Why Minorities Reach For Bottled Water Over Tap & How Marketers Persuade Them

Forbes.com:

Research has shown that minorities consume bottled water more often than white Americans, and spend a greater proportion of their income (about 1%, compared to the 0.4% white Americans dole out) on this superfluous commodity every year. A recent study in the Archives of Pediatric Adolescent Medicine confirmed this trend - finding that Latino and black parents were three times more likely to sate their children's thirst with bottled water, compared with white parents.

Read the whole story: Forbes.com

Comments

[Edward Wilkes]

05:03 AM on 08/15/2011

I think some whites are smart enough to know that #1 you can do better by filtering your tap water at home, as compared to all the minerals that are taken out during the large scale processing it takes to bottled the water, they even add things to the water that is not needed to change the flavor and I'm not talking about colored flavored water here! #2 As for the spring water I think that whites buy this type of bottled water more so than tap bottled water. #3 Mostly I think whites stay away from bottled water is because, drinking out of plastic is just plain bad news!

[LONDON3]

03:44 PM on 08/14/2011

I do not believe the hyped study.... First of all the bottled water offered in most minority communities is of the cheaper more off brand types. I think and pretty much see ALL races of people drinking bottled water. The more well off are probably drinking your Disani's, Evian's etc....while you minorities are basically drinking bottled "tap" water with some unknown name or source....everyone is cashing in. Tap in GA tastes horrible. I drink Nestle's or DeerPark....Can you imagine what our ancestors would think of any of us paying for water? .....Who ever knew it would be BIG business....CashCow !

[LLNYRN]

02:25 PM on 08/14/2011

I just use a PUR filter to fill my water bottle and take it to work.
I've rarely bought bottled water in the last decade.
Except during times when I've forgot my water bottle.

[TexasTreader]

02:13 PM on 08/14/2011

Hang on.... yup, tap still works.

[Frank Bourne]

02:02 PM on 08/14/2011

Many whites avoid bottled water simply because of the negative impacts the bottles have on the environment.

[Quitcherbichin]

07:08 PM on 08/13/2011

Is this supposed to be news..HP must be really hurting for stories.

[WindFeathers]

04:53 PM on 08/13/2011

Most bottled water is recycled grey water at best, Tap is fine depending on where you live.
If it is not sparkling, spring or mineral water you are fooling yourself.

[Lifeskills]

03:29 PM on 08/13/2011

OBEY YOUR THIRST
It is critical that the volume (Amount) of plasma be maintained by regular ‘Water’ intake.
“About two-thirds of your body is water, and it is one of the most valuable nutrients in the body.”
In July of 1904 Dr. Charles Drews an African American, saved countless lives during the war through his research and study. Dr. Charles Drew discovered a way to preserve blood where by he processed the blood, and separated it from the plasma so that the blood could be stored for long periods of time; this process is used by the Red-Cross, blood banks, and plasma centers today. Dr. Charles Drew Died: 1 April 1950, in an automobile crash. Ironically he bleed to death, he was refused entry by the closest hospital because he was Black.
Young athletes die of, Dehydration (body out of water) while playing, this happens far too often. Water, prevents this from happening to you and your loved ones. Obey your thirst. Milk and juice are not a substitute for water. Parents need to ask the kids if they want water, and give it to them after a long walk or activity. Kids need to be able to reach a class and school water fountain need to be working with proper pressure. A class of warm water in the morning, 'water' stimulates the system.

[NickMc]

05:09 AM on 08/13/2011

Headline" minorities reach for bottled water over tap", really, is this a bad thing? We all need to drink water, I would be concerned if it said " Colt 45". Let's get a grip here. Seems you're damned if you do or...

[Skyski]

03:12 PM on 08/13/2011

ha ha!

[anthonytaurus]

03:34 AM on 08/13/2011

As a indoor plant grower, and I am Black and Latino, I can say that NYC water is almost clean. See, I grow hydroponically. My water source is important to me. I will test the pH (acidity) and TDS (total dissolved solids) before I even begin to mix nutrients into the water.

To make a long story short, NY's water tests neutral pH @ 7.0 and the TDS is around 50ppm (parts per million) which is very low and very good. However, NY does add many additives including flouride and some kind of chlorine replacement; I can't remember the name but I remember it takes at least 24 hours to dissipate depending on the water surface area - more area, faster dissipation. The plants still do well.

However, I can still taste the difference.

Normally, I won't drink water from the tap because of that difference. However, as every good hydro grower should, I have industrial water filter built into my sink, not that Brita crap. So, my water is actually much cleaner than NYC water. That's why I say, almost clean.

And NJ water is FILTHY... pH 8.0 - 8.5 and TDS around 800 ppm. I will never drink their tap water.

[Vuittondon13]

06:38 PM on 08/12/2011

Probably because some of us know that the "Tap Water" is pumped full of fluoride and other harmful additives...................

[Backtalkisahorse]

03:07 PM on 08/12/2011

Nice pic of dirty crushed bottles on the ground......Those Awful Blacks! Leaving their garbage everywhere. Hey HPost . F*** You. Print that!

[kengault]

02:56 PM on 08/12/2011

People of color reach for bottled water because they have the economic means to do so! They momma didn't raise no dummy and they know its better for you!

[FloridaLAW]

02:20 PM on 08/12/2011

Really? I can tell you with confidence that NOONE likes tap water because it's nasty. No mystery.

[Valerie Keefe]

01:13 PM on 08/12/2011

It's probably because of the correlation between lower incomes and weaker public utilities... if the water is less clean in your area, it's easier to justify buying bottled water.

[Backtalkisahorse]

03:10 PM on 08/12/2011

Perhaps we should not have water at all. Just Kool Aid. Made with malt liquor. With a chicken bone. while we watch good times ..... sigh.

[Valerie Keefe]

09:19 PM on 08/12/2011

*cosighs*

That things are so does not mean that they should be.

[lostinseganet]

06:21 PM on 08/12/2011

That is the perception.