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Health-conscious Brits boost water sales

13/06/2008

Increasingly health-conscious Brits have helped to boost sales of bottled water, a new analysis has revealed today.

The research from Datamonitor found that British consumers have increased their consumption of bottled water at the fastest rate in Europe over the past five years.

British consumers drank, on average, 41 litres of bottled water per person in 2007.

Reasons behind this growth include the association of water with a healthy lifestyle.

"Bottled water is a safe and easily accessible drink that consumers choose to stay refreshed and hydrated," said report author Nick Beevors.

"And it is growing in popularity as people choose it over other soft drinks because it does not contain calories, caffeine, or artificial colours."

A 2006 consumer survey by Datamonitor found that 88 per cent of UK consumers believe drinking plenty of water to be an important or very important dietary approach.

But the market analyst believes that ethical concerns could hamper future sales of bottled water.

In March Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell announced that bottled water will be banned from government offices and the public have been encouraged to ask for tap water in restaurants.