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Comment by LyndsySimon | Hacker News Reader

On its face, it seems like it cannot be true.

The main ingredient in Coca-Cola is filtered water. If Coke is cheaper than water in these communities, then why isn't the company selling bottled water for the same price? Their bottling and distribution costs would be the same, while the cost of ingredients would decrease.

It makes no economic sense for Coca-Cola to not sell bottled water in this context. Lacking an economic motive, what's left? Is the assertion that Coca-Cola is actively malevolent and is using their economic power to harm people on purpose at their own expense?

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Maybe it's because it's harder for companies to compete with Coke than with bottled water?

If Coca-Cola is selling bottled water, then another company could come in and start selling bottled water as well, and there's really nothing interesting to differentiate them. But while another company can sell soda, they can't sell Coke. So getting people used to Coke means they'll always instinctively reach for Coke when they're thirsty.

If that's that case, what's stopping another company from selling bottled water today?

Um, the fact they would have to have deep wells to get any out of the ground, and that the water authority doesn't have any to extra water reserves to sell them. So, yea, it seems like there is quite a lot keeping competitors from selling products.

Sure, for now at least. Perhaps Coca-Cola is thinking longer term, or perhaps they are just doing what has worked for them elsewhere.

But if something changes the water shortage, either environmental or technological, then Coca-Cola is still in a good position.

Coca-cola is selling bottled water in Mexico. They sell it under the brand Agua Ciel. It's the biggest bottled water provider in Mexico. Keep in mind that everyone in Mexico uses bottled water. The tap water is not safe to drink.

I live in California, and I travel to Mexico occasionally. It is not uncommon, in my experience, to find vendors selling bottles of water that are simply bottles fished out of the trash and filled with tap water. As a tourist, I try to avoid this scam by drinking liquids that are easier to recognize as genuine. I'm not sure how much this contributes to a general societal influence towards non-water beverages though.

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