Love the intention, but couldn't vote for the result (increased consumption of bottled sugary beverages).

Jon: if the ban included all plastic vessels, I might be convinced. But eliminating bottled water and leaving the option of bottled sodas/sugary beverages confuses me.

This is more than unbelievable. Now that everyone, including all the kids in all the schools in Arlington, who have had soda, etc., taken out of their schools, and been convinced that water is the healthy substitute...... they want to take away the bottles that the water comes in. Let's knock it off...enough already !!!

@smerls I don't think we need to create an alternative to bottled water. Water out of the tap, water in glasses, water in reusable bottles are all readily available.
Also if I don't "impose my will on the rest of you" mother nature will. Keep destroying the planet and we will pay. Someone has to do something. I have. You should too. And clearly you won't so maybe a ban is just what we need.

Great points Smerls!!
Most of us recycle. And to say that if the option to ban bottled water won't drive up soda sales is ridiculous!!!
I give these girls credit but maybe they should go after Dunkin Donuts , those Styrofoam cups aren't recyclable unlike plastic bottles.

Really. You all need to calm down and focus more on your own personal lives. Don't drink from a bottle yourself. I live in arlington and its the worse place in the world. People are all natural tree hugers and I am not surprised about this. First a gas ban now this. What's next, are you going to ban people from using wrappers for food and everyone has to eat with their hands and feet. Everyone knows this is a really dumb idea but knowing arlington everyone is going to vote yes for it so. We should really focus on under aged drinking and drugs then a bottle.

If you want real trouble, try drinking bottled water, while running a leaf blower, and thinking conservative thoughts in Arlington.

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

If all the people who purchase bottled water in Arlington now need to drive out of town to purchase their bottled water( and we know they aren't driving Priuses) isn't this creating a different problem?
Educating people to make their own choices is the answer--not having the town government dictating what you can or cannot do.

People who are mouthing off against the ban are clearly uneducated about the chilling truth behind bottled water. Go to topdocumentaryfilms.com and watch "Flow: For Love of Water." No less than shocking. This isn't about "tree huggers" or "freedom." If you care even minimally about your children's health, you'd best inform yourself before taking a stand on this issue.

This debate has driven me to drink-wine-from a glass bottle ;)

I'm all for a campaign to encourage use of BPA free reusable bottles (perhaps ones that say Arlington as a point of town pride), but this idea is unenforceable, a gross overreaching of local government, and a step in the wrong direction. I'm sure these girls have good intentions at heart, but people will be more resistant to change if they are forced.

Michelle Graham: Thanks for your comments.
The problem with most Americans is that they just accept that if some product has been put out in the marketplace (by industry -- and in the case of water or soft drinks -- BIG business) , it's perfectly acceptable for society to start consuming it. In the case of just about any single-serve beverages, there could be nothing further from the truth. Here's a headline "Convenience doesn't always mean it's good for us!" Maybe you feel it's good for you. Okay, act selfishly if you want to, but you won't be considered a good citizen by your neighbors when real information gets out there. The bottled water industry is dominated by Nestle Waters, Coca Cola and others. Nestle owns Poland Springs, Arrowhead, and probably 8 other regional brands. Nestle Waters is being sued in just about every community where they've set up a manufacturing plant (including near Poland Spring, Maine) because their practices cause extensive environmental damage to groundwater supplies. Then there's the cost to society of the creation, use, recycling, and re-creation of plastic bottles. They put them out there, and then Arlington has to pay a Recycling outfit to pick things up at your sidewalk and process them.
Sure, recycling is a good thing. But, putting drinking water into plastic bottles when tap water is just as safe to drink and tastes as good - what a waste!
If you don't want government telling you how to live...be informed...and make the right choices

It is said that Arliington's tap water contains traces of the dreaded dihydrogen monoxide:

http://www.dhmo.org/

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

I am assuming it is not politically correct to propose to ban Coca Cola bottles or Pepsi bottles. If the argument is environment , these are as harmful as water .
If the argument is health and " fluoride toxicity" , carbonated beverages are proven to cause all kinds of chronic diseases, including diabetes. I just cannot accept the fact that local government is singling out water. If you want to ban, do it across the board, otherwise you have no case. Cheers !

A conservative sees something in a bottle he doesn't like. He doesn't drink it.

A liberal sees something in a bottle he doesn't like. He bans it, so no one can drink it.

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

Great point Banks, it's about choice and I choose to use plastic bottles, even of they are banned!! I guess I'll have to smuggle them across town lines.

100 bottles of water( oops) i mean beer on the wall.....

So glad I got out of this town. I cannot believe how many crazy people now live there.

I CANNOT WAIT TIL THE DAY I CAN MOVE AWAY FROM THIS GOD FORSAKEN PLACE. This is what the public schools are teaching our kids . BAN THIS, BAN THAT.

Visitors should be encouraged to bring powdered instant water to Arlington... if they can figure out what to add to it.

Reverend E. Raleigh Pimperton III

Is water still more expensive than gasoline?

Why is it that every small insignificant thing in this town generates mass hysteria, whether it be a one inch dusting of if snow which renders the town paralyzed for weeks with mass school closings and terrified people streaming to the Stop& Shop in hoards for potato chips and (bottled water--LOL) as if the atom bomb were about about to fall and destroy us all. God help us ( not me because i am a reasonable and sensible person) if we had to face a really serious and lethal situation here.

So what's next on the 'lets ban this agenda'

Disposable razors - need to ban those guys and girls and everyone must use an electric razor in this town. Here is a report showing how electric razors win over disposables.

http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/12/trimming_your_carbon_footprint.html

Feminine hygiene products need to be banned - I just read this article showing how this $5 Billion dollar industry is impacting the environment.

http://www.theecologist.org/green_green_living/behind_the_label/268961/behind_the_labeltampons.html

What about banning Disposable Diapers? Read how its impacting our environment
http://www.livestrong.com/article/149890-environmental-impact-of-disposable-diapers/

What else should we ban?

wake-up---the community activist are here -----arlington center is filthy, I never see plastic bottles on our sidewalks, let these people get out and pick-up the trash off our streets & sidewalks in the center

Water bottles are bad but underage drinking parties are fine?

Keep the bottles, include them as part of the bottle bill. If you want your nickel back then return it. Otherwise it will be picked out of your recycle bin or area where it was left as litter

Ban plastic cups to discourage beer pong!

File a substitute motion for Mr. Jamieson's article to ban bombs too!