Why Do Poor People Buy Bottled Water?

• In Event: 240 - Section on Consumers and Consumption Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Spending and Expenditures

Abstract

Bottled water consumption in the United States has increased dramatically since the 1970. As consumption increased, it also became more common among low-income individuals. This
paper examines why poor parents with limited food budgets purchase bottled water when tap water is safe and virtually free. Dominant explanations of the poor’s food choice focusing on
material and structural constraints cannot explain this phenomenon. Meanwhile, research on parents’ beliefs and attitudes toward water is limited. Drawing on interviews with 24 low-income
parents and grocery shopping observations with 17 of these participants, this paper explores low-income caretakers’ reasons for buying bottled water. I highlight three underexplored motivations—classification, commodification, and habit—and elaborate on a fourth, previously documented motivation: convenience. My findings highlight the importance of a cultural and cognitive approach to food choice among the poor. They also have policy implications for public health initiatives aimed at increasing tap water use.

Author

• Caitlin Daniel, Harvard University