World Water Week 22-28 March 2009

Tap water is the choice of UK restaurant-goers

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New survey shows how 63% of UK diners could bring clean water to millions in the developing world through the 'Tap into WaterAid' initiative. 

The UK's restaurant-goers prefer to choose tap water over bottled, according to a brand new survey issued today ahead of the UN World Water Day 2009, 22 March.

The research, commissioned by international charity, WaterAid, reveals that tap water is the preferred choice for 63% of people when they dine out. Over 23.5 million people prefer to order tap water with their meals rather than bottled. Despite this, one in four people surveyed said they have felt pressured to order bottled water when dining out.

WaterAid's drinking water survey also shows that women are more likely to choose tap water, whilst men are more inclined to have bottled water with their meal.

People in Greater London and Scotland are the most likely to choose bottled water, whereas those dining out in the South East and East Anglia are happy with a good old jug of tap.

Serious message

These findings were commissioned with a serious message in mind.

Whilst here in the UK we ponder which brand of 'lifestyle' water to choose, a staggering 884 million people in the developing world are without any clean water. The only choice they have is to walk for miles in search of dangerously dirty water, or go without.

Mothers have to choose whether to give their children water they know is unsafe, and risk them falling ill with diseases like cholera and typhoid – or to let them go thirsty. Not much of a choice. Every 17 seconds a child dies of a preventable water-borne disease. In the developing world diarrhoea isn't an inconvenience; it's a matter of life and death.

Restaurant-goers in the UK can help to refresh those 1 in 8 people eager for water.

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WaterAid's new restaurant-based initiative 'Tap into WaterAid' is being rolled out across the UK. It's a simple idea – restaurants suggest to their customers that they donate a few pence for the tap water they enjoy with their meal, and all the money raised goes to support WaterAid's efforts to bring clean accessible water to millions of children around the world without it.

WaterAid's Deputy CEO, Andrew Cook, said:

Water is essential for life, yet here we are in 2009 and more than 1 in 8 of the world's population are without access to it. This and the lack of safe sanitation, results in over 1.8 million people dying from water-related diseases every year.

"We're so lucky here in the UK – we just turn on a tap and our fresh water is there.  We are urging people in the UK to go and ask their favourite restaurant to give Tap into WaterAid a go. To find out how to take the campaign forward, please visit www.tapintowateraid.org."

(Unless otherwise stated, water and sanitation figures were taken from the Human Development report 2006.)

For interviews/photos contact: Lisa Martin on 020 7793 4524 lisamartin@wateraid.org  

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Credit: Juthika Howlader

Notes to Editor:

• Breakdown of survey stats below.
• Andrew Cook is available for interview.
• Quotes from restaurant managers already using the Tap into WaterAid scheme are available.
• Strong stories/photos of mothers who've benefited from WaterAid's projects available.

TNS surveyed 2,018 people aged 16-64 between 10 to 16 March 2009 using an online survey.

WaterAid's survey revealed that:

• 38% of respondents always ask for tap water in a restaurant
• 25% of respondents prefer to ask for tap water, but sometimes feel pressure to order bottled water in a restaurant.
• 37% of respondents always ask for bottled water in a restaurant

This represents:

• Over 14 million (14,222,000) people always ask for tap water in a restaurant
• Almost 9.5 million (9,403,000) people prefer to ask for tap water, but sometimes feel pressure to order bottled
• Just over 14 million (14,025,000) people always ask for bottled water in a restaurant

Regional findings:

• Southerners are significantly more likely to order tap water in a restaurant than Northerners*
• Most likely to order tap are those in the South East/East Anglia at 45%, least likely, at 33%, are Scotland and North East/Yorkshire/Humberside
• People in the North East, Yorkshire and Humberside are significantly more likely to prefer to ask for tap water, but sometimes feel pressure to order bottled, than those in the North West region and Greater London.
• People in Greater London and Scotland are the most likely to order bottled water at 44%, closely followed by the North West and East/West Midlands at 42%; least likely is South East/East Anglia at 28%.
  (*Southerners = London, SE, SW; Northerners = Scotland, NE, NW, Yorkshire and Humberside)

Gender differences:

• Tap water is more likely to be chosen by females 39% (males 36%)
• Females are more likely to prefer to order tap but feel pressure to order bottled
• Men are significantly more likely to order bottled water in a restaurant than women

Age findings:

• There's a steady upwards trend of inclination to order tap water ie from 34% of the 25-34 age group, to 49% of those aged 55-64.
• Likewise, those who order bottled peak at 42% for the 35-44 age group, falling steadily to 30% for the 55-64s.

To find out more about the issues facing women and children, listen to our World Water Day podcast.