Bottled water ban at Regina store opens flood of debate

A Regina ice cream parlour that has stopped selling bottled water is attracting a wave of interest on social media.

Dessart Sweets says it recently decided not to carry bottled water partly because of the pollution resulting from the empties.

"All those little plastic bottles are ending up in the ocean and creating plastic islands," the company said on its Facebook page.

Dessart also says access to water is a basic human right, "and shouldn't be treated as a commodity."

A number of people have been weighing in on CBC Saskatchewan's Facebook page, with many of them applauding the ice cream parlour for its stance.

"Bottle[d] water is a scam," Janice Sutherland said in a post. "A company down the street can take water out of the tap, put it in a bottle, label it, and sell it to you at a ridiculous price."

Some think the store should go further.

"Being devil's advocate: if one of the reasons they are not going to sell bottled water is because of the pollution, shouldn't they stop selling all drinks that come in a plastic bottle?" Dana Marie Giesbrecht asked.

Others said they didn't really appreciate a lecture about the evils of bottled water.

"Stop telling us what we can and cannot buy/eat/drink," was Ashley Reekie's comment. "Sometimes [you're] out and just need to buy a bottle of water!"

So what do you think? Let a comment below or have your say on our Facebook page.