.
