To Drink (water) or Not to Drink?

Are Americans over-hydrated? For some reason, I’ve been fascinated by this big water debate for years, going as far as to deep dive forums on Quora of all places. As someone who has traveled extensively, I have also noticed a great distinction in hydration practices (AKA drinking water) across cultures. No culture is a monolith, but I have gained insight traveling around Western Europe specifically. On a grand European vacation, it’s typical for Americans to drag along their large aluminum water bottles to every single tourist attraction. Given that most tourists travel during the summer, you’d think this water habit would make sense. So then, what’s the issue?

If you’re not hip to the internet water discourse, which I admit is very niche, you might not be aware of the deep cultural divisions and almost incredulity that surfaces when Americans complain about the lack of free copious amounts of water in various European countries. Again, before diving into this article, I want to reiterate that sweeping generalizations of cultures is not really proper, and I know that Europe is a continent and not a singular country. That being said, many countries across Europe do share similar lines of thinking when it comes to water. 

Picture this, you’ve spent a hot summer day wandering the winding streets of Paris, taking in the regal beauty of the Haussmannian architecture. You stumble upon a quaint bistro, following a wave of delicious smells to your seat where you’re immediately ready to devour a delicious Salade Nicoise, but what do you really need first? Water, of course. Your server puts down the tiniest glass you’ve ever seen, “is that for a doll?” you think, noticing the cup is probably equivalent to two sips of water. In all actuality, you could probably down a liter of water after a day of stomping around The Louvre. This small instance, the fact that the glass is so small and the water so sparse, has sent Americans into an internet frenzy.  Many American tourists increasingly lament the lack of free water while traveling. On the flipside, many Western Europeans don’t understand why so many tourists not only carry huge water bottles, but also seem desperate to gulp down water any chance they get. 

From speaking with friends from Europe and the UK and through scouring social media, I’ve come to realize that many people think Americans are simply over-hydrated. We have been fed this idea that everyone needs to drink 8 glasses of water per day to stay healthy. According to Scottish Physician Dr. Margaret McCartney the idea that we need to drink 8 glasses of water per day is “not only nonsense, but is thoroughly debunked nonsense.” She goes on to say that these myths are perpetuated by the beverage industry, who benefit from these claims (ABC News, 2011). According to UCLA health, 20% of our water intake comes from the food that we eat. We also get a lot of water from other liquids that we drink, yes, even including coffee and beer. This is something I’ve seen people discuss on online forums, claiming that they get all the water they need from other sources and that Americans just have extra salty food or have better access to safe tap water. Whatever the reasons, the debate continues on. 

On one side of the coin, there are those who think Americans are too hydrated and too obsessed with their water bottles (a topic that I cover in a previous article of mine). On the other hand, there are people who are simply very thirsty and can’t stand the cultural difference of tiny glasses. At the end of the day, it’s not that deep. Or is it?

Let’s take this analysis one step further, because the cultural context is essential to understanding this debate. Why do Americans drink so much water? First of all, water, despite how fundamental of a human need and right, is still an issue of class and race. In a study on American Hydration practice by Carolyn Brooks et al. (2017) they found that “significant racial/ethnic and income disparities in hydration status exist in the US adult population,” specifically because of access to safe drinking water (p.1393). I want to acknowledge this reality before lumping together all Americans’ hydration practices. 

In general, has our level of water consumption always been like this? Absolutely not. I remember my dad telling me a story about his youth growing up in the 1960s and ‘70s. His family always had a glass of Coca-Cola with dinner, not water, but soda. While this is still common for many in America, others would be aghast at the idea of not having water with their meal. It is the backbone of all life after all. The increase in our water consumption habits as Americans is directly related to the commodification of water. The invention of the plastic water bottle made it easy to drink safe water on the go. Reusable water bottles, while better for the environment, also made money off of a previously untapped market. People wanted to drink their water and express themselves through their consumption choices, consciously or not. 

While people obviously need water to live, the rise in consumer culture (thanks capitalism) can’t be severed from the act of drinking water itself. All this to say, maybe some Americans drink more water because of a certain lifestyle that’s being sold to us, a lifestyle that is cloaked under the veil of “wellness” culture. 

Okay, listen. We all need water and I’m not refuting that. Drink as much as you want! I know I should probably be drinking more. But, do we, as thirsty Americans, need to be drinking from our reusables at all hours of the day? I’m not so sure. Before picking a fight with someone from Spain or France over their tiny water glasses, remember that none of us exist in a vacuum. We’re all a product of our cultures, most of which are heavily influenced by corporations with usually very singular interests. At the end of the day, I think this conversation can’t be boiled down to hydration practices between “all” Americans and “all” Europeans because again, neither culture is a monolith. Despite this, we can find common ground when we examine the cultural and political undercurrents that shape the way we drink water. 

Anyways, I’m gonna go get a diet coke. 

Sources:

https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/15-food-that-help-you-stay-hydrated

https://www.delish.com/food-news/a46554526/how-much-water-should-you-drink/

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/Wellness/waterlogged-america-drink/story?id=14054401

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5551608/