As New York City grapples with the legality of the ban on the sale of large cups of soda and other sugary drinks, soda has increasingly come under fire for fueling the nation's rising obesity rates. But water has quietly risen to knock it off the top spot. The average amount of water people drink has increased 38 percent to about 58 gallons a year. Bottled water has led that growth with consumption nearly doubling to 21 gallons a year. BYU-Hawaii students said they are drinking more water and less soda.“I really enjoy drinking water, yet I find myself not drinking enough throughout the day,” said Uraia Levaci, a senior in social work from Laie. “I’m not sure if it’s the hassle of carrying a bottle of water everywhere I go or having to refill it all the time, but I am definitely trying to drink at least the recommended amount.” In fact, the amount of bottled water Americans drink has risen every year for more than two decades. But because of concerns that plastic bottles create too much waste, experts say bottled water could be hit by a public backlash similar to the one that has whipsawed the soda industry with pushes for bans and taxes.Bottled water that is less than a liter is already is starting to face similar opposition [legally banned]. "Good old marketing has convinced people that they should spend a lot of money on bottled water," said Salome Freud, chief of New York City's distribution water quality operations. With bottled water, people tend to buy whatever is cheapest, Freud said. That's a habit that forces companies to keep prices relatively low, which eats into profits. This is why companies are investing so heavily in developing nations such as China and India, where the appetite for soda continues to grow.“I find it wrong that companies are trying to target developing countries to sell a drink that has high fructose corn syrup, phosphoric acid, and artificial sweeteners that destroys your health,” said Tina Tinam, a junior in social work from Micronesia. “It’s not a healthy drink. I completely stopped drinking soda...I always order water, and it’s free at most restaurants.”
Writer: Jennifer Herrera ~ Multimedia Journalist and AP
