"Choice" is a proven winner with American audiences in focus groups. Choice is an American good. That's why you see it in quotes from the bottled water industry.
Michigan has a choice, too -- whether to surrender control of the public's water to private parties. Will we one day have to ask permission from them (and pay them) to get water to drink?
According to the International Bottled Water Association and statistics it compiled from the Beverage Marketing Corporation, Americans are thirsty for bottled water. In 2004, the volume of bottled water rose to nearly 6.8 billion gallons, an 8.6-percent increase over 2003. In 2004, each person drinking bottled water consumed about 23.8 gallons, compared with 22.1 gallons the previous year.
"The numbers are showing that consumers are growing in their choice for bottled water," said Stephen Kay, vice president of communications for the Alexandria, Va.-based International Bottled Water Association. Because bottled water is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a packaged food product, "you can find it virtually any place you can find other beverages."
"Consumers are looking to exercise that choice," he added. "As consumers become more conscious of their diet, they are looking for choices."
Posted by Dave at July 2, 2005 01:25 PM