On January 1, the town of Concord, Massachusetts, became the first municipality in the nation to ban the sale of single-serving water bottles smaller than 34 ounces.
The bill is the result of town activists—primarily town resident Jean Hill, 84. Hill told the New York Times in 2010, “The bottled water companies are draining our aquifers and selling it back to us.” She led two other attempts to ban the plastic bottles before the April measure passed the Town Council.
Stores that violate the ban and sell bottled water will receive a warning on the first offense, a $25 fine for the second, and $50 for each subsequent infraction. The ban would be suspended during emergencies.
Water bottles are quickly gaining popularity nationwide, both as the environmentally correct choice and because consumers (and many businesses) are recognizing the financial impact that disposable drink bottles have. This means that people are using reusable bottles more than ever, and if your message is on the side of it, others will see it as well. People may tie your name to eco-friendly practices and formulate favorable name recognition.