<p>I don’t know, I am thinking that Coca-Cola et al might indeed be happy with the thought of banning bottled water. That will serve to drive the consumption of soda right back up to where it used to be. Soda had always been their core business until the “shift” took place in the 80’s. I always thought they only got into bottled water business precisely because they saw the increased demand. They would love to get those soda sales numbers back up.</p>
<p>HarvestMoon1–Bottled water is a HUGE money maker for the various soda companies. I don’t think they will be at all happy with the bans.</p>
<p>Agree with SteveMA. And they sell lots of other beverages (coffees, juices, sports drinks, Glaceau vitamin water, etc) besides soda and plain water.</p>
<p>^^ It all depends on whether a typical customer who can’t get bottled water turns to water fountains or bottled something-else. If a significant number go to the former, the schools have achieved their goals. </p>
<p>But the Cokes and their likes first pushed “bad” sugar water, then “neutral” plain water, and now will market something “that’s better than water”. If the bulk of the erstwhile bottled water consumers go with the marketing, nothing would have changed, but everyone can be happy.</p>
<p>So with straight bottled water banned, companies will simply market vitamin water, flavored water, caffeinated water or something similar in its place?</p>
<p>So, there is no point trying to make a positive change in a community that agrees with this change, because we can foresee that it won’t work? This is not the lesson I want my children to get.</p>
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<p>No? Learning the Law of Unintended Consequences is invaluable for those who seek to make changes to complex systems. I personally think that banning the sale of bottled water is foolish: corporations have too strong a financial incentive to provide and market close approximations. Better to allow the bottled water and, through education and raised awareness, make it look socially foolish to be seen buying bottled water when a free equivalent alternative exists. Certainly this technique has done wonders for reducing the use of cigarettes and other tobacco products.</p>
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Why not just mark up the price, so people who have to have BW pay for the privilege and the college gets extra funds for water fountains or recycling or any other cause they want to pursue?</p>
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<p>Not sure if that’s the best comparison, since I don’t remember the last school I visited that sold cigarettes. ;)</p>
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<p>You see, the strategy is working! 
No one wants to be seen buying cigarettes on campus and to get lectured to repeatedly about it. Even avid smokers tend to hide their addiction.</p>
<p>Campus stores would stop selling bottled water voluntarily due to minimal sales, which is far better than a ban instituted by some subgroup of activists who wish to make decisions on what other people may do. The political far right and the political far left are united in at least one regard: their eagerness to legislate everyone else’s business.</p>
<p>Bottled “vitamin water” is only slightly less stupid than regular water. At least it’s not bad for you like bottled sugar water.</p>
<p>All of the above are a waste of energy and plastic IMO.</p>