U.S. Town Bans Small Bottles of Water

The U.S. town of Concord in Massachusetts state has banned stores from selling water in bottles that are smaller than one litre. Stores who sell the water will have to pay a $50 fine. The new law is the result of a three-year campaign by local resident Jean Hill. Ms Hill first told people about the idea at a meeting in 2010. She wants people to drink more tap water and use fewer plastic bottles, which she says end up littering streets, rivers and the countryside. She said: "Bottled water is bad for the environment, our health, and our public water systems. Concord's decision to go bottled-water free is a great example of how communities can promote our most essential public service: the tap."

Many people are unhappy with the new law, which started on New Year's Day. The bottled water industry said small bottles are very important for people's health. It said banning small bottles would mean people will drink more small bottles of colas and other soft drinks. Shops can still sell small bottles of other kinds of drinks. Local stores and restaurants say they will lose customers as people will simply drive to nearby towns to buy small bottles of water. One local resident said the new law is dangerous to her health. Ann Davidson, 82, said tap water is bad for her health so she has to buy water, but 1.5 litre bottles are too heavy for her. People buy 50 billion small bottles of water each year in the USA.


COMPREHENSION QUESTIONS

1. What kind of fine will stores have to pay for selling the banned water?
2. When did Jean Hill first mention banning small water bottles?
3. What did Jean Hill say plastic bottles do to the environment?
4. What will people drink instead of water?
5. What is Ann Davidson's problem with 1.5 liter bottles of water?

EXERCISE 2. SHARING IDEAS

1. What do you think of bottled water?

2. Is bottled water pretty much the same as tap water? 3. Do you understand why people are unhappy with the new law? 4. Is the new law unfair on small shops and restaurants? 5. Are plastic bottles a problem in your town?

Article Source: http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1301/130104-bottled_water.html