Are you watching San Francisco? I mean are you REALLY watching what is going on in Nanaimo, Canada? You remember, right? They were one of the first Canadian cities to enact a ban on the sale of bottled water at city concession stands at its recreation centers that you probably got the inspiration from. Now, two years into the ban, city residents are complaining about the inconvenience surrounding it.

What was a measure promoted as a way to encourage city water consumption (i.e. promote a monopoly) and clamp down on waste in order to appease environmentalists has become nothing more than a ordinance just as stupid as New York City’s attempt to ban extra large sodas sold at local convenience stores or your state’s stupid ban on plastic bags. As a result of the ban, people are opting for other drinks that are not as healthy as water. According to Nanaimo’s local newspaper:

But two years into the ban, vendors at the city’s concession stands say most customers are choosing other bottled drinks — flavoured water, for example — or instead using a paper cup at the water fountain and throwing it away. For concession operators, the need to explain to customers why bottled water is not available when other bottled drinks are is a routine that has grown tiresome.

“It’s not really publicly known,” said Armil Ramos, owner operator of Tia Mei’s at the Nanaimo Ice Centre.

“Like last night, this guy, he ended up buying pop, dumped the pop and filled it up with water.”

After addressing the confusion and complaints that accompany a request for bottled water, Ramos says most either choose a different drink or ask for a paper cup to use at the water fountain.

The loss of sales has cost businesses like his an estimated $6,000 per year. Provision of paper cups is an extra cost. Ramos tried providing reusable cups, but they quickly disappeared.

Your hopes of encouraging people to use city tap water and reduce waste is going to affect the health of the people you exist to serve. I am sure the environmentalists are gleeful since consuming bad drinks contributes to bad human health and can result in early deaths.