Consumers call for an end to mineral water rip-off
16/11/2007
British consumers are fed up of paying over the odds for mineral water, when going out for a meal, says the National Consumer Council (NCC). New research published today reveals nine out of every ten restaurants are pushing consumers to buy expensive bottled water, and failing to offer them free tap water.
Seventy per cent of people say the price of mineral water in restaurants is ‘too expensive’ and want to see free tap water readily available. People living in the East of England, Scotland and the South East say they are being charged too much for mineral water and only one per cent of restaurants in North West England and London always offer free tap water over the bottled variety.
The report shows how, despite mineral water being a rip-off, one in five people are ‘slightly nervous’ or ‘too scared to ask’ for tap water.
Carl Belgrove, Senior Policy Advocate at the NCC explains: ‘Some restaurants are willing to offer tap water to their customers, but the majority push mineral water just to make a quick profit. It’s no surprise that most people (92%) say they should have the right to free tap water. NCC is now calling on restaurants to start serving free tap water.
‘Offering tap water will help consumers save money. It will also help people, who are concerned about the environment, to reduce the plastic containers and bottles that are thrown away needlessly every year,’ adds Carl Belgrove.
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Notes to editors
1. This survey was conducted in Great Britain by the TNS face to face omnibus survey for the National Consumer Council. A representative sample of c.1000 adults was interviewed in approximately 70 locations throughout Great Britain. The sample was weighted to represent the adult population of Great Britain aged 16+. Interviews took place from 19 – 23 September 2007.
2. In England and Wales, tap water costs around 1p for 10 litres. http://www.water.org.uk/home/resources-and-links/waterfacts/waterprices.
3. The average person now consumes 37.6 litres of bottled water a year. http://www.bottledwaterinformation.co.uk/default.asp?section=2&subsection=24
4. 93% of mineral water comes in plastic bottles; the rest (around 7%) comes in glass bottles
http://www.bottledwaterinformation.co.uk/default.asp?section=2&subsection=41
About the National Consumer Council (NCC)
The NCC makes a practical difference to the lives of consumers around the UK, using its insight into consumer needs to advocate change. We work with public service providers, businesses and regulators, and our relationship with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform – our main funder – gives us a strong connection within government. We conduct rigorous research and policy analysis to investigate key consumer issues, and use this to influence organisations and people that make change happen. Check www.ncc.org.uk for our latest news.