The French shun bottled water

As the anti bottled-water movement grows more vociferous in Europe and the US, there are signs that even the French are moving away from their dependency on Badoit, Evian and Vittel.

More than two thirds of French people now regularly drink tap water compared with 59% five years ago, according to an article in the Times.

Efforts to change French drinking habits in the past were met with rejection. One bottled water company, Cristoline, implied in an advertisement that drinking from the tap was akin to drinking from the toilet.

Meanwhile a US website, thinkoutsidethebottle.org encourages consumers to "Take the Pledge" to avoid bottled water.

But on a more cheery note for plastic bottle manufacturers, a humorous item in Wacky Times has an announcement of a new car which runs on bottled water.