yes. they are contributing to global warming under the guise of health.

and selling us something that should be free.

History shows us repeatedly that any organization that exploits a basic human weakness or need for the sake of the love of money is bad, even evil. Those that do so without fear of condemnation, reprisal or being disciplined are either governmental creations or utilities. Conversely, those who market something with a real zeal to improve or simplify our lives, while causing no tangible harm to our fellow creatures or environment must be a front for something really sinister.

They are definitely unethical. If everyone stops buying commercially bottled water that will end the problem. Next?

No. I frankly don't think either are "bad", if people are dumb enough to smoke than the tobacco companies deserve their money. The same goes for people that buy bottled water that is no better than tap water.

Absolutely not, companies that sell the nicotine delivery device known as cigarettes are legally killing people. Selling bottle water is nothing more than a non-lethal scam, especially in cities like New York where the water quality is better than or equal to some bottled waters.
People want convenience and that's what bottled water provides.

Not really

No! Are you kidding?

Water is clean, healthy, and vital for life. OK, plastic bottles aren't so eco-friendly, but the water manufacturers are improving the packaging as a result of the pressure and publicity.

Cigarettes, on the other hand, are dirty, unhealthy, and will kill you. not to mention the pollution from smoke, cigarette butts, and wrappers

If we think bottled water and cigarettes are both equally evil, we have have lost our perspective.

They are the same in that they cause 'environmental cancer' by producing millions and millions of plastic bottles that are polluting our environment. Bottled water companies bare responsibility to destroying to our planet in much the same way tobacco kills our fellow citizens. However, unlike tobacco, their impact can be minimized by the adoption of biodegradable technologies that are planet friendly.

No. They are not. The reason is simple. Tobacco companies know there is a very real health risk associated with their product and they know their product is addictive. Yet, they go to great pains to market to youth and employ a number of deceptive tactics to fool customers into thinking that the health risk is lower if you smoke 'light', 'low-tar', 'filtered', etc. cigarettes.

Selling bottled water is quite different for the following reason. The public makes their choice to buy bottled water based upon a 'perceived' notion that they are drinking something that is healthier, cleaner, fresher, etc., than what they are getting out of the tap. Many studies have shown beyond doubt that bottled water is not cleaner, safer than tap water... which is the source of 99.9% of bottlers. So what is the real issue related to bottled water? It is waste disposal. Not health. So what is the response to this? In a free market system, the consumer has the right to purchase whatever they want (legal products of course). If they feel that their tap water does not meet their safety, health and taste standards, they can mobilize to do something about it. If they are informed enough to understand the important issues related to landfills, then they can (and should) do something about it.

In many respects, the issue of waste and landfills are more important than the smoking issue. While it is taking time, smoking is banned in most public places. We are also seeing legislation which will not permit people smoking in their cars if there are children with them. In other words, smoking is a 'dying' issue (couldn't let that one go by).

Unfortunately, bottled water is a serious growing issue, for which the public doesn't seem to understand its consequences on our environment. I have not entered the world of shrinking aquafiers and what the popularity of bottled water is doing to them. We are rapidly nearing a major shortage of potable water. Misuse and abuse of our water will result in a brutal wake-up call for all of us. We can't treat our water as a commodity, but rather we should understand that our reckless and abusive use of water will soon be the number one issue we have to deal with. If you think people go to war for oil, wait until we get a shortage of water.
Hope my two cents was entertaining.

Cheers.
Roger

Tobacco is addicting. Water is still a necessity. I suppose you can say that they're not bad, but actually quite clever because they were able to market the product in such a way that they were able to charge exorbitant amounts for it. Especially when you can get it for free from the faucet.