# Why is it so difficult to buy carbonated water? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2008, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788 "2008-06-04T18:55:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/41 "2008-08-23T04:01:35Z")
[QUOTE=installLSC] A sorta hijack: do Europeans typically consume more carbonated water than Americans, and why? [/QUOTE] It was extremely popular in Central and Eastern Europe, especially Hungary, where there were plenty of naturally carbonated mineral springs. I would assume the abundance of these springs would contribute to the popularity. In general, I’ve found sparkling water much, much more common throughout Europe than in the States. Obviously, as stated, it varies by region, but, on the whole, it is certainly more popular. I’m surprised to hear that it’s not common in France. I seem to remember Badoit, Perrier, and San Pellegrino being readily available. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/42 "2008-08-23T04:50:02Z")
[QUOTE=pulykamell] I’m surprised to hear that it’s not common in France. I seem to remember Badoit, Perrier, and San Pellegrino being readily available. [/QUOTE] Huh! Yes, I had forgotten about Perrier being carbonated water. Well, forget about my previous post. New version : Carbonated water is relatively common here (France). I’m familiar with some brands and occasionally drink it. ---
**Author:** ![MissMossie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f6c823/32.png) [@MissMossie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissMossie)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/43 "2008-08-23T13:30:47Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] The local rep for Pepsico insists that “tonic water” and “seltzer” are the same thing. [/QUOTE] Your liquor store clerk ought to switch to Coke then, insisting to the Pepsico rep that Pepsi and Coke are the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![VineTendon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e47c2d/32.png) [@VineTendon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VineTendon)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/44 "2008-08-23T15:05:27Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] I buy mine at Trader Joe’s by the case- either Blu Italy or Pellegrino. I think it comes out to about $1.09 US per liter. [/QUOTE] Those are mineral waters that happen to be carbonated, decidedly not seltzer. Also the water in Manitou Springs is decidedly better than Pellegrino. I suggest the Cheyenne Spring and recommend the Stratton spring. Also club soda is awful because of the sodium. One time I picked up a bottle in a hurry and when I came home and had some and it felt like it burned my tongue. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/45 "2008-08-23T16:54:26Z")
[QUOTE=Napier] Well, it’s weird. Some of my most thoughtful and heartfelt posts have drawn one or two replies and a few recent ones have drawn zero. I should have whined about buying seltzer before, but had no idea it would go over so well. The latest news: The local liquor store has given up and removed all Canada Dry products from the store. The local rep for Pepsico insists that “tonic water” and “seltzer” are the same thing. Mrs. Napier has brought home a few Zazz seltzer bottles from the Giant, and they are fine, but it’s not a practical way of purchasing in the quantities we want. She goes shopping about every 3 weeks. We actually consume more weight in seltzer, I am pretty sure, than in all other grocery store products combined - and that includes nonfood items like cleaning supplies. I made inquiries and discovered that the next distribution region to the south, the border of which is actually only a couple miles away, is served by a nasty and unhelpful sales rep for many mixer products. I guess this is just one more thing about the booze biz that comes as a surprise to me. But, the human spirit always keeps trying, doesn’t it? The local liquor store got in three cases of Vintage seltzer to try, and only one bottle was flat (and it was only partly full, too). I think I’d tolerate a failure rate of maybe 20% or so, maybe even 30%, because the product is cheaper than what I’ve been buying. So, who knows… [/QUOTE] Why haven’t you looked into making it at home? It should be cheaper in the long run and that’s how most people would do it these days. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/46 "2008-08-23T17:59:30Z")
I have no trouble at all. Every corner deli in New York often has both Schweppes and Canada Dry in a number of sizes. ---
**Author:** ![mswas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e99b99/32.png) [@mswas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mswas)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2008, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/47 "2008-08-23T18:08:16Z")
[QUOTE=MissMossie] Your liquor store clerk ought to switch to Coke then, insisting to the Pepsico rep that Pepsi and Coke are the same thing. [/QUOTE] Other than the Salt in Seltzer and the Quinine in Tonic Water, they’re exactly the same. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/48 "2008-08-24T13:54:54Z")
\>Other than the Salt in Seltzer and the Quinine in Tonic Water, they’re exactly the same. Well, by most definitions, seltzer is water and carbon dioxide, and it is club soda that adds salt to the recipe, whereas tonic water adds sugar and quinine and other flavorings. \>Your liquor store clerk ought to switch to Coke then, insisting to the Pepsico rep that Pepsi and Coke are the same thing. Ah. OK, you have the funniest thing I’ve seen in weeks here, the funniest thing since the Obama campaign named their Chief of Staff to the Vice Presidential Candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Ragiel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6de8d8/32.png) [@Ragiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ragiel)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2008, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/49 "2008-08-24T17:33:18Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] Here in Michigan, it seems the only mineral water available is in the mixers section of the supermarket, and then only in 1 liter bottles, only Canada Dry. There are smaller bottles of Perrier, and it’s roughly the same price as the Canada Dry. Yet there’re many, many bottles and cans of quinine water. Hmmm… how to make that? [/QUOTE] I’m working in Coldwater MI, and the Felpausch store always has 4 cases of unflavored LaCroix out. (I buy them, then there are none, then by the next day they have four again. . . rinse and repeat.) They also have at least five fruit-flavored ones as well. They also have Fanta brand, in liters, more expensive. Meijer’s usually has only flavored LaCroix, but they sell Meijer’s brand sparkling water in two-liter bottles which are always sold out, except for one or two on the top shelf where nobody can reach them. I asked once, why they don’t put more out on display. It seems they’re not popular enough to justify the extra space.:rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![zweisamkeit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zweisamkeit/32/4360_2.png) [@zweisamkeit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zweisamkeit)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2008, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/50 "2008-08-25T01:45:14Z")
[QUOTE=Balthisar] Here in Michigan, it seems the only mineral water available is in the mixers section of the supermarket, and then only in 1 liter bottles, only Canada Dry. There are smaller bottles of Perrier, and it’s roughly the same price as the Canada Dry. Yet there’re many, many bottles and cans of quinine water. [/QUOTE] I can get La Croix (yum!) and tons of carbonated water. They might not be seltzer (instead being sparkling mineral water) but I have no issue getting Gerolsteiner (my favorite), San Pellagrino, Perrier, heck, even Trader Joe’s house brand. Meijer’s has a bunch. ---
**Author:** ![ratedrepublican](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c4cdca/32.png) [@ratedrepublican](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ratedrepublican)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/51 "2012-12-02T02:49:06Z")
The Faygo brand also offers carbonated water and is found in certain supermarkets. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/52 "2012-12-02T03:14:34Z")
I think this thread went flat 4 years ago. ---
**Author:** ![wheresmymind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@wheresmymind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wheresmymind)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/53 "2012-12-02T03:16:11Z")
I got my mom a Soda stream thing that uses standard (12 gram, I think) CO2 cartridges for Christmas last year and she freaking loves it. But if you’re going through 20-30 liters per week, you might want to check out your LHBS (local home brew store) and put together a [5-gallon soda keg system.](http://www.midwestsupplies.com/cornelius-keg-system-with-5-lb-co2-tank-comes-empty.html) After the initial purchase cost it’s probably the cheapest way to get carbonated water. Plus, you can use them for beer! 😃 Once when our pipes froze I went over to a neighbor’s house and filled up a couple kegs with water. It took a couple days to get the pipes thawed, but we had water on tap for cooking/dishes/brushing our teeth the whole time! ETA: Noooooo! As an enthusiastic zombie-hunter I feel like I just got bit! ---
**Author:** ![Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/58956e/32.png) [@Speak\_to\_me\_Maddie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speak_to_me_Maddie)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/54 "2012-12-02T03:45:30Z")
I was given a Sodastream brand soda maker last Christmas. I like it. I know there are some cheaper alternatives out there but it works well enough for me. A refill on the CO2 costs $16 and I get 50+ liters of extra fizzy seltzer. Also nothing goes into the trash can. I drink at least a liter a day. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/55 "2012-12-02T04:03:59Z")
> [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](#): > > I think this thread went flat 4 years ago. No it didn’t, either! I just this afternoon struggled valiantly and failed to find the effervescent goodness I so richly deserve. That the thread should come bubbling back to the surface was only natural. I had a seltzer brittle for a while and it remains an option, but our well water has a sulfur taste that does not carbonate gracefully so maybe I should be buying springwater and pouring it into the seltzer bottle. ---
**Author:** ![Pitchmeister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pitchmeister/32/3459_2.png) [@Pitchmeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pitchmeister)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/56 "2012-12-02T09:07:40Z")
While we’re here, I just feel I need to point out that it’s indeed called Sprudel all over Germany (and it’s true, there are many brands that sell low, mid and high carbonation). ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Downtown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Mr\_Downtown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Downtown)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/57 "2012-12-02T16:30:11Z")
Twas in a Düsseldorf transit agency office where I first became aware of its refreshing qualities. A public water cooler served sparkling water in three varieties of bubbletiness. I’ve hardly had a sip of still water since. I have a SodaStream setup at home and another at the office. If I could figure out how to engineer a cold plate, I’d put a tank of CO2 under the sink and have a bar gun. But it’s hard as hell to find in the US. Even some big supermarkets don’t sell anything of the sort, and you’ll die of thirst looking for it at a drugstore or convenience store in the Midwest or South. A big highway travel center will have 30 coolers filled with 800 different types of HFCS- or aspartame-sweetened crap, but not a single bottle of sparkling water. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/58 "2012-12-02T17:00:34Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > No it didn’t, either! I just this afternoon struggled valiantly and failed to find the effervescent goodness I so richly deserve. That the thread should come bubbling back to the surface was only natural. > > I had a seltzer brittle for a while and it remains an option, but our well water has a sulfur taste that does not carbonate gracefully so maybe I should be buying springwater and pouring it into the seltzer bottle. does a charcoal filter (e.g. Brita) help with the “well water” taste? even though the tap water we have on the Detroit water system is pretty good, I still cycle it through a Brita pitcher before running it through the sodastream. plus it means I have fridge-cold water ready to go, and cold water carbonates better than room temp or warm. ---
**Author:** ![drachillix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/48db29/32.png) [@drachillix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drachillix)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2012, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/59 "2012-12-02T17:24:02Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > The local rep for Pepsico insists that “tonic water” and “seltzer” are the same thing. As the poster above noted, Aquafina sparkling is a pepsi product. Granted he should know his product better, but it may be as simple as asking for the product by name. Also of note, at least in my area, Pepsi will deliver to you directly on a $50 regular minimum order. Might be worth having them drop $100 worth once a month at the rate you are using it. ---
**Author:** ![Uther\_Penguin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Uther\_Penguin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uther_Penguin)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2012, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788/60 "2012-12-03T23:25:17Z")
Have you tried looking at an Aldi? In Germany, the discount stores very commonly have flat, medium and strongly carbonated water, for 0.19 Euro per 1.5 litre bottle. Only during heatwaves in summer they are sometimes sold out. The [aldi.us](http://aldi.us) page says: “Beverages: Whether you like juice, water, soda, pop, tea or coffee ALDI has the drinks you and your family enjoy.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-is-it-so-difficult-to-buy-carbonated-water/451788.md?page=4)