Media Release

23 December, 2009

Bottled Water Coalition Starts NZ Tour

The Bottled Water Coalition started a nationwide tour today, telling New Zealanders about the social and health effects of drinking bottled water.

The tour started this morning in Kaikohe, and will finish in Gore at the end of January. The tour coincides with the busy summer holiday period when bottled water purchases are extremely high.

"We want to inform people about what their bottled water purchase really means. So many New Zealanders are unaware of the effects it can have on their health and the health of the planet," said Coalition spokesperson Frank Collins.

Effects of drinking bottled water and drinking water from the same bottle repetitively can include throat infections, blood diseases, lung cancer, bacterial infections, and food poisoning. The social effects of buying bottled water are also enormous. The production of plastic bottles and the processing of used bottles is a great strain on natural resources and the global environment.

For details on the national tour, email bottledwatermadness@issues.co.nz